Middlebury-born Patty Sheehan and Berlin native/Essex Junction resident Libby Smith have been Vermont’s only representatives at the highest level of women’s professional golf, the LPGA. Shelburne resident Molly Aronsson plans to increase that number to three within the not-too-distant future. Aronsson, born in Detroit but raised in the Green Mountains since she was two, is in the final weeks of a stellar collegiate career at the University of Washington and she knows what she will do once she has her diploma in hand: give the professional life a try. "I’ve been working really hard the last year, year-and-a-half, and I realize I want to play professional golf," said Aronsson, who spent one-and-a-half years at Rice Memorial High School before attending the IMG golf academy in Florida. A former soccer, hockey (she skated youth hockey with UVM’s Peter Lenes and St. Lawrence’s Peter Child) and tennis player, Aronsson said she had often wondered over the years which sport she should pursue.

"The past few months, and even last summer, the results remind me I’m doing the right thing," said Aronsson, the three-time Vermont women’s amateur champion and two-time runner-up. Before succumbing to the lure of the pro life, Aronsson said she hopes her college career will last a little longer. The Huskies will compete in an NCAA regional in Greenville, N.C., this weekend with the intention of qualifying for the national championships May 18-21 in Wilmington, N.C. The top eight teams plus the leading two individuals from non-qualifying teams will advance from each of three regionals. "I think the whole year we’ve had all the talent to be one of the top 15 teams," said Aronsson, who conceded the Huskies have struggled to be consistent.

Individually, Aronsson said, "Of course, I want to go to the nationals and I’m hoping the team can make it through. If we don’t, I’ll try to get through as an individual. I’m just going to go, have fun, and play the best I can." This year, Aronsson is second on the team in stroke average at 75.61 per round. In the last four Washington competitions, she has been the Huskies’ low scorer three times and was second the other. Aronsson has the low round of the year for UW, a five-under par 67. "I’ve started to come around, but sometimes it’s hard when someone is playing sports toward a professional career and some are there to be college players," she said. "We’ve taken upon ourselves to work hard. "I’m playing well and working hard. I’m trying to be a leader and show other players that hard work pays off," the philosophy major said. "Everyone’s stepping up."

In her time at Washington, Aronsson said she has worked extensively on her swing, but added that she considers her biggest improvement to be in how she approaches the game. "My mental game has developed a lot," she said. "I can say now I’m a lot more committed over the ball than I had been and I understand who I am as a player."

Although she has studied other players, including the top women professionals, she said she had to "figure out what worked for me as an individual. When you grow up in the game, so many people give advice. I had to figure out what worked for Molly rather than find other people (to duplicate). I had to learn how to play golf my own way," she said. Swing coach Joe Thiel helped Aronsson simplify her swing and make it "more repeatable," leading to more consistency. After the college season ends, she said she anticipates staying amateur for a while – possibly for the summer with the goal of attending the LPGA qualifying school in the fall. She recently met with a representative from Titleist – "That was exciting and made me feel I’m on the right track to look into a professional career" – and could turn pro earlier. If she does, she will not defend her Vermont Amateur title at Neshobe Golf Club on Aug. 17-19. "I love playing in that tournament. I’ve built a good bond with the ladies, especially the players my age," said Aronsson, the champion in ’06, ’07 and ’09. "If I’m still an amateur player, I’ll probably be there."

In the meantime, there’s that NCAA matter to attend to this weekend and, with a good four rounds, an NCAA finale two weeks later.