BOCA RATON, Fla. — Katelyn Corr's softball accolades last spring included setting the Stony Brook single-season record for runs scored and earning America East All-Conference, All-Championship and All-Academic honors.

Now, Corr is on the verge of a professional career in a recently adopted sport.

Since graduating from Stony Brook in May with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Corr has vigorously pursued a golf career with the intent of qualifying for the LPGA Tour next August at Q-School.

A Connecticut native, she has relocated to Boca Raton, Fla., where she trains six days a week, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.— working during mornings at the driving range and on her short game and in the afternoons playing on the course.

"I've been making really big strides," said Corr, who turned 22 on Monday.

Corr had dabbled with golf while growing up, going to a driving range a handful of times each summer and once playing a nine-hole course. But she was using her father's righty clubs at the time. A lefty hitter in softball, she now has a proper set of her own clubs and is swinging from her natural left side.

In Florida, Corr has been learning the sport alongside two former Division I track and field athletes — Alexis Gray from the University of Cincinnati and Phillip Jagers from the University of Akron. The intensive golf lessons are aimed at seriously upgrading her skill level in a short period of time.

When Corr began training in early June, she largely was incapable of cracking a score of 100. These days, she can comfortably get into the 70s.

"I'm driving the ball longer. I can putt without three-putting," she said. "Overall, my swing is much more smooth."

The golf opportunity came about unexpectedly.

Stony Brook softball coach Megan Bryant had received an email from Florida Atlantic University coach Joan Joyce — one of the greatest pitchers in fastpitch softball history, who went on to play on the LPGA Tour.

Joyce was trying to help identify a graduating Division I student-athlete with no real golf experience, but who was high on athleticism, to learn the sport with former PGA golfer David Lee with the hope of preparing the person for a pro golf career.
 
Bryant immediately thought of Corr, who was receptive. Assistant coach Benet Higgs prepared a video for the competitive process to demonstrate Corr's athleticism.

"I thought, 'Katelyn is a great athlete. Her father is a golfer,'" Bryant said. "I could just see, with her lefty swing, she'd be good for this. And she has a great work ethic and drive."

Had the opportunity not presented itself, Corr planned to take a year hiatus from her education. She then intended to enroll in medical school.
 
An outfielder who hails from Suffield, Conn., Corr appeared in all 51 games for the Seawolves last season as a senior. She produced a career-high .379 batting average and reached base in 26 straight games at one point. Her 57 runs scored now top Stony Brook's single-season record book — comfortably exceeding the previous mark established by Stephanie DiBiase (47) in 2003.

Corr plans to begin playing in mini-tournaments in February to further prepare for Q School, where she could earn her LPGA card. All of her expenses are being picked up during her training by the company that is preparing her. If she does qualify for the LPGA Tour, that company will get a share of her earnings as compensation for its investment.

"To make the LPGA Tour would mean everything to me," Corr said. "It is the ultimate goal. I have worked extremely hard to get to the level I am at now. Seeing the hard work pay off in the future would be very fulfilling."