Hitting off the first tee in an ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament is a far cry from driving a dump truck in the Kalgoorlie Super Pit but local amateur Ebony Riordan is comfortable doing both.

The Kalgoorlie Golf Club champion, Riordan has earned herself an invite to this week’s TX Civil & Logistics WA PGA Championship being played on her home course.

It’s a prospect that was terrifying for the 31-year-old, but now that tournament week has arrived Riordan is excited to get on course.

“It’s been daunting right from the start. I was trying to figure out every way to pull out. But the last few weeks I have actually been pretty pumped and I’m excited now,” said Riordan.

“I am probably more relaxed because I’m not expecting to win or anything; it is just a great opportunity.

“It’s also nice for the golf club to have a local playing; they have always been very supportive of my golf.”

An accomplished golfer, Riordan once dreamed of playing professionally before her passion for the game ebbed.

“Golf has always been part of my life. I grew up in a little country town in South Australia; mum and dad, my brothers and grandparents all played,” added Riordan.

“I went through all the State and Australian amateur rankings and it was always the plan to turn Pro.

“But when I got to about 24-years-old, the pressure got to me. People were trying to help me out with sponsorship and it got a bit much.

“I wasn’t enjoying the game anymore, so I came over to Kalgoorlie. I drive dump trucks at the Super Pit and I have been in mining for six years.

“Now I love playing more than I ever did, it’s a lot more relaxing.”

This week will require something extra special from Riordan as she plays from the championship tees, the same as the men.

“Off the ladies tees I am hitting 8 or 9irons into all the par-4’s  and I can reach most of the par-5’s in two,” said Riordan, who’s best round at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course was 6-under the card off the ladies tees, versus 4-over off the championship tees.

“This week I will be hitting 4irons or rescues into all the par-4’s. I have played a few rounds off the backs now so I’ll just see how I go.

“The 5^th hole is probably my worst hole, it’s quite long and I will have to hit off the back tees which makes it even longer for me.

“But I love the four finishing holes, I think they are some of the best I have ever seen anywhere.”

Here for the experience, Riordan isn’t expecting to win the title but also won’t be satisfied with finishing at the bottom end of the leaderboard.

“I just don’t want to be dead last after the first two rounds. I would also love to break 80 both rounds,” added Riordan, who joins the likes of Minjee Lee and Hannah Green to play an ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament as amateurs.

“It does make me feel a bit better to know that no other girl has made the cut in an Aussie tour tournament either.”

The TX Civil & Logistics WA PGA Championship will be played at Kalgoorlie Golf Course from 18-21 May for a prize purse of $110,000.

In addition to prize money, the winner will also receive Official World Golf Ranking Points and be fully exempt onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2018 season.