Angela Park, ranked 9 among women’s amateur golfers, has decided to pass on college and enter the qualifying tournament on November 8th. Park is currently 17 years old and plans to remain an amateur until her 18th birthday, even if she qualifies to turn professional.

“I think the timing is right,” said Park, who on Tuesday was selected an All-American by the American Junior Golf Assn. “I’ve known for a long time that I want to be a golfer, so I don’t feel like I need to go to college to figure out if that’s what I really want to do.”

Park’s high school is a favorite for the Southern Section playoffs, but she will be missing in action due to a schedule conflict with her qualifying tournament. Assuming her team is still in the running after November 11th, she will rejoin them to help clinch the title.

“I want to play, and if I could fly back and forth I would,” Park said. “But it doesn’t make sense to miss this opportunity for a high school tournament.”

Read the complete story at the LA Times