SYLVANIA, Ohio — Before this week began, 22-year-old Mary Kelly Mulcahy had accomplished more than most amateur golfers her age.
Playing in the 40th LPGA Dana Open didn't even appear on her preseason to-do list. She's happy to make an exception though as her play has led to a professional debut.
"Just really enjoy it," Mulcahy said. "Look around, soak it all in, smile and have fun."
It's a simple approach for a rising local talent.
"It's going to be really cool playing close to home, I know I'll have a lot of support here," she said. "Proving that no matter who you are, where you come from, what school you play for or how old you are, you can do anything you want."
On Monday, Mulcahy took to Highland Meadows Golf Club and qualified for this week's tournament. She shot a round of 70 (-1) to force a playoff with fellow American Brianna Do.
The drama didn't last long after Mulcahy birdied the opening hole to clinch her spot in the Dana Open. Yet, even with the stakes of her first professional tournament on the line, she felt no nerves.
"Not really, no, and I don't even know why," she said.
A history of self-composure and determination dates back to her youth when she first came across the sport of golf alongside her sisters.
"Really fell in love with it when they were 10, worked really hard," her father, Steve Mulcahy, said. "When I look at this I see how hard she has worked to prepare for something like this and it's an incredible opportunity."
A native of Allen County, Mulcahy helped lead Lima Central Catholic High School to three straight OHSAA State Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Individually, she finished no worse than sixth in states in all four years of high school.
With her twin sister, Erin, the two began their collegiate careers at the University of Findlay. Once again, success quickly followed after securing the program's first national championship in program history two years ago.
"Obviously it's great for the school and for the golf program," head coach Dominic Guarnieri said. "Everything that she has done is because of her hard work and dedication."
Mulcahy was named NCAA Division II National Player of the Year this past season as a junior and her momentum has swung to new heights.
On July 7, Mulcahy became the only non-Division I player to card a 4-0 record in the Palmer Cup, which also led to a Team USA win. The young phenom has since also qualified for the 124th U.S. Women's Amateur in Tulsa, Okla., next month.
Mulcahy also set the UF program record with a scoring average of 71.20, has the most tournament wins in the country with seven and spent most of the year ranked No. 1.
"This summer has been incredible," Steve Mulcahy said. "She's taken another jump in her skill."
Mulcahy will tee off in her first career LPGA event at 9:10 a.m. on Thursday.
Highland Meadows GC is a course the Mulcahy family knows well and has become fitting for the occasion.
"It's kind of circling back that I'm watching my daughter play on a golf course I've played a hundred times in an area that I'm very familiar with," Steve, a former University of Toledo golfer, said.
The pins have aligned for a memorable week of golf. Although Mulcahy may have not predicted to be in this position, she remains eager to play against the best in the world.
"At the beginning of the year, I wrote down a goal list and this wasn't one of them," she said. "Just shows that hard work pays off and when you are succeeding, it makes me want to work even harder."
Mulcahy's stellar summer can be attributed to her mentality and mechanics.
"Just the way she's striking the ball now compared to a couple of months ago is something that's stuck out to me," Guarnieri said. "She's always been exceptional on and around the greens, but she's hitting it so much better right now."
The opening round of the LPGA Dana Open begins on Thursday, with the final round airing Sunday on WTOL 11.