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	It’s called the development tour for a reason…
	story Mike Beggs   photographs Scott A. Miller It appears Jessica Shepley, now in her fifth season on the Duramed FUTURES Tour (the official stepping stone to the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour), has acquired the poise to excel in this ultra-competitive stratosphere. She can drive the ball with the best of them (265 to 275 yards!), but by her own admission, this Oakville lady has all too often let one or two bad holes ruin her round. She’s also had her share of disappointment. Having earned her LPGA Tour card in 2008, she has yet to play in a single LPGA event, because only the Top 5 money winners on the FUTURES Tour are called in as LPGA alternates.  But based out of the sunny climes of Orlando, and with sponsors like Ping, for clothing, this outgoing, 27-year-old likes where she’s at. “I’m good,” she says, just off a tour stop in Puerto Vallarta. “I used to get pretty angry and down on myself. I think, in that respect, I’ve really started to make some big strides. I definitely think I can grind out there, when things aren’t going well.” A case in point was her first tour victory, coming on home soil at the Canadian PGA Women’s Championship at Dundas Golf & Curling Club last August. On her final round, Shepley shook off an early bogey and carded six birdies to claim the $11,500 winner’s share. On the tenth hole, she received a boost when Canadian female golf legend and personal mentor, Marlene Stewart Streit, popped up in the gallery. She responded by rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt. “That was very cool to finish my season like that,” she said of the title. “I’d finished second a few times on the FUTURES Tour.” Winning had come easy for her as a Junior at Trafalgar Golf Club and as a multi-sport standout at Iroquois Ridge Secondary School (in basketball, volleyball and track). Her brothers were both hockey players (Zach plays Major Junior A with the Brampton Battalion). “My parents were wonderful about giving us a variety of sports to try. I enjoyed the travel and meeting people (that comes with golf),” she relates. “I continued to play everything in high school, but spring and summer, I focused on golf.” She ultimately landed a scholarship to the University of Tennessee, where she captained the Lady Vols for three years. She collected 13 Top 10 finishes and was a two-time Southeastern Conference first team and a two-time NCAA Academic American. Shepley is one of the brightest hopes to join fellow Canadians Lorie Kane, Dawn Coe-Jones, and Alena Sharp as solid LPGA pros.  But with “very high” expectations of herself she feels “there wasn’t a lot of progress made” in her first few years on the tour, although she did place in the Top 10 on the FUTURES Tour in 2008 with $37,705 in prize money. She credits her coach Sean Foley (who also works with PGA Tour pros like Stephen Ames) with teaching her to take the highs and lows in stride while out on the course. “Sean’s the first individual to help me see that (bigger picture). Sometimes it just takes somebody new to say things in a different way for you to understand it. He gave me lots of reading, and it just made sense to me,” she said. “I’m definitely beginning to enjoy my rounds, and I’m not so worried about what’s happening. I’m really enjoying each shot. If you’re in a good place mentally and spiritually, that’s going to help overall and result in a better golf game.” And while the development tour conjures up visions of a gruelling life, driving between tour stops, she says, “It’s a good grind. I’ve kind of figured out my way and made some great friends with the host families – people so warm and friendly in each town. “I love to travel. I’m lucky. Some people don’t enjoy the travel. I’m fine to drive.” she said. “There’s times I miss home, but I’ve created a wonderful life down here. I’m basically living in paradise, with great friends.” The past year has offered thrills from playing a few Asian Tour events to running a leg of the 2010 Winter Olympic Torch Relay when it passed through Oakville. She also has a strategy for finally busting out of the FUTURES Tour. “Part of my game plan this year is to give everything the same amount of attention and bring each skill set to the next level,” she offers. “Other than that, enjoy. Go play and have a successful career. There’s a lot of work I do outside in the community, so it’s a good fit for me. I have a lot of (charity) projects in my mind, and golf is one of the vehicles I can use. We’re all put here to help each other out.” “Golf is added to the Olympics in 2016,” she continues, “so that’s definitely on my list.” GL