Chasing Pars Golf Podcast

(Ep 171) The Chevron Championship Preview

It's the first women's major of the year at The Chevron Championship where it will get held in Texas for the 3rd year in a row at Carlton Woods as World Number 1 Nelly Korda looks to defend her title and World Number 2 Jeeno Thitikul is the single priced favourite to capture a first major title. This Jack Nicklaus course is playing about 6,911 yards which by Ladies standards is super long so off the tee and distance will be key and elite iron play will also be a factor. 
I was joined by Scott Mader to dissect who we think has what it takes to become the next Chevron champion while going through majority of the names at the top's chances while also giving our plays further down the board in what should be an interesting Chevron!
Be sure to Download in the usual places via Podbean, Apple & Spotify. Thanks 

(Ep 170) Polly Mack

In this latest episode I was joined by LPGA Tour card holder and the 2023 LPGA Tour Longest Driver Polly Mack who was in the midst of preparing for the upcoming LPGA Tour tournament at JM Eagle LA Championship at new course El Caballero!
Polly is from Berlin, Germany & went to 2 American Universities at both University of Nevada and University of Alabama where with the latter Polly would win NCAA Franklin Regional to participate in NCAA Division 1 Women's Championship and was also named both 2018 Mountain West Player of the Year and 2018 Mountain West Freshman of the Year. During her Amateur career she also represented Germany on 3 occasions at European Amateur Ladies' Team Championship.
Polly would turn pro in June 2022 and would gain starts on Epson Tour where she made 8 out of 11 cuts before finishing T15th at LPGA Final Q School at the end of 2022 to gain an LPGA Tour card for 2023 where she also held LET status starting off 2023 with a T13th at Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco before also playing her first ever major championship at Chevron Championship at Carlton Woods in Texas, an experience that Polly certainly loves to talk about. Polly would keep her status on LPGA for 2024 and would start off slow before a respectable T21st at Ford Championship in Arizona would occur before playing 2 Majors at Chevron & KPMG PGA Championship at Sahalee CC. In the summer Polly would have a good run of T39th at CPKC Women's Open in Canada, a career best T5th at Portland Classic  and T14th at Kroger Queen City Championship which would help elevate her to 72nd in last year CME standings. 
We learn about Polly's detour when travelling to Australia after finding out last minute that she was in the field for Blue Bay LPGA in China having to literally go through passport control then to go back out again in the other direction, the life of a professional Golfer right there folks..
As always I hope you enjoy and be sure to download, subscribe and like via Podbean, Spotify & Apple. Please also be sure to leave a 5 star rate and review as we keep improving. Thanks Polly for being a good guest! 

(Ep 169) Danielle Thwaites (was Masters)

In this latest episode I was joined by former Ladies European Tour professional Danielle Thwaites who was Danielle Masters when she played on tour.
First thing's first please subscribe and listen into Danielle's new venture Birdies n Banter on YouTube where you will see interviews with former colleagues, range swings and golf clothing!
Danielle played golf at an early age believe it or not with left handed clubs to start with then eventually had to change over to right handed clubs. Danielle represented England at various tournaments alongside the likes of Sophie Walker and was a part of Vagliano Trophy in 2003 & a part of the Curtis Cup in 2004 at Formby where they had a superstar on the US side in the form of Michelle Wie. 
Danielle would turn pro in 2004 and would successfully gain her LET Card at the first time of asking which is a very impressive feat and would be out on tour for 4 full seasons before injuries would affect her progress before she would become a mother to 2 children. Since she gave up tour life she has become a successfully qualified Chiropodist with her own business, plays golf again at County level in Kent & is happily married with hubby John and has 2 kids now! 
Danielle recently got the chance to start up on a new venture with the Going OB podcast with Craig Purves where she would co-host after a successful episode together. 
 
Download and like via Podbean, Apple & Spotify and be sure to give Danielle some loving after a good episode! Wish Danni all the best with Birdies n Banter!
Thanks 

(Ep 168) Hira Naveed

As the LPGA Tour returns this week after a 3 week hiatus I was joined by New Zealand born Aussie pro Hira Naveed who returns to the scene of her career best finish of 2nd at last year's Ford Championship in Arizona over the road at Seville Golf & Country Club where she challenged the world number 1 Nelly Korda finishing 2 shots behind the best player in the world.
 
Although born in New Zealand, Hira spent majority of her childhood in Perth, Australia and went to University in Los Angeles where she ended up finishing 5th in the all time scoring list with 73.59 and would be a part of the 2019 Palmer Cup side for Team International which they would win against USA. In 2019 Hira turned Pro before the disruption of 2020 where she was cut off from any sort of tournament play but played on Epson Tour in 2021 with a career best finish on Epson of T4th in 2022. Hira would meet well renowned Golf Coach Chris Mayson and would certainly work towards improving. Hira would gain her LPGA Tour card for 2024 season after finishing T15th at Final Stage Q School in 2023.
 
Last year Hira made her bow at LPGA Tour level and had a few Top 20s and she even admits that it could have been better but still a respectable 72nd finish on the Race to CME Globe standings to keep her card. So far Hira has started with 3 straight cuts made including a 8th placed finish at Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh and returns to the state of Arizona where she is very comfortable with having played a heap of events in AZ on Epson Tour & openly admitted she loves playing in hot weather and desert golf.
 
Downloads via Podbean, Apple and Spotify! Be sure to give a listen and thanks to Hira Naveed for being a good guest!
 
Enjoy!

Caddy Series Ep 7 (167, Jordan Chatt)

As the episodes keep coming I was joined by Ladies European Tour caddy and one of my favourite people in the world Jordan Chatt as he phoned in last week from Coffs Harbour to give us an overview of the week, course conditions at the time as well as the aftermath of Alfred Cyclone and it's effects.
Jordan started caddying in 2018 starting as a 16 year old lad caddying for in his own words 'Rich Americans' and developed a love for caddying and helping players reach their potential afterwards. Jordan would alongside Annabell Fuller qualify for AIG Women's Open at St Andrews last year in what would be his first major and the most special one as it sadly was one of the last times his late mother would see him on the course.
As of this year Jordan started the first few events in Morocco, Saudi & Taiwan with experienced winner Perrine Delacour learning different things along the way before bagging with Megan Dennis for last weeks Australian Women's Classic where they unfortunately missed the cut. Hopefully will see more of Jordan on tour this year! 
In a short space of time Jordy has developed into a good friend and it's great to see him out there doing well even with the dodgy accent ha ha!
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(Caddy Series Ep 6, 166) Ryan Hilton

In this episode as we continue the Caddy Series I was joined by LPGA Tour caddy Ryan Hilton who just come back from an abrupt end to Singapore after his current player Jenny Shin had to withdraw due to a fever but Jenny should be fine for the next event in Arizona.
Ryan is from the Mid West of America and isn't too far from Erin Hills where this year's US Women's Open will be held! Ryan started his caddying career after meeting with a fellow pro while working as a coach at local golf course and last year was on the bag for 4x LET Winner Alexandra Försterling in her Rookie Year on LPGA and played events such as AIG Women's Open at St Andrews & Olympics for Germany. This year he got the call from Jenny Shin to work for her and started out together back in Australia before Thailand and Singapore. 
Hope you enjoy this insight from Ryan into life as a pro caddy. 
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(Ep 165) Jana Melichová

In one of the most open, honest and heartbreaking interviews I've done so far I was joined by 2x LET winner Jana Melichova who is currently still recovering from a back injury that required some surgery with Jana hoping to make it back on tour to defend her title at Dutch Ladies Open in May as only recently of late has she been able to start hitting balls again!
Jana is from Pikovice outside of Prague in Czechia and is very close with Former podcast guest Sara Kouskova as well as the other Czech players Klara Davidson Spilkova, Krystina Napaleova and Tereza Melecka. She would go to the States for a scholarship at Old Dominion University in Virginia going on to win an individual title while also competing in 6x European Amateur Team Championships for Czechia as well as winning All American honours after finishing 13th at NCAA Division 1.
Jana would play a few events on tour as an Amateur including Czech Ladies Open on LET and Czech Ladies Challenge on LETAS. In 2022 Jana Melichova would make history by becoming only the 2nd player from Czech Republic to win on Ladies European Tour having won Czech Ladies Open by a shot defeating both fellow home favourite Klara Spilkova & the experienced Nicole Broch Estrup what makes it more impressive is Jana was still an Amateur!
Shortly after turning pro in 2022 Jana's life would change forever with the sad unexpected passing if her beloved mother and Jana bravely opens up about the impact that this tragic unfortunate event has played a role in her life and how she is trying to become more open and honest about it with the assistance of a Mental Coach. For at least 10 mins Jana bravely, fearlessly and amazingly fully opens up about the last few years and I have nothing but pure respect and admiration to her for that! It was written in the stars in May of last year at Dutch Ladies Open as Jana would win for the 2nd time on Tour on what would have been her mothers 60th Birthday weekend so it was a highly emotional victory for her and let out floods of emotions as she capitalised on the mistakes of Kim Metraux coming down the stretch to win for 2nd time!
Please be sure to Like, Subscribe,  Download while leaving some nice comments on Apple Podcasts, Podbean and Spotify and give this amazingly brave lady the love and support she needs. She deserves your listens! Powerful, raw and emotional and I hope you enjoy it!

(Ep 164) Sara Byrne

The player interviews continue as I was joined by rising star & 2024 Curtis Cup star Sara Byrne who tees it up this week on the Epson Tour in Florida after winning both status on LET & Epson Tour. Primarily Sara will be focusing for the time being on Epson Tour as she bids on her quest to achieve a life goal dream of becoming a LPGA Tour player.
A successful figure at University of Miami Sara was ranked as high as 44th in World Amateur Golf Rankings & is a 2x Irish National Champion. It's been a stellar Amateur career for Sara having at University of Miami she achieved the lowest scoring average in UoM history (70.34), won 2 NCAA D1 Tournaments, participated at World Amateur Team Championship in 2023, competed at 2024 Palmer Cup and would go undefeated in a historic run at 2024 Curtis Cup for GB&I at Sunningdale where she & Augusta National Women's Amateur Champion Lottie Woad would go undefeated in Fourballs & Foursomes while Sara would defeat Catherine Park 3&2 on Sunday Singles. 
After Curtis Cup Sara would turn pro and get her professional debut at Rose Ladies Open event on LETAS finishing T13th & would also make the weekend of both La Sella Open (T41st) & Lacoste Ladies Open De France (T28th). At LET Final Q School after 5 gruelling rounds Sara would finish 15th overall to gain her full LET Card for 2025 along with Epson Tour card. In her first start as a LET member Sara would be right into contention even taking the lead at the first event of season at Lalla Meryem Cup eventually finishing T24th. 
I wish Sara the best for 2025 on Epson Tour. 
 
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(Ep 163) Dorthea Forbrigd

In this episode I was joined by current Ladies European Tour member Dorthea Forbrigd as she called I before Morocco a couple of weeks back while back home in beautiful Oslo, Norway. 
Dorthea is a 2x Norweigan National Champion, 4x East Carolina University Collegiate title winner, while she has also played in European Amateur Team Championships & World Amateur Team Championships for Norway and is a 2x European Ladies Amateur participant. Growing up Dorthea played multiple sports such as Cross Country Skiing, Football & Tennis. 
Dorthea turned Pro in 2021  and managed to gain Category 18 status on LET and would play LET/LETAS in 2022 with a couple of 6th placed finishes at Hauts De France & Elite Hotels Open. In 2023 Forbrigd would gain confidence with an 11th at Czech Ladies Open & 17th at VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open while finishing T3rd at PGA Championship Goteborg & T2nd at Lombardia Ladies Open on LETAS. In 2024 she had some solid finishes with a T16th at Investec SA Women's Open, T19th at VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, T20th at Aramco Series London, a career best finish of T5th at Dutch Ladies Open  while also playing multiple Aramco Series events & Scottish Women's Open this all contributed to Dorthea finishing inside the Top 70 to gain good status for 2025 on LET. 
Had good fun with Dorthea and u hope you enjoy it!
 
Thanks as always for the continued support,  Like, Subscribe, Download via Podbean, Apple, Spotify and all other providers!

(Ep 162) Lisa Pettersson

In this episode I was joined by Swedish LET title winner Lisa Pettersson as we found out about her preparation just before last week's first LET event in Rabat, Morocco. A lot of things have changed for Lisa having recently got married to her long term partner and recalls the unfortunate story of her now husband getting involved in a slight skiing accident causing a fractured elbow that required surgery just a couple of days before the wedding, thankfully everything worked out! 
Lisa is from Stockholm, Sweden currently residing in Solna just outside of Stockholm and won Most Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete at East Carolina University. Lisa turned Professional in 2018 and while admittedly struggling she managed to win Swedish Matchplay on Nordic Tour and would play on Symetra Tour now Epson Tour in 2019 and discusses States life. In 2020 I Civid year Lisa in Arizona would win on Cactus Tour Arizona & finished 2nd behind the legend Anna Nordqvist not long after.
At Final Stage LET Q School in 2021 Lisa would finish 2nd to gain LET status for 2022 and would hold the clubhouse lead at Skaftö Open before narrowly missing out to Linn Grant. 2023 would be much better with a T6th at Aramco Team Series - Hong Kong before winning her home open in Helsingborg in June defeating Ana Pelaez Trivino by a shot to win her maiden title. At Dromoland in Ireland Lisa would get into a playoff at Irish Women's Open with Smilla Tarning Soenderby & Anne Van Dam before losing out to eventual winner Smilla Tarning Søenderby who had produce a worldie of a round to win. 
A nice episode was had with Lisa and I hope you enjoy!
 
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