Stefansen To Test Her Game Against The Pros

AMES, Iowa- A chance of a lifetime has arrived for Cyclone golfer Victoria Stefansen, and she is not about to pass it up. The freshman from Rorvig, Denmark, has been invited to play in the Nykredit Masters, Sept 6-9, at the Helsingor Golf Club in Helsingor, Denmark. The tournament is one of the final events of the 2007 Ladies European Tour, European's professional golfing tour for women and equivalent to the United States' Ladies Professional Golfing Association (LPGA). She will be competing as an amateur in the tournament.

Stefansen wasn't invited to the prestigious event on a sponsor exemption. She earned it. The Cyclone finished in the top-five in Denmark's summer amateur point standings to solidify her spot in the field. Top-five finishes at the Danish International, Danish Championship and Nordic Championship earned her the distinction as a rising star on the European Amateur circuit and has Iowa State head coach Christie Martens excited about the future of Cyclone golf.

“It will be an awesome opportunity for Victoria to see the caliber of players in the tournament because that is the level she wants to play at,” Martens said. “Getting the chance to play in this event really reflects on what a great summer she had and is testament of how hard she has worked. She has gotten so much stronger and technically better with her swing.”

Stefansen has yet to tee up a single ball for the Cyclones and she won't get the chance until second semester. Despite being an A-student in high school, some of Stefansen's course work did not transfer under the NCAA guidelines for international students. Although she would rather be playing with her teammates here in Ames, she also knows opportunities like this don't come around very often.

“I am honored to get the chance to play in this event and go back home,” Stefansen said. “I played all summer with my main goal to qualify. I wasn't sure if was going to make it, but I found out two days before leaving for Ames that I qualified. I have been working hard all summer. Coach Martens has really been working with my short game, especially my wedges. I am going there with a lot of confidence.”

Familiarity is always important for a golfer. It will be an advantage Stefansen will take into the tournament as well.

“I know the course really well and I feel I have a 50 percent chance to make the cut,” Stefansen added. “I have played the course a lot of times and I have a great caddie. It will also be great to be able to play in front of my family and friends.”