Come July, Bermuda's only female golf pro will bid to qualify for the 49th US Women's Open Championship, which is scheduled for Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Detroit, from July 21-24.

Symonds will attempt to qualify on July 7 at Grenelefe Resort in Haines City, Florida, one of 10 qualifying venues.

There are over 40 spots exempted to the championship, which is expected to have a field of 147 and about $850,000 in prize money for the top 60 finishers who survive the cut after 36 holes. Laurie Merten is the defending champion.

Symonds, in her first major venture overseas, is not looking past her qualifying event.

"I'm thrilled just to be getting the exposure, going out there and playing against these women,'' she said. "This is the largest tournament in the world for women.'' Symonds, 33, has been encouraged by professionals, both local and overseas, to pursue playing in tournaments overseas. Now, she admits it is time to make the step, having been persuaded by fellow St. George's Golf Club pro Kim Swan to start with the US Women's Championships.

"It's time I did something because I'm not going anywhere on this Island with my talent,'' Symonds said.

"Kim's been pushing me for the past two years saying, `Jan, you should do something'. He said it again to me last week, to see if I had an entry form for the World Championships. I contacted Tom Smith (BGA secretary) and he mailed one to me the next day. Kim is very proud of me.'' Another local pro, Lloyd James, who plays regularly at the Grenelefe Resort, has also been giving Symonds encouragement. "Kim says I won't have any problems qualifying on the course. I think this is the beginning of something, maybe doing one or two events each year.'' Being a wife and mother -- to four girls between two and 16 -- makes it difficult for Symonds to travel for extended periods, which rules out an attempt an LPGA Tour card.

"It always was in the back of my mind,'' said the St. Georgian. "I know I'm good enough, I've had people tell me that.

"Donald Page who runs the Massachusetts Ladies Open tells me I've got the length (she hits about 250 yards off the tee) and that I hit the ball far enough, but I just have to get out there.

"My husband (Mansfield) is very supportive when it comes to my game. Every tournament he is there which is great. Marilyn Smith, one of LPGA founders who I had the opportunity to play with here about two years ago on the pro day of the Easter Lily, told me I reminded her of Laura Davis who plays on the pro tour. She is also tall and hits the ball long.'' Obviously as a pro, amateur tournaments are closed to her, as is the men-only Bermuda Open. She can compete in any other BPGA tournament.

She has played in only one overseas tournament as a professional, when she took part in a Father's Day Tournament in the Poconos about five years ago that Bill Simmons had organised. She won the pro division.

Before she turned pro in the mid-1980s, Symonds represented Bermuda in Caracas, Venezuela, in the World Amateur Team Championships along with Judithann Astwood, Jean Mylrea and captain Diana Diel. She said it was the highlight of her career.

Also in the mid-80s, she won the stroke play championship in the same year she lost to Joan Commisar on the 33rd hole of the match play at Port Royal GC.

These days her competition comes from the men and she proudly says she holds her own.

"I get to hit off the white tees in tournaments, which some of them don't like,'' she said.

Symonds plans to travel to Florida at least a couple of days before the tournament to get used to what she is told are lightning-quick greens.

JANICE SYMONDS -- July 7 qualifying date.