It’s almost like she never left.
At just 30 years old, Sandra Changkija retired from playing professionally on the LPGA Tour. But with 2024 marking her fourth time qualifying for a major as an LPGA Professional, there hasn’t been much time to miss watching her play competitively.
Changkija is an LPGA and PGA Class A Professional who served as the First Assistant Golf Professional at Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate. And while she was planning on defending her title at this year’s North Florida PGA Assistant Professional Championship on June 3rd, Changkija can no longer play because she changed her professional status from Assistant Golf Professional to Golf Administrator, as she is starting in her new role as Manager of Alumni and Foundation Board Relations with the LPGA Foundation in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Her golf journey started with an innocent bribe from her father at just five years old. Growing up in Northern Virginia, Changkija’s father was a member of the Thai Golfer’s Association. Each Sunday, he would sneak a smaller golf club into his bag and convince his five-year-old daughter to hit a few shots from the red tee box on the par 3s. Her reward was driving the golf cart. “To me, that was the sell to go out there and start playing the game of golf,” said Changkija.
Starting her competitive career at the young age of 13, Changkija participated in tournaments with the Virginia State Golf Association and the Mid-Atlantic PGA. She moved to Florida and immersed herself in the golf world and began working at the local golf shop.
As the LPGA Tour grew, so too did her interest in the women’s competitive game. She was inspired watching the big names: Annika Sörenstam, Karrie Webb and Se-Ri Pak. “Those three really made golf interesting and fun and helped pave the way for the rest of us,” said Changkija.
At Nova Southeastern University, she propelled her competitive career forward playing Division II golf. From 2007 to 2011, she recorded 16 individual wins, became the only four-time NCAA Division II Player of the Year, was named a four-time Division II All-American first-team selection, as well as the 2010 and 2011 Sunshine State Conference Female Athlete of the Year. Although decorated with all these awards, her highest accomplishment came just ahead of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open.
Changkija would become exceptional at first attempts in her golfing career, but 2010 would mark the start of her qualifying accomplishments. As a Junior at Nova Southeastern University, she qualified on her first-ever attempt for the U.S. Women’s Open, contested that year at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. “Once I had qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open, I set my mind on Q-School,” said Changkija. “I think that’s when I really became serious about playing professionally.”
Upon graduation, and after only six months playing on the Epson Tour in 2011, she traveled to LPGA International for Final Qualifying with the goal of earning her Tour card. Again, Changkija found success after her first attempt and began her rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 2012.
After eight years on the LPGA Tour at age 30, she made the decision to retire at the end of the 2019 season.
“I would have liked to play professionally up until my 40s and 50s, but that just didn’t seem realistic,” said Changkija. “Thirty seemed like a good excuse to where I had graduated college, did everything I had wanted to do, play professionally, and it was just time to get a big girl job.”
From learning about the PGM Program through her high school part-time job to sharing a bond with the women on the LPGA Tour, it was important to Changkija upon retirement to become an LPGA Professional and PGA of America Member. “It’s great to be a part of this sisterhood and know that there are a lot of other female instructors, directors and head professionals out there.” said Changkija.
But the drive for competition has never left her, as she competed in many LPGA and PGA events as a club professional. Changkija won the Women’s Stroke Play Championship three years in a row starting in 2021 at PGA Golf Club. In 2022, she came out on top at the LPGA Professionals National Championship at Kingsmill Resort, earning her a sure path to the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. And for the fourth year in a row as an LPGA Professional, she will be traveling to Sahalee Country Club, in Sammamish, Washington, as one of the eight professionals competing alongside the world’s best players at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
“I still treat this the same as if I was a Tour player,” said Changkija. “Maybe the intensity is turned down a little bit, but I’m still playing, I’m still trying to hit my target, and I am confident in my game heading into that week.”
Changkija will have a little bit of an advantage heading into this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, having played at the competitive levels of the LPGA Tour and having teed it up in this same event the last time the KPMG came to Sahalee in 2016. Her goals for the week are nothing short of playing through the weekend, and even finishing in the top 20 on the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.
There is something to be said about those whose early-age passion for one thing sticks with them throughout the rest of their life, making it more than safe to say that Changkija’s five-year-old self would look up to her now and be proud of what she’s accomplished both on and off the golf course.
“Looking back, the advice I would give my younger self is always believe in yourself,” said Changkija. “Just be positive. The people around you really do believe in you.”
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