There are normally few brighter smiles on the LPGA Tour than the one belonging to Sarah Kemp.
But 2017 has tested even Kemp's ability to flash her pearly whites.
After a flat weekend at Royal Adelaide in February, the former dual Australian Stroke Play champion walked away from her LPGA Tour season-opener with $US4,141 in her pocket.
Remarkably, almost seven months later, that remains her 2017 LPGA Tour total.
Kemp, of Tuncurry on the NSW mid-north coast, has shown only glimpses of her best form, but hasn't been able to maintain it en route to missing 10 consecutive LPGA Tour cuts since leaving Australia with hopes high.
But today, with her season in tatters, the delightful 31-year-old seemingly found "it".
Kemp signed for a four-under-par 68 at the Indy Women in Tech Championship in Indianapolis.
It left her five adrift of a red-hot Lexi Thompson in the lead, but at T19, Kemp has that most precious of commodities when things aren't going well — hope.
Importantly, the round, her lowest of the season, came without a bogey as Kemp desperately tries to climb out of the money list basement and keep her card for 2018.
With seven events between next week's final major, the Evian Championship, and the season-ending Tour Championship, Kemp will be forced to scurry to as many global venues as her status will allow in a mad race to keep her status.
The top 100 women on the LPGA Tour's money list keep their full cards for next season. The next 125 having partial status but automatic entry to the final stage of Q-school where they can improve their status.
From that point, it can e either limited LPGA starts or back to the secondary Symetra Tour.
Veteran Wendy Doolan aside, Kemp is the only Aussie on the LPGA Tour who doesn't appear safe for next season.
As it stands, Kemp is about $73K from the top 100 and about $44K from the top 125.
But based on her fighting qualities and her undoubted ability to go low, you can't write her off.
She has, hope. Finally.
LPGA TOUR 2017 MONEY LIST
THE AUSSIES
No. Name Money ($US)
—————————————————
19 Minjee Lee 697,083
31 Katherine Kirk 429,937
50 Sarah Jane Smith 248,227
55 Su Oh 226,876
66 Karrie Webb 168,498
169 Wendy Doolan 4255
170 Sarah Kemp 4141
THE NUMBERS TO CHASE
1 Sung Hyun Park 1,878,615
100 Amelia Lewis 77,055
125 Dori Carter 48,353