DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It was crunch time last Sunday in the last round of the L.P.G.A.'s final qualifying tournament, and history and milestones were not the top priority for two young golfers trying to earn playing status for the 2013 tour.
Shasta Averyhardt and Ginger Howard knew what was at stake if they played well enough to earn a tour card in the 90-hole tournament. Averyhardt and Howard, among the few black women in professional golf, were also aware that others were watching.
When she earned her tour card for the 2011 season, Averyhardt became the fourth black player in L.P.G.A. history. She tried to play down her achievement while showing appreciation for the many fans who came to see her play.
Financial struggles and injuries left her wondering if she could pursue her dream, but Averyhardt said her hope was restored by the minority youths who looked up to her during junior clinics and pro-ams.
"Typically, people who come from small towns or urban areas want to get out, or they want to do something great for their lives or for their families," said Averyhardt, a 26-year-old from Flint, Mich., whose mother is Mexican and father is African-American. "I feel like I can be a testament to that."
Howard, an 18-year-old rookie, also hopes to encourage young players. Her younger sister Robbi has emerged as a top junior player, and Howard wondered if they could do for women's golf what the Williams sisters have done for women's tennis.
"I don't really look at color, but a lot of people ask about it because I'm one of only a few African-Americans in women's golf," said Howard, a Philadelphia native who lives with her parents and three younger siblings in Bradenton, Fla. "I have high expectations because it keeps me driving toward my goals, and I want to try to inspire people."
Averyhardt lost her L.P.G.A. status last December and returned to Q-School this year hoping to regain her tour card. Howard did not earn L.P.G.A. membership last December and aimed to qualify after playing a full 2012 season on the L.P.G.A's development circuit, the Symetra Tour.
Among those monitoring their progress is Sisters Across America, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2006 to mentor young minority women seeking to play professional golf.
Averyhardt, who began playing the game when she was 10, was the first golfer sponsored by the group, which helped pay her tour expenses and tournament entry fees from March 2009 through July. She has aged out of the program, but Howard became eligible when she turned 18 and will receive support from Sisters Across America next season.
"Ever since we started supporting Shasta, I wanted to provide the mentoring, financial support or whatever she needs to play on the L.P.G.A. Tour," said Deloris Jones, the organization's president. "The same is true with Ginger."
The organization holds two tournaments each year to raise money for the sponsorship program. It also hopes to attract sponsors to help cover expenses incurred by program participants. With corporate support, the group could provide up to $80,000 per player each year, Jones said.
The organization also functions as a nationwide network. Whenever Averyhardt was traveling and playing tournaments, the group would ask members in the area to provide support, housing and transportation. Without the support of Sisters Across America, Averyhardt said, she would not have been able to begin her professional golf career.
Averyhardt and Howard took different paths to the final qualifying tournament. Averyhardt, who earned an accounting degree from Jackson State in 2008, struggled as an L.P.G.A. rookie in 2011. Without full status, she bounced between the Symetra and L.P.G.A. tours. She missed cuts and produced spotty performances.
Just as Averyhardt gained L.P.G.A. membership, tendinitis flared in her left wrist, a result of swing changes. Her new swing placed pressure on her slender 6-foot-1-inch frame and weak upper body.
"It was very painful, but I felt obligated to play," Averyhardt said. "I should have taken medical leave, but I felt like I was playing for a lot of other people."
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