Australian amateur champion Kristie Smith is turning professional and will play her first tournament round as a pro on her 20th birthday in Sweden next month.
A personal invitation from Annika Sorenstam tipped the balance for Smith, who won the prestigious North & South amateur championship at Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Sunday.
She will make her professional debut in the Scandinavian TPC tournament, which Sorenstam hosts, on August 7-10.
"It is a very exciting step and I'm looking forward to the new challenges that professional status will bring," Smith said.
Her father, former touring pro Wayne Smith, said he was confident his daughter had what it takes to succeed.
"She's ready for this now. Her Australian performances have been very good, and she's had a really solid year so far."
Smith was on his daughter's bag when she was leading amateur at the Women's Australian Open and the Ladies Masters earlier this year.
"She'll be playing a lot more golf - perhaps double her amateur schedule - so it will just be a matter of ensuring she doesn't exhaust herself physically and mentally," he said.
