Chasing Pars Golf Podcast

(Ep 177) Stacy Bregman

In another player interview I was joined by Ladies European Tour veteran Stacy Bregman.
After a brief interaction with Stacy at Abama when doing on course walk and talk with Hitaashee Bakshi we talk about all things Abama (especially the hills!!) I think the overall consensus is that the players although it was a hike they all loved it in Tenerife. 
Stacy is from Johannesburg in South Africa and started playing the game at about 13 years old, she achieved South African colours for Karate 7 times and was 2004 Sports Woman of the Year at King David Linksfield School. In 2006 Stacy alongside Ashleigh Simon (Buhai) & Kelli Shean would participate for Team South Africa at Espirito Santo Trophy on home soil in Stellenbosch which the 3 ladies would win.
Stacy in her long and established professional career has record 7 wins on Sunshine Ladies Tour and would win the team event at 2021 Aramco Team Series - Sotogrande along with Ash Buhai & Hayley Davis. Stacy has held her Tour card on LET since 2007 so is into her 18th season on tour without losing her card that is massively impressive achievement and longevity! 
This was a mixture of serious golf chat in with some very funny moments including learning about her being a Black Belt in Karate and Stacy's karaoke song of choice. Be sure to Listen, Download, Like & Subscribe via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. 
Had a lot of fun with this one, enjoy!

(Ep 176) Michaela Finn

In this episode a couple weeks later than originally planned I was joined by LET Card Holder for this year Michaela Finn who called in from Ohio.
Michaela splits her time between Jacksonville, Florida & Ohio and when she goes home to Sweden she resides outside of Brastad. In her time at Kent State University in Ohio, Michaela won 2017 Mid-American Conference Championship, 3x Mid-American Conference First Team Selection & participated in the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship in 2019. 
Michaela has represented Sweden on a number of occasion as a Junior/Amateur having been as partner the National selection for 2012 European Young Masters, 2014 World Amateur Team Championship in Canada where she got a Silver Medal alongside Emma Svensson & Filippa Möörk, 2014 European Girls' Team Championship finishing 3rd & 2017 European Ladies' Team Championship finishing 3rd. 
Michaela turned Pro in 2019 and would win 2019 Åhus Open on Swedish Golf Tour defeating Sara Kjellker by 1 shot at Kristianstad Golf Club. In 2020 Michaela would join Symetra Tour (Epson Tour) but only played few events due to Covid Pandemic. In 2021 at Symetra Tour Championship Michaela would shoot a history making -11 61 a record she still co-holds to this day alongside Fatima Fernandez Cano. At 2024 LET Final Q School finals Finn would finish T8th to gain full Ladies European Tour membership for season 2025 which has resulted in a few starts this year.
 
Interesting fact is that Michaela also works for Backswing Company raising over $7,000 for charity in one of her last fundraiser events. She also loves to cook and has her own special recipe for Traditional Swedish Meatballs.
As always be sure to check it out if possible. Download via Podbean,  Apple Podcasts and Spotify and be sure to tell me what you think, thank you Michaela for coming on to chat.
Enjoy.

(Ep 175) Tenerife Women's Open Day 2 (with Bakshi, Wilson & McClymont)

On Day 2 here at Abama Golf for this week's Tenerife Womens Open on Ladies European Tour after a brief walk of the course on the back 9 towards home I caught up with 2024 Hero Indian Women's National number 1 player Hitaashee Bakshi who has had a decent start to life on LET with a T36th at Jabra Ladies Open & T12th at Dutch Women's Open alongside caddy Nathan Free, this potential star of the future has been pro since 17 years of age and we chat about her association with the well renowned DLF course in India as we break down what it takes to play there as well as go through the different head covers that she uses including some of her favourites.
We also caught up with 6x European Am Team Championship participant for Ireland Annabel Wilson who is making her way onto the tour having turned Pro in 2024 after a good Amateur career in the States. Annabel played the game in Scotland at 7 years old and with the Open Championship at Royal Portrush this year about half and hour away from Annabel we go into what it means for Northern Irish Golf.
Last interview is with 2024 Curtis Cup winner with GB&Ire Lorna McClymont who is finding her way through a mixture of LET & LETAS and talks through her experiences so far on tour, her time as an International Scholar at University of Stirling as well as of course the whole experience at last year's Curtis Cup event at Sunningdale where Great Britain & Ireland defeated America on home soil which included Mimi Rhodes, Sara Byrne & Lottie Woad. 
I hope you all enjoy as I had great fun doing these, as always like, Download and Subscribe via Podbean, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Here's to more!

(Ep 174) Tenerife Womens Open Day 1 (with Danielle Du Toit)

As people are aware I am Tenerife this week for Tenerife Womens Open on Ladies European Tour. On the first day I walked the back 9 at Abama Golf with Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Danielle Du Toit as we done a walk and talk at the Par 4 15th. 
We discuss her win on Sunshine Ladies Tour back in SA in February as well as other fun stuff, be sure to listen in, tomorrow there will be more content from Day 2 with a few audio interviews. Enjoy

(Ep 173) Fernanda Lira

In this episode I was joined by Mexican pro Fernanda Lira who has joined from back in Mexico City ahead of a sponsors invite into this week's Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, the first Mexican event on LPGA Tour in over 8 years. We talk about how prestigious the Mexican events are for the likes of Fernanda, Gaby Lopez, Maria Fassi & Isabella Fierro and the lasting impact of LPGA legend and former World Number 1 player Lorena Ochoa has had on the development for future Mexican players. 
Fernanda is from Mexico City and started playing the game at about 6 years old due to the old Mario Golf game along with her brother and went to University of Central Arkansas winning events at college level at UoCA and was Freshman of the Year in her time there where she would also meet her now husband Ryan Shuttleworth who caddies on the LET with Alexandra Swayne currently. Fun fact Fernanda adopted a street dog called Poncho.
Fernanda turned Pro in 2019 and would win in 2020 on Women's All Pro Tour at Crown Colony Challenge and would also win on WAPT in 2021 at Mountain Ranch Championship. Fernanda's biggest triumph would be winning 2021 Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Michigan on Epson Tour defeating Isi Gabsa, Sophia Schubert, Danielle Iacobelli & a certain 2x Major Champion and former best player in the world Lilia Vu by a whopping 6 shots. At the end of 2023 Fer would finish T5th at LET Final Q School to gain status for 2024 where she had her Rookie season on Ladies European Tour with best finishes of T22nd at KPMG Women's Irish Open, T32nd at Lacoste Ladies Open de France and T33rd at Amundi German Masters. 
Fernanda not only plays this week in Mexico on a sponsors invite but she also got a sponsors invitation to play the next LET event at Tenerife Open in 2 weeks time at Abama Golf. 
Download & Like/Subscribe via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Thank you Fernanda all the best for 2025.

(Ep 172) Moa Folke

In another player interview I was joined by Ladies European Tour pro and the very talented Moa Folke who called in from back home in Tranås, Sweden before flying out to South Korea for Aramco Series Korea then the European swing in the summer. Tranås is also where Kajsa Arwefjäll was originally brought up. 
A representative of Landeryds Golfklubb, Moa would go to Murray State University in Kentucky where she would be a 4x Ohio Valley Conference 1st team selection as part of Murray State Racers and was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year for 2017 whilst also competing at NCAA Championships twice. 
Moa would turn pro in 2018 and would win on Swedish Golf Tour in 2019 at Tegelberga Open defeating Linn Grant & Emma Svensson by a whopping 6 shots. At the end of 2021.
 
Moa would gain her LET Card at Final Q School for the 2022 season and at Dromoland Castle for KPMG Women's Irish Open Moa would be the 36 hole leader after shooting at -10 62 on Friday. In 2023 in the Sunshine Ladies Tour Folke would win Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am at -8 by 3 shots to Annelise Caudal, that would set up for a good run on LET with 2 runner ups at Joburg Ladies Open and Lacoste Ladies Open de France as well as T9th at KPMG Women's Irish Open. In 2024 by Moa"s own admission was worse as she admitted trying to force things after a good 2023 ultimately leading to finishing 38th on LET Order of Merit.
In 2025 it's been a solid start for Moa as she would post a respectable T14th at PIF Saudi Ladies Intl in a high quality field, was in contention at Australian Women's Classic before unfortunately a final round 77 propelled her to T27th then T5th at Ford NSW Open in Woollongong. She currently sits in 21st on LET Order of Merit standings and with a big European run coming up hopefully we will see Moa challenging more often.
Great player even better person. Lovely and down to earth. 
 
Download via Podbean, Apple & Spotify and be sure to like and subscribe. Thanks

(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!