Recently, Avis Brown-Riley also became the first African-American to qualify and play in the U.S. Women’s Senior Open.

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Avis Brown-Riley, photo -USGA

As Brown-Riley arrives at the next level in her storied career, she is proving that you can definitely get a second chance to make a first impression.

Brown-Riley has been playing golf since the age of seven. She won the 1974 Junior World Championship (at Presidio Hills) when she was only ten years of age. Brown-Riley went on to rack up many more tournament wins during her formative years, which had her looking forward to Q school and a groundbreaking career as a touring LPGA professional golfer.

Alas, life has a way of altering one’s “best laid plans.” Serious and debilitating health issues sidelined Brown-Riley and shattered her hopes to play professional golf, so she chose to enter the corporate world instead.

Brown-Riley, who then had a storied 25-year career at Fed Ex, never gave up her dream of becoming a full-fledged member of the LPGA. She went on to earn her LPGA Professional Class A membership. Now, in her later years (at age 58) she is one of only 13 African American females to earn an LPGA teaching card. Recently, Brown-Riley also became the first African-American to qualify and play in the U.S. Women’s Senior Open, which was held several weeks ago at the NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.  Said Brown-Riley speaking of the accomplishment, “The time has come, and the moment is now…that vision has come to light.”

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