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When Alena Sharp teed it up this week in the Monday qualifier for the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, she had made it through exactly one Monday qualifier. After 20 years as a tour professional, the only Monday qualifier Sharp ever advanced through was two years ago in Grand Rapids, Mich. During her 20-year career, Sharp was in the field most weeks, had accumulated almost $3 million in earnings, represented Canada in two Olympics, and rarely needed to show up on a Monday. That changed in 2022, when Sharp lost her LPGA playing privileges, and began spending time on the Epson Tour and chasing qualifiers.

Sharp hadn’t been successful in her past two Monday qualifying bids at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., but on this occasion she shot 4 under and birdied the first playoff hole to earn a spot in the field. It was also the way she started her round. 

“I think it always helps on a Monday when you birdie the first hole,” Sharp says. “Get the first birdie out of the way and you’re off to the races. It was a nice start to the day.” 

Sharp played steadily all day, turning in 3 under and making birdie on the 17th to keep her hopes alive. When she looked at her phone after her round, she saw she was leading. Poor cell service made leaderboard updates unreliable, and she knew the day was far from over. Two spots were available. When Sophia Schubert posted 5 under and Muni He signed for 4 under, Sharp’s mood changed from hopeful to nervous. 

On the par-4 1st hole, He had a 20-footer for birdie, while Sharp had only seven feet. When He’s putt came to rest a foot short in the heart, Sharp knew what she had to do. 

“My putt was straight up the hill and there wasn’t a lot of break on it,” Sharp says. “I knew if I just stuck to my routine and hit a good putt, it had a good chance to go in.” Sharp went through her process, put a good roll on it and holed the putt.

Sharp’s wife, Sarah, was caddying for another LPGA player on Monday, and after she finished, the two enjoyed a celebratory dinner. The couple has two exciting weeks ahead: Sharp was given a sponsor’s exemption into next week’s Ford Championship presented by KCC at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Ariz., where she has been a member since 2009. 

“This is amazing to get two starts in a row after sitting and waiting on the alternate list with the status I have from Q-series,” Sharp says. “Next week is my home course, so it’s kind of nice to get the nerves of playing an LPGA event out of the way this week.”

Sharp has been challenged over the past two years. When she lost her LPGA status, she began working with Pete Lockett on her swing. The two decided Sharp should change her shot shape from a draw to a cut – a daring decision for a player with so much experience and past success. But with retirement as the alternative, a bold change was exactly what was needed. 

“I was just so tired of being afraid of the left miss,” Sharp says. “I just went to work. I had a good year last year. I hit more greens and I was more consistent. It’s easier to control on the golf course.” 

Sharp eliminated one side of the course by playing a fade, and when her short game improved, the results were remarkably consistent. Last June, she won the Champions Fore Change Invitational on the Epson Tour, her first win since 2014, and didn’t miss an Epson cut all season. Sharp finished T-38 at LPGA Q-series at season’s end, which meant she’d spend the first half of the LPGA season on the alternate list awaiting a call, or chasing qualifiers. 

Sharp contended in her first Epson event of this season in Winter Haven, Fla., finishing T-5, four shots behind Valerie Plata. It was encouraging for Sharp to pick back up where she ended last season. She’s building momentum but believes it’s more than that. 

“I feel like my game all around is better now than it was when I had my best years on the tour,” Sharp says. “So now I just need to get starts and keep playing.”

Sharp knows the next two weeks are significant opportunities because she may not get another shot on the LPGA Tour for months. She knows she’ll be nervous this week, but advancing through the Monday qualifier gives her a chance to get acclimated to LPGA pressure before she heads back to her home course, where expectations will be high. 

The past two years of uncertainty and resurgence have given Sharp a new perspective. She was on the inside looking out for so long, but now she savors every opportunity and is more resilient. Those gifts fuel her passion for the game and help Sharp recognize the value of a successful Monday qualifier. 

“I had feelings of being inferior and almost feeling washed up yesterday,” she says. “I just went out there today, did my thing and made it. It’s amazing how a day can change your outlook on things. I just love this game and love to get better.”

Sharp returned from the depths of losing her LPGA status stronger than ever, and after a long, successful career, is reaching even higher. 

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