Sophia L. held a golf club for the very first time at seven-years-old. Hoping to nurture a budding love for the game, her dad had brought her and her older sister to their local golf range. After nearly twenty attempts to hit the ball, the girls decided that their only budding interest was in picking the flowers around the range, not the game of golf.

Eleven years later, Sophia again holds a golf club – this time a little bigger, the grip sized to her hands – and on a much bigger stage, the Women’s U.S. Open. Her focus is now on the green of the course as opposed to the green of the flowers. Playing alongside some of her idols – Hyo Joo Kim, Lydia Ko, and Sung Hyun Park – Sophia lived her first dream come true, a culmination of years of hard work, open doors, and the right support systems. 

The Pursuit of Personal Passions

Qualifying for the Women’s U.S. Open was a feat that began when Sophia was still in school. When the pandemic hit, she pursued a program that would help her realize her individual success both academically and athletically. It was in 2020 that Sophia joined Visions’ University Prep Academy, where the help from her teachers and the flexibility to pursue her passion of golf supported her to get to where she is today, a Division 1 golfer and a U.S. Open competitor. 

Not only did Visions allow her the flexibility to perfect her golfing skills, but it opened up several other opportunities for Sophia to expand on her academic career. While attending Visions, Sophia was involved in the UC Davis STEM Program, California Scholarship Federation, Find Your Voice, Yearbook, and violin lessons through one of Visions’ many Enrichment Vendors.

“My time at Visions was wonderful,” shared Sophia. “It allowed me the time and balance to perform my schoolwork and extracurricular activities, including golf and music.”