Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson. The names allude to two talented golfers on the LPGA Tour. However, there’s a catch. The pair have never attended college, let alone finished it. And out of the many skills, achievements, and feats the two have garnered, this is what inspired a certain 17-year-old golfer—cue for Avani Prashanth, a high-school athlete from India.

A video was shared by BeyondTheClubhouse Podcast showcasing an interview with the teenage golfer ahead of the LPGA Qualifying Series, which she is teeing off in on August 22. When asked about her aim, she divulged her goals as well as her inspiration for doing so. “I would like to earn my card and turn pro as soon as possible,” shared Prashanth. “that’s the goal so hopefully next year I’m on the LPGA.”

She didn’t stop there. The golfer also pointed out the likes of the current world No. 1 alongside her American colleague while dubbing them as inspirations. “I would say if you think about it,” shared the 17-year-old Avani Prashanth, “The best women in the world like Nelly Korda, for example, she hasn’t done college, neither has Lexi, and not a lot of the Asians have done it as well.” The Korda-inspired athlete highlighted the same while mentioning how they helped give her confidence in the “idea to turn pro, young.”  

The 2024 Chevron Championship winner took up the game of golf at the age of six. She was taught the sport and trained in it three times a week in her formative years. Down the lane, Nelly Korda did not go to college but instead turned pro at the age of 18, all the while becoming a part of the Symetra Tour. The now-26-year-old then managed to earn her LPGA Tour card soon after and started playing the women’s circuit from the next year onwards.

Thompson, on the other hand, was homeschooled during her early years and was introduced to the sport when she was a child as well. Although the 29-year-old is currently set to retire, she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open and clinched the unique record of being the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the same at the age of 12 in 2007. That was until Lucy Li did the same in 2014. Nevertheless, Avani Prashanth will surely look to emulate the two as she tees off at the LPGA Q-school this week.

Avani Prashanth, the Nelly Korda-inspired athlete’s performance

The Korda-inspired golfer is currently placed at T57 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings with a point average of 883.9476. Moreover, she has climbed as high as 39th on the standings and has a total tally of 8 victories, alongside 18 top-10 finishes. Currently, India’s No. 1 amateur golfer, Prashanth, won the Individual and Team Gold Medals in the 36th National Games that were held in 2022, not to mention finishing T21 at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Interestingly, she would be hoping to get into the LPGA Tour by dishing out her best at the upcoming Q-school events.

The Pre-Qualifying Tournament is set to tee off on Thursday, August 22, and will take place on three courses. Meanwhile, the Qualifying Tournament is slated to start on October 15 and will be hosted at the Plantation Golf and Country Club (Bobcat and Panther courses) in Venice, FL. Soon after, it will be followed by the Final Qualifying Tournament on December 5 at Magnolia Grove Golf Club (Crossings and Falls courses); in Mobile, AL.

Many eyes will be on the young LPGA Tour aspirant as she hopes to clinch her card for the women’s circuit. But will she be able to do it? What’s more, will she be able to make the likes of Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson proud? One can only wait patiently!