Purchase, NY - Former Panther golfer Ryan Ekey is embarking on a pro career in the sport that he shined in during his days at Purchase College.

Ekey entered his first tournament as a professional golfer in the Florida chapter of the Special Olympics Fundraiser Pro-AM at the Fountains Golf Club in Lake Worth, FL last week.

Ekey, a 2005 Harrison High School graduate, attended Purchase and finished his schoolwork in the spring semester of 2011.  After spending the summer months caddying at nearby Brae Burn Country Club and playing in local Metropolitan Golf Association tournaments, Ryan decided to move to Florida to pursue his passion for the game of golf.  "I wasn't sure that I wanted to turn pro but after being down here (in Florida) for a few months, it dawned on me that this is what I want to do with my life,” he said. “I love the game of golf and hopefully there's a place for me in it as a professional."

While at Purchase, Ekey was the first Panther to ever win a tournament as an individual, shooting a 9 over par 80 during the 2009 Sage Spring invitational.  "The golf team was just a club sport then but that was a fun event," Ekey recalls.

He went on to play with Purchase in its first full semester as an NCAA varsity squad in the fall of that same year but injury forced him off the course.  Ekey though still has fond memories of his time on the team at Purchase, "Playing at Purchase was a great experience for me and it's good to see that the program is growing every year.  Hopefully the guys will be able to really contend for a conference championship next season."

When asked about the program, Ekey explains, "The Purchase golf team has a tremendous advantage, being located in the area that it is.  With courses like Old Oaks, Doral Arrowwood and now Fairview available, it's a great place to go and play collegiately."

Ekey, 24, now resides in Lake Worth.  He plans on entering as many tournaments as he can now that he's turned pro.  "It's going to be a challenge but this is what I want to do.  I'm looking forward to it."