THOMASVILLE — Jessica Welch sees golf as a stepladder.

She’s elevated her game from college to a professional level, and next week, she will have crossed off one more milestone in her career.

The Thomasville resident recently qualified for the 2017 Women’s U.S. Open, and she hopes to take everything she’s learned over the years into that appearance.

Welch shot 73 and 64 in the qualifier on June 9, which took place at Sugar Mill Country Club in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. She held her own and eventually had the opportunity to close in.

“I felt good going into the second 18 knowing I was still in the hunt,” Welch said. “It kind of just all came together.”

“I had my mom and dad with me. They don’t get to come on the road with me a whole lot. Having them with me and having my dad on the bag… That was probably the most special part.”

Her dad, Tommy Welch, was the head football coach at Thomasville High School from 2000 to 2004, where he led the Bulldogs to three region titles. It was during that time when Jessica was honing her skills at Glen Arven, where she continues to practice to this day.

She attended college at Jacksonville University, where she earned all-conference honors for three years in a row. She was the Atlantic Sun Conference golfer of the year in 2015.

Welch’s qualification for the U.S. Open is just another part of what’s been a milestone year for her, as this is her rookie year on the Symetra Tour — One step away from the LPGA Tour.

“They say it’s your learning year and it really is,” Welch said. “You learn how to travel the right way, how to manage your practice round. You’re at the course for a whole week and you don’t want to beat yourself to death by the actual first day comes around. The last couple of weeks have been coming together. I’ve been hitting the ball well and I feel good.”

Now facing a bigger stage, Welch is confident about where she is. Still, she feels like she could work on some things with the competition she’ll be facing.

“They always say in the Open pars are good,” Welch said. “Right now I’m feeling good with off the tee and my iron shot’s still incredible. I’m hoping to take the momentum of how I putted the last week on Symetra. I feel like I have a little bit of work to do on my short game. You’ve got to have a good short game at the Open.

“Growing up, when you’re on the course and you’re walking down the fairway playing, you’re always picturing yourself in the U.S. Open. I like to drink it all in, not get too far ahead or behind and stay in the moment.”

The Women’s U.S. Open will take place beginning Thursday at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. and will be televised by Fox Sports.