NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WCMH) — A 15-year-old New Albany golf phenom has taken a major step towards a professional career before she turns 16.

Mia Hammond, the Ohio high school girls golf champion in 2023, has signed deal with Columbus-based company Sterling Sports Management for name, image, and likeness representation. Based on Ohio High School Athletic Association rules, Hammond’s deal forfeits her amateur status and makes her ineligible to play golf with New Albany High School.

In May 2022, Ohio high school principals voted down a referendum to allow OHSAA athletes to sign NIL deals and keep their amateur status. Currently, nine states allow high school athletes to sign endorsement deals.

Hammond has partnerships with PING and Adidas, a spokesperson with Sterling Sports Management group confirmed to NBC4. They added they are hoping to announce further deals and that Hammond does want to return to play LPGA events in 2024 while competing in amateur events and considering college golf.

Hammond burst onto the scene last year when she made her LPGA debut at the Dana Open in Sylvania, Ohio. She shot 5 under par to win the Monday qualifier before finishing tied 26th in the tournament as the youngest player competing. She also competed in the Queen City Tournament in Cincinnati, where she missed the cut.

Additionally, the New Albany high schooler represented her country at the World Junior Golf Championships in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Team USA finished in sixth.

“The thing is about Mia’s game is it’s incredibly bulletproof, no matter the situation,” said Kyle Morris, the owner of The Golf Room in Dublin, who has been working with Hammond since she was 9. “It’s not like her game is overly dependent on other aspects of her game. It’s very steady so if she can get some putts to fall, her playing really, really good, and winning, it’s not out of the question.”

The LPGA season begins on Feb. 22 in Thailand. Both of the events Hammond played in Ohio — The Dana Open and the Queen City Championship — are on the 2024 schedule.