Barker Set for Pro Debut at LPGA Thornberry Creek
July 04, 2018 | Women's Golf
Texas Tech golf alumnae Gabby Barker will make her professional debut Thursday in Wisconsin
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech women's golf alumnae Gabby Barker will make her professional debut Thursday morning when she tees off at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic held in Oneida, Wisconsin.
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Barker, who signed an agreement with Nike N7 recently, earned a sponsorship exemption into the event as she drove roughly 27 hours from her native Idaho for this weekend's tournament. She will be in the 8:58 a.m. CT group from the No. 10 tee Thursday alongside Brittany Marchand and Emily Pedersen.
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Following this weekend's tournament, Barker will remain on the professional circuit with several events already planned on the Symetra Tour. She earned Symetra Tour status for this season after advancing to the second stage of LPGA qualifying this past October.
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Barker has experienced several life-changing moments since ending her Tech career at the NCAA Austin Regional this May. She received her undergraduate degree a week later before returning to her home state to marry Jared Lemieux in June.Excited to be at the @thornberrylpga event this week. The course is playing great! I am excited to see what this week holds! #DareToRise
— Gabby Lemieux (@LemieuxGabby) July 4, 2018
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Barker, now Gabby Lemieux, finished her career arguably among the top golfers in Tech history as her 73.6 career stroke average snapped the previous record of current LPGA mainstay Kim Kaufman. Barker notched four individual titles during her career, also the most in school history.
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Barker and teammate Lauren Mason paced Tech throughout their respective careers, leading the Red Raiders to four NCAA Regional appearances and two trips to the NCAA Championships. The duo joins Kaufman and fellow alumnae Gabby Dominguez as the only players in school history to play in four-consecutive NCAA Regionals.
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This is the second year of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic as Australian Katherine Kirk won the inaugural event after finishing 22-under-par over 72 holes. Thornberry Creek is set up at 6,624 yards this week with a $2 million purse.
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Coverage of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic will be provided each night on the Golf Channel, running from 5:30-7:30 p.m. CT on Thursday and Friday and then 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. CT the final two days.
Sponsor invite and newlywed @LemieuxGabby drove 27 hours from Idaho to Wisconsin to make her professional debut at the @thornberrylpga! pic.twitter.com/3yirAdTE98
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 3, 2018
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