The 2007 AJGA Player of the Year is among the leaders after the first round of the Semgroup Championship. From the Tulsa World-

BROKEN ARROW--Vicky Hurst, a 17-year-old high school senior from Melbourne, Fla., got a sponsor's exemption into the SemGroup Championship and isn't squandering the opportunity.

After nine first-round holes, Hurst was 3-under par and had a two-shot lead on the field. She settled for even par, but her score -- posted despite sinister wind gusts -- was still good enough to lead you to believe the kid was born on a golf course,

Vicki is at present playing her rookie year on the Duramed Futures Tour. At present, Vicki is #1 on that tour's money list. If you think Vicki has played the LPGA pros a great many times before the Semgroup, think again. Vicki, who has had a very impressive amateur record, is only playing in a LPGA event for the second time on a sponsor's exemption. How many sponsor's exemptions has Michelle Wie gotten since 2002? Like 30?

Hurst is just one part of the wave of Korean-American girls who will soon be influencing US Ladies Professional golf. Vicki's Mom Koko, who caddies for her daughter but not this week, was born in South Korea. I think we'll be hearing alot of more of Vicki, Kimberly Kim, Jenny Shin, and others in the years ahead.

The rest of the Tulsa World article is below the fold.

Hurst's mom, Koko, was very pregnant with Vicky back in June of 1990. Koko was playing a round of golf at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and made it as far as the 16th hole.

"I was ready to hit the ball," said Koko Thursday.

Then Koko's water broke and Vicky was on the way. Considering the way Vicky came into the world, it's no surprise she graduated to professional golf before graduating high school.

Call it destiny.

"I'm not sure," she said. "I grew up in a golfing family and I think today I'm headed in the right direction."

Vicky, the 2007 AJGA Player of the Year, is the sixth consecutive player of the year to skip college and turn pro. She joined the LPGA's development league and last week set a Duramed Futures Tour 54-hole scoring record while earning her first pro victory.

The competition is major league at Cedar Ridge this week, but Vicky played like she belonged amid the world's best golfers. She said it was "awesome" to see her name atop the leaderboard.

"I think she knows she is good enough," said Koko, who travels with her daughter to tournaments.

"But I don't know if she feels comfortable out here. After a few more tournaments, she will be more comfortable."

Vicky did not make the cut while playing as an amateur in three previous tournaments against LPGA competition -- two U.S. Opens and the 2007 Ginn Open. She played in the Ginn Open nearly a year after the death of her father, Joe.

"He's up there hopefully looking downonme,"Vicky said. "I think his attitude towards my golf and golf in general was just have fun and keep your heart in the game and no matter how bad of a shot you hit, you are still out there playing and enjoying the game."

Vicky said she was not nervous at the start of the first round. She admitted to being a little nervous toward the end of the round because she wanted to post a good score.

Vicky is juggling coursework and class work with the intent of graduating May 17. Teachers and administrators at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy have been flexible in allowing her to do correspondence work and take make-up exams.

She regrets that she didn't get to go on a senior class outing to Disney World, but sacrifices have to be made if you are golf 's next big thing.