Duramed Futures Tour has more than one Champion

The Duramed Futures Tour recognized the youthful Vicky Hurst as its money champion in 2008. Hurst won four events on her way to $93K in earnings, $14 grand more than runner-up and three-time winner Mindy Kim. 12 golfers won tournaments on the LPGA’s developmental tour while 196 competitors earned money on the way to their LPGA dreams.

Making it on the Futures Tour is a test of patience, determination, and Ramen Noodles. You had to finish in the top 46 to earn at least $10000 in 2008, the top 19 to earn $20 grand, and the top 10 (earning $33768) to secure an LPGA tour card for 2009. That fortunate number ten? None other than Big Break winner Kim Welch. Four players tied for last on the money list with $500 in official earnings.

It seems that the DFT now has a champion of a different sort, Dave Andrews of New Hampshire. Member at Beaver Meadow golf course in Concord, host of The USI Championship, Andrews wrote and published in 2008 a fictional tale titled Pops And Sunshine. The novel has been reviewed twice on TravelGolf.Com (one and two) and donated a portion of its proceeds to the DFT in 2008.

Andrews has stepped up efforts to support this tour in 2009 with the Future Stars Foundation. Andrews and Dillon Daniels are the muscle behind the effort and have listed a pro-am tournament as the foundation’s first fund-raiser. The event, to be held in Apopka, Flordia on February 21st, has 18 confirmed DFT professionals and expects more to join in.