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Brittany Lang might have been a little out of style with her approach to professional golf, but in the long run she may be as stylish as white pearls and a little black dress.
Lang went to college after a glittering career in junior golf and led Duke to the 2005 NCAA championship. Although she left Duke after two years to turn pro, most of the top female amateurs don't go to college.
Teenagers Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie, who has cast a publicity shadow over all of the young players in the LPGA, never really considered college golf.
"I really enjoyed college," says Lang, 21. "I played for a great coach on good teams. It was fun. I miss college, but I know I made the right decision."
Lang is in Springfield, Ill., where she begins play today in the State Farm Classic, the second event she played after turning pro 13 months ago. She has not won a tournament, but she is the top American rookie on the money list with $351,875. She's 25th in earnings, one spot higher than Pressel.
"Our rookie class has a lot of great players," Lang says. "I don't feel like I've been overlooked. If I continue to improve, I'll get the recognition. I haven't played well enough to get it."
This year's rookie class has 37 players, the most in the tour's history. Lang ranks sixth in rookie points, and Pressel ranks third.Seon-Hwa Lee, one of seven first-year players from South Korea, has a commanding lead. Lang expects her to win the rookie title, although there are four more events that award points.
"We have a lot of good international players, and I believe that's good for the game," Lang says. "We're all after the same things. We want to play good golf, win some tournaments and make a living."
Lang has been a big winner at every other level of golf, so she's confident she can win pro events. She got early recognition from the casual golf fan when she and Pressel tied for second at the 2005 U.S. Women's Open.
Pressel, known because she qualified for the Women's Open as a 12-year-old, followed the Women's Open with a victory in the U.S. Women's Amateur.
"I'm sure I put a little bit of pressure on myself trying to win early this year," says Lang, who won six tournaments in two years at Duke. "I will win. It's going to happen."
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