As the leaves on the trees of our favorite golf courses return to their vibrant greens, we usher in a season of fresh beginnings with the indomitable Lauren, a beacon of inspiration for anyone who's ever dared to swap their cleats for golf spikes. Her story is one of resilience and evolution, transitioning from the rough-and-tumble world of Gaelic football and camogie to the serene greens of the golf course. At just 11 years old, Lauren sidestepped the familiar to embrace the fairways, a move that saw her donning the Irish colors by her mid-teens. She debunks the myth of early specialization in sports, affirming that her athletic prowess was galvanized by her diverse sporting background.
Navigating the collegiate realm posed a new set of challenges and triumphs for Lauren as she teed off on a journey of personal and professional growth. Wake Forest's esteemed golf program provided not just a stage but a catapult for her talents, where the camaraderie and competition elevated her game to new heights. Reminiscing about her first wins and course records, both at home and abroad, she paints a vivid picture of her ascent through the ranks—amidst the backdrop of the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic. Off the course, the delicate act of juggling academics and athletics comes to the fore, shedding light on the discipline and determination required to excel in both arenas.
Peering into the crystal ball of the upcoming golf season, we're privy to the innermost thoughts and strategies of a golfer at the precipice of her professional career. The mental fortitude and meticulous preparation Lauren undertakes for the rigors of Q-School encapsulates the essence of competitive golf. With aspirations of triumphs on the Ladies European Tour, she embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the sport. As we bid her success in the forthcoming year, we acknowledge the patience, dedication, and unwavering support of the community rallying behind her, knowing that each swing brings her closer to etching her name among the golfing greats.
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As the leaves on the trees of our favorite golf courses return to their vibrant greens, we usher in a season of fresh beginnings with the indomitable Lauren, a beacon of inspiration for anyone who's ever dared to swap their cleats for golf spikes. Her story is one of resilience and evolution, transitioning from the rough-and-tumble world of Gaelic football and camogie to the serene greens of the golf course. At just 11 years old, Lauren sidestepped the familiar to embrace the fairways, a move that saw her donning the Irish colors by her mid-teens. She debunks the myth of early specialization in sports, affirming that her athletic prowess was galvanized by her diverse sporting background.
Navigating the collegiate realm posed a new set of challenges and triumphs for Lauren as she teed off on a journey of personal and professional growth. Wake Forest's esteemed golf program provided not just a stage but a catapult for her talents, where the camaraderie and competition elevated her game to new heights. Reminiscing about her first wins and course records, both at home and abroad, she paints a vivid picture of her ascent through the ranks—amidst the backdrop of the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic. Off the course, the delicate act of juggling academics and athletics comes to the fore, shedding light on the discipline and determination required to excel in both arenas.
Peering into the crystal ball of the upcoming golf season, we're privy to the innermost thoughts and strategies of a golfer at the precipice of her professional career. The mental fortitude and meticulous preparation Lauren undertakes for the rigors of Q-School encapsulates the essence of competitive golf. With aspirations of triumphs on the Ladies European Tour, she embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the sport. As we bid her success in the forthcoming year, we acknowledge the patience, dedication, and unwavering support of the community rallying behind her, knowing that each swing brings her closer to etching her name among the golfing greats.
Follow amateur info
https://instagram.com/irish_amateur_golf_info?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Okay, welcome back to the Irish and podcast. This week I'm joined by Lauren. Watch Lauren. Welcome to the part. How are you?
Speaker 2:Thank you very much for having me on.
Speaker 1:Not at all, and a nice break from the practicing in the cold today.
Speaker 2:Yes, you know January in Ireland is always going to be a little cold and not so favorable conditions for golf. But has to be done to get a gym session in a cold rain session.
Speaker 1:So 100%, and I suppose, like as you said, it's just something that has to be done. But let's go back to the start a little bit first, lauren, I suppose before we get into the present day. So when did you take up golf?
Speaker 2:So I was a little later compared to, I guess, some juniors that take it up. I took it up around 11. I grew up playing a lot of gay football and Komogi and that was more what I was into as a kid and kind of just fell into golf. My sister played with a group of her friends and I tagged along just to play golf or just to play another sports that I say and got bit by the golf ball and started practicing and playing some competitions and fell in love with the game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think it is something I suppose like quickly on my part, because it's all over the store for that. Like there's always that kind of mix of the GA background and golf kind of comes at some point. So at what point do you start looking at golf as I suppose specializing in it or even just kind of it becomes the main sport for?
Speaker 2:you. For me that was very much led by the injuries that I kind of picked up through playing other sports. I broke my arm two years in a row and had damaged like ligaments in my ankle and stuff like that. So yeah, I was just getting sick of being out of sports for six weeks for some injuries. So I figured golf was something that probably not likely to pick up an injury in, and it was probably. I was probably 13, 14 around that summer when I was like, yeah, you know, I think I started playing golf a little bit more full time, played some more competition throughout the summer and probably started coaching with Shane then the year after and started to get better at it, which is always always more fun when you're playing better. So, yeah, just just went from there.
Speaker 1:Cool yeah, and I suppose that's it. I suppose, like it's any progression in anything that we do. I suppose it's something that's going to bring us back. But so kind of 13, 14 is when you start with cheering a little bit so like what kind of handicap you're playing off at that point.
Speaker 2:So to be honest with you, my again, we played in a bunch of different competitions and you know we're trying to figure out, you know, if we were going to start coaching or something and my sister was going into transition year at the time and so she went out for one lesson with Shane. I think she was off maybe 11 and I was off 16. And while my sister, my sister, my dad were there and they were just chatting away and dad goes oh yeah, like my sister Claude has a younger, younger sister, and Shane was like why isn't she here too? So I then kind of went for the next one the month after. So I think I was off 16 handicap at the time. I think I got down to five that year and you know, progressing to scratch and beyond and still working with Shane to the day. So yeah, it's been great to have his support over the last number of years and yeah, it's funny thinking back how long, how long I've been working with them. But yeah, definitely big pride of how I got to today.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if it's not broke you don't go fixing it like it's a partnership. That's worked really well, I suppose, since then, and that's something, I suppose that people kind of get very mixed up on, particularly in today's world where, like, social media kind of says that every child specializes at a sport when they're six years of age and it's the only way to get good. And I'd read somewhere before that you were kind of playing off that kind of a handicap at that age and that's kind of. One of the reasons I wanted to bring it up is that once you get into the game, if you put enough effort in, there's always going to be progression. They're like yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And you know I was only, as I said, I was off about 16 at that point and I think I was around 13 then, but you know, got down to close to scratch and was playing for Ireland at 15, 16. And yeah, I think if you work hard at something and you enjoy that, you put in the work, then you know there's a lot of possibilities in the game, and not just in golf and everything. And yeah, as you mentioned, I think it's important to grow playing a bunch of different sports. You know, you never know what door all of them open. And just for your athleticism and your handoff and like coordination, I would always encourage kids to play as many different sports as they can. You know, for me I took I didn't really take up golf seriously until I was about 11 or 12. So we can still be done at that age.
Speaker 1:So yeah, no, that's it. So like once you start getting to, I suppose junior championships and stuff like does the GA background are just, I suppose, the competitiveness that you would have had from playing sports earlier, like does that really start kind of honing in on your own game as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think so. I think my personality I was always very competitive. I think my parents will always testify that. You know, from the time I was one or two years old, I always wanted to win at everything I did. You know, anything my sister was doing, I wanted to do better. So I think that was a little bit of my personality growing up. And then obviously, as you mentioned, playing the other sports, you know, being a part of a team. I think that really pushed me to want to get better, to play for a team in golf. Normally in golf that means you're doing well, you've been successful as an individual if you're playing for a team. So having that background as a team sport, representing something more than just yourself, was a big motivation to. You know, go on to play for Lentz, dern, interose and then eventually Ireland and stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I suppose having Clara ahead you with the staff this was, gives you a nice target to achieve, doesn't?
Speaker 2:it. Yeah, it was hit it further than her or get her handicapped lower than each other. And yeah, I know she's, you know, a big part of why I took up the game and yeah, always, always to have that motivation there to. You know, keep up with her was always good and, you know, eventually I passed her. But yeah, she's a huge part of what I've done and even the success I've had. You know, she, she caddies for me sometimes as well, and some of the bigger tournaments I played as I, as I kind of progressed. So yeah, her support's been great over the years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, sibling rivalry is kind of the fastest way to success. Really is not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would agree.
Speaker 1:Like you mentioned your family like and your parents kind of know that you're competitive with something as well like I suppose you are very invested in golf and like something that just came to my mind as you were talking about, the family was up in Bali, liffen, last year. I remember seeing your younger brother and I'm guessing he was probably six or seven, around around that age running the hills like just to keep up with play like. So it's very much a family of fear for you, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my parents didn't really grow up playing. My dad kind of probably started around the same time we did. But you know my little brother, he just turned eight last week so he's been reared on a golf course. I think all the girls remember him being born and, you know, traveling to the tournaments from the time he was six months old. So yeah, he's, he's very good. I think Bali Liffen was one of the first times he did 18 or almost 36 holes around.
Speaker 2:So again, growing up kind of watching me play, he kind of has a golf bug himself now, which is exciting. So, yeah, we got out for a couple of holes over Christmas time, but like that he's, he's into everything he's playing, as Ghan is hurling and football and all of it. So yeah, it's fun to be able to share that with him and, you know, for myself and dad to be able to go out and play a few holes of them. I think golf is such a cool sport in that sense that you know you can have an such a variety in age and be able to go do something together. So yeah, it's a cool thing we can now do as a family.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's, it's a very as it was. It's very easy to create special memories in that way. So I suppose then, as you start progressing through championships, Lauren, like what was junior golf like for you?
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I feel like I had a quite like successful junior career, you know, and I was able to, you know, win one or two girls championships and, you know, started playing for Ireland in 2016.
Speaker 2:I made my girls first cap at home internationals and we actually won that for the first time in the history of home internationals the girls one, for the Irish girls one, should I say.
Speaker 2:So that's such a special memory, it's always one that sticks out for me and and yeah, then went on to, you know, I got called up onto the ladies team my last year of girls golf. So clearly made that progression quite quickly. But yeah, I was always kind of, you know, me and my coach, shane, sat down years ago and you know, kind of drew out a pyramid of goals and kind of different levels to step up and again, this was probably when I started with them. I was starting on about 14, 15 and on the top of it was cardoscope and it was kind of like each step we kind of go through of what I need to do to keep getting better. So, yeah, progress through junior golf and you know kind of climbed one or two of those ranks in the pyramids and that progressed on to my ladies, ladies, career and to be fair to you, like you're extremely modest.
Speaker 1:You kind of brushed over how good all of that stuff really was. Like you, your progression, I just said, like from kind of 12th or 13 to like, I'm guessing, kind of 17. It's like being called up for Ireland and stuff is doesn't happen that easy. Like there's a lot of work was on in the background to make that happen and so like as you start, like I suppose around the same time as the call up for Ireland, I suppose college stuff is kind of really kind of taken them center stage in your life. So how do you come across wake?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think, even in my overall like progression as a golfer, I think transition year was a big year for me. I'm kind of going into that year and I just played for my first cap for Ireland at homes. And then, you know, I had a couple of friends that were a little bit older that were kind of starting to go over to college in the States in America, and it was. I knew it was something that could be a possibility for me. So I kind of said, you know, look all, put a lot into my golf and TY and see kind of where that takes me at the end of the summer. And if I get some college offer is great, and if not, I was actually quite academic, I was considering going down the medicine route and stuff like that. So I said, look after two while have a good idea of where I'm going.
Speaker 2:So you know, fortunately enough, that somewhere I played really nicely, represented Ireland again, and then a bunch of the college coaches were over following at Europeans and at the British Girls Championship. So, yeah, a few of them got in contact with me and one of them being Wake Forest, and and yeah, from the very beginning it was just a good fit for me. It was good academically, great facilities, good weather, yeah, pretty much a perfect match.
Speaker 1:Yeah and like, as you said, it kind of ticks a lot of boxes, I suppose. Like being academic, you like you always wanted something that was going to have a fallback, I suppose. But you end up in Wake like one of the tougher schools, particularly to get on the starting team and and you kind of slot in Very quickly. I suppose your results leading into a group were very good and then but if you get to a can qualifying and stuff, but what's your initial memories of turning up at Wake?
Speaker 2:Like yeah, it's actually interesting. When I was being recruited and I was kind of between two schools and at the time it was Alabama and Wake Forest and at the time Alabama we're like contending for the national championship and Wake Forest probably weren't having their best. You there were kind of they'd lost a couple players and and. But it was interesting. By the time I actually got to Wake Forest the first week we had just finished runners-up in the national championship the year before and so obviously coming into a very strong team. And Jennifer Cupchow had just graduated, who world number one amateur at the time.
Speaker 2:So I think there was a lot of pressure on the team to kind of keep going at the at the rate they had done the previous season. So it was very cool to kind of come into an environment that Almost people like expected us to win. I think that did a lot for my confidence too. I kind of knew if I could hang with these girls and go to tournaments and you know people expect us to play well. That was probably a bit of a new experience for me, but I think it's something that really benefited me. Practicing alongside these girls that are top 15 the world Every day was was something that really brought the best out of my game and, yeah, it was a really good experience to kind of build on and like your team background here.
Speaker 1:So like where did that be at a young age? In jail, like, particularly more so, like with the European teams and Ireland and stuff. Like how much does that benefit you going into the college set up?
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely. I think all the travel that we did and like the different types of golf courses we played, the Amount of tournament golf we played just like competitive rounds I was fortunate I had a lot of them coming into coming into college golf and and you, I guess the pressure of like playing for Ireland or dealing with that supposed pressure I guess was was a big thing and that probably helped me coming into college, dealing with playing in bigger tournaments or playing in front of cameras and TV for the first time. I think all my experience in representing Ireland definitely helped deal with all of those added things that weren't just the golf shots we were trying to hit and so, yeah, I think all of all of those experiences really helped me in that transition.
Speaker 1:And the true fashion of how I would. My podcast were probably going to go a bit all over the place here, but what was your first win like ladies win, I would remember of it.
Speaker 2:Like in Ireland or wherever it was. Yeah, I won the Connacht Ladies. I'm going to say it was 2017. No, sorry, 2018, because that was my last year in girls golf. First year of ladies golf was Connacht Ladies. I shot the course record, shot seven under the final right to win.
Speaker 1:That's kind of. I think I kind of know I'd missed it. I think it's again like being able to do perform at that level at your age again progression and everything else. But setting course records and kind of again like that was again one of the big factors we can all get a college is like you kind of start to stand out a lot at that point and then your first college win what was the record?
Speaker 2:So, as I mentioned, I think, the second tournament we played we won as a team and, like I think we won for the first six tournaments we played as a team that year and then, I guess individually, in the middle of my first year in college, covid hit. So I went back my second year in college and played two individual tournaments. So I won both of those, that kind of I guess the first semester of my second year, my sophomore year, as they call it, and again, they weren't necessarily college tournaments because we weren't competing as a team because of COVID. But I think those two wins in the States really set me up. You know, they kind of brought my ranking up, kind of put me in a position for Cardis Cops and Augusta and some of the other cool things I went on to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, 100%, and I think that's again like it's progression, so like if you can see it again, doing it in Ireland is one thing and then doing it internationally for Ireland, but again, a lot of the top Irish players end up in America. Because you're playing against the top players in the world so often, so like to get a win over in America is always going to be very special and, again, like I suppose the confidence you take from that is kind of a big factor, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely. You know, at the time I was kind of waiting up do I stay home in Ireland for the semester, Because we had that option with COVID, or do I go back in? For me it was a no bring. I said I'll go back practice, I'll get better if I can play in some of these tournaments. Great, and you know it worked out and you know that gave me great confidence built running into the next year and, like that, really paid off. I think I made great strides that year and takes off a lot of things that following summer. That that was pretty special.
Speaker 1:Pretty special, exactly, and just something there I suppose I've mentioned at the very start of the part. But you were practicing in the cold up in the Australian range today, so what was the practice setup like for you in Wake Forest?
Speaker 2:I guess everything you could dream of Good weather like a big range with you know four different heating areas, but basically we could hit from wherever we wanted in the facility. We'd four chipping greens and putting greens, you know, two with bent grass, two with Bermuda grass. So you know we could get that practice on different grass types. And that was all on campus. So the joke is it's a pitching wedge away from your, from your dorm where you live. So you know there's no excuse not to get better over there.
Speaker 2:It was on campus. You were never more than a 10 minute walk from the facility, so it was really easy to get up and down to in between classes or after classes. Throughout COVID. We could do our online class there and then just head straight out to the to get some practice in. So yeah, it was a pretty special place. We had use of a couple of golf courses around as well that were very good to us and really good golf courses as well. So yeah, I was, I was really fortunate there and luckily I can still go back. So even kind of towards the end of last year, kind of in preparation for Q school, I went back over to get some practice in there because, yeah, easiest place to get better at.
Speaker 1:Exactly and like they do seem, like I see a lot of the stuff online and like there is a very much kind of family void between the odds, where I can definitely understand why you're all alone back, I suppose, or welcome back, and I'm just on that one. Then, lawrence, well, like for someone that is as an academic as you were and wants to complete your studies, how do you balance that with the pressures of being on a team that's expected to win as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, I'm not going to lie. It was difficult at times. I guess I was fortunate coming in, you know, when I was a freshman, my first year, one of my teammates, emily, emily Atto she was a junior at the time and she was very academic, did really well in school, did really well on the golf course. So I guess I was lucky to have someone like her to look up to in the beginning to see how she kind of balanced it all and, you know, made everything work. So you know some things just you have to sacrifice. You know we probably didn't have as much of a social life as most college people have, but you know, when you saw what we got to do and all the things we got to achieve, you know it makes a lot of it worth it. A lot of early mornings, a lot of late nights, yeah, but you kind of, if you want something, I think it's just you have to have to put the work in to get it done.
Speaker 1:So it certainly wasn't easy but it was definitely worth it in the end 100% and, like I just said there, you went into WAC and coming in that they had finished second in the national championship and I suppose a lot had a lot had happened in that time and what I'm going to mention next. But, like your last opening for WAC, you hold the winning part in the national championships to catch the title. So how did that one feel for you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's funny because the girl who started with me, rachel Keane, we said we both stepped on on campus that first weekend. All everyone could talk about was how they finished second in the national championship, which obviously at the time was a great achievement. But you know, we had kind of decided, you know, we want to win one before we're done. And we had a great first year. We were ranked one in the country and then COVID hit, so we didn't get to compete. And then, you know, we come back then our second year, we're playing well but we're kind of struggling to pull results together as a team. So then we didn't play well on nationals. Then our third year, we come back, we're ranked really highly but we just play badly at nationals, at the golf course and that's. You know that happens as well.
Speaker 2:So, coming into our final year together, we were like you know this is the year and again I think we were ranked one for a week or two. But you know Statenford were won pretty much all year and we were two. So yeah, to close it out and to win, that was so special. It's stuff of dreams. You know, as I said, it was the first team meeting we had. My first year was everything we do was to, you know, win the national championship. So to actually get to do it at the end, you know, not a lot of people get to say they actually did it. So very special, very special memories and I couldn't have asked for a better way to close it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, like it's been a stellar amateur career and it's definitely been a very, very stellar college career. Like there's a lot of wins in there. There was a point here I felt like I was posting every week that she had won the team championship and fairness and like you were extremely consistent. So, like, with all of that pressure, like I supposed to get over the line at the end. Is it is. It's that kind of fairy tale really, isn't it? Like it's just like one last hurrah and actually getting it done.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. I think we were looking at the stats very recently. I think it was 16 team wins in the I guess three, three and a half seasons week or three and a half years. I got to compete. So yeah, very, very special team. And you know I've credit a lot to my coaches. They were incredible. I think a big thing for them is, you know they pushed us as players but you know they wanted us to do well in school and be good people as well. So they were incredible and, you know, pushed us to do what we did to make it happen.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and, like you know, at that time in Wake, what's the biggest learning in your golf? I suppose more so like like Lauren Walsh going into Wake Forest and Lauren Walsh leaving Wake Forest what's the biggest learning you had in your golf?
Speaker 2:I think overall my game was probably just an awful lot more polished, I think, like going into college and even my first year, you know there was definitely there was a lot of good there. I was able to shoot low rounds, but I guess those low rounds probably have become more consistent, which was nice for me to see. Like I closed out my fourth year with my lowest ever scoring average of my four years. So you know, for me that shows that overall I'm making more birdies and I'm making mess bogey. So I think it was as I think I grew as a golfer in a lot of ways, like through the mental aspect, like technically, even just the skills and the different short game shots I had to learn because of the conditions I was playing in, and I think all of that just made me a better player overall and, as I said, probably just a little bit more polished, that the good rounds became a little bit more frequent.
Speaker 1:So for a mere mortal like myself that can't shoot all these low numbers, what's the fastest way for me to get better?
Speaker 2:I think, simply I think, hitting more greens is good.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Hitting more green but honestly, like I think a big thing that I saw the difference is like no three pots. If you can like never three pot, then you're never. You're never too far away, I would say, and I think it is that like it is that stuff really isn't.
Speaker 1:It Like it's the simplest stuff and I think like I've asked a couple of people the same kind of question and it's like because everyone thinks that like there's a magic formula yes, you need to be good and yes, you need to put in the effort, but like if you can start with the simplest of the not three pots to kind of get better around the greens in general, kind of things you like anyone that hasn't got the progress that you have will kind of slowly get better as well.
Speaker 2:Like yeah, because I think if you can keep like like that no three pots and no doubles if you can keep the really destructive shots out of it, and then if you're decent around the greens, you should never really make more than a bogey. And then at that point you know it's once you keep at it, then you'll eventually start making more birdies and less bogeys. But yeah, the simple things, just fair words, greens and no three pots.
Speaker 1:So the goal for Gary in 2023 is no three pots and as little double bogeys as possible. I'm never going to say none, because my fairs have it of putting the ball over the tee. So we start with the north tree pot and we work back from there. And no, a lot of other has happened. A lot of other stuff has happened in your time from going to work and leaving work that we kind of skipped over just to kind of stay with the college stuff. But with all of that excellent play, alarm Cortis Cup, the pinnacle of amateur golf. Talk me through the first one.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, so I play. I got I actually well, I guess, after my first semester in college in 2019, I was pulled up onto the, the practice squad for that December, so went over to Conway to do the practice session. Again, I wasn't on the initial squad but played well, played my way onto the panel, and then COVID happened so that it was postponed. So instead of it being in 2020, it's on in 2021. And by that point in 2021, I think I was, I was the highest ranked player in GB and I so I got one of the automatic selections for the team.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, just such a special week. I know the crowds were limited because of COVID, but the home crowds that were there and Conway for the week was so special, like, I think the biggest memory for me is the first tee. You know when everyone's like chanting your name. They had a whole chant going for me. So, yeah, very, very special memories. You know, match play, such a fun format and, as I mentioned kind of early in the podcast, I had that kind of pyramid that I had set up with Shane and, you know, the top of it with Curtis Cup, and that was the pinnacle of amateur golf. So I guess it was. I was working towards that for so many years, so for it to finally come around was was very cool.
Speaker 1:And then I supposed to know that you get there. So, like again, it is the pinnacle and, like I had no doubt, it was the top of that pyramid. Like earlier, where's the motivation? I suppose one, to stay amateur and two, I suppose, to continue to work as hard as you did.
Speaker 2:I guess the motivation for me was always there. I had aspirations to turn pro and to do all that and to keep improving as a player and be the best possible player I could be. I think once that motivation is there, you keep working hard and these incredible opportunities that I get fall into place. Then, once I keep improving as a player, obviously we knew that the next quarter cup in 2022 was only a year away, just because of the way the scheduling worked out. That one was on at Mary Again after experiencing one we had unfortunately got beat. We were very motivated to try and beat them the year after. I continued to work hard and got picked for them the team then in 2022.
Speaker 2:I guess it was a cool experience for me to get to play one at home and then one away To play in front of the American crowds in Philadelphia, which I think I renowned to be kind of top sports crowd. It was very cool. There was a lot of cheering out there. I think my dad and my sister were the only ones cheering me on, but they were loud enough for the rest to make up for all the Americans that were there. It was playing on an incredible golf course, mary, and I think it's my favorite golf course in the world. It was another great experience. I know we didn't get the result on, but I took so many incredible things away from those two weeks of golf that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Speaker 1:Again. I suppose in that time as well. Then you end up playing a lot of golf for Ireland, particularly at homes and Europeans and all that kind of stuff. I suppose you've been pretty much on every team since then. Let's watch your three highlights from playing with Ireland, in no particular order Winning the girls' homes for the first time in history, making history there.
Speaker 2:It actually came down to my match in the end. I was a clinching point on the 16th in Conway. That was very special in 2016. I think when we won homes in Bali in 2018, that was very special. That kind of group of girls we had never got a ton as a team. We'd played on a bunch of teams together for a couple of years and never really won anything. To get that done that week with Neva's captain was very special. I guess the third one would have to be the Youth Olympics in 2018. That was a very different experience representing Ireland, going away with a bunch of different athletes in different fields and getting to stay in the Olympic Village for three weeks and the opening ceremony, the lighting of the torch all of that was very, very cool. There are my top three Ireland representations.
Speaker 1:Not bad ones to have either. In fairness, I suppose for me, looking at it from the outside, as I said, you've had a very consistent career, particularly in the time that I've been very interested in following a lot of the amateur stuff that's going on. As I said, your name pops up a lot, Even for that court. We said the initial one. You're ranking at that point because of the results. It really dramatically goes in the right direction. It's been a very consistent career, but the opening in 2021 or two was this 2021.
Speaker 2:It was actually the week before my first Curtis Cup.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I knew it before I won the Curtis Cup. I just got DMs up. It wouldn't be like me Talk to you about that one Clodagh, who gets you into golf a little bit, or certainly gets you to your first lesson. Caddy's for you over there. How much of that week do you remember?
Speaker 2:I don't think I'll forget that week, first major, obviously as an amateur I qualified being the top ranked player in GBNI. Honestly, it was funny because from the very beginning I actually entered the final qualifier. I didn't even know this exemption existed. Then I would actually add a Curtis Cup practice session in Conway and I get a text to say from the AIG women's open to say, oh, you're in the field. I thought it was a confirmation to say that my entry for the final qualifier had been accepted. I was like, oh, I'm actually in the field. I couldn't believe it. It took me by surprise Straight away. I asked Clodagh would she be on the bag for me? Yeah, to walk the fairways of Carnousty with, as you said, my sister who got me into golf was so special.
Speaker 2:I played well the first day. I think it remember my score exactly. But I knew I'd probably need a pretty good round on the Friday to make the cut Coming into the week. I just was hoping to soak up all the experience If I made the cut great I think that was the big goal for the week and had the 640 tee time on the Friday. I was at really, really early, probably good conditions. I remember showing up. I had a bunch of friends and family over watching they like stroll onto the tee at half six in the morning. We get off really early and playing. Well, I actually birdied the last two holes in Carnousty For those of you who know Carnousty know the last two holes are pretty difficult To roll in. The birdie putts on 17 and 18 are something I'll never forget. Then went on to make the cut and play the weekend around Carnousty in a major Another great experience that I've got to have over the years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that one last year or the back end of last year you turned pro In your initial kind of starts as pro and I know you've had a couple of different events in the meantime. I suppose, knowing that you're good enough to compete, particularly at a major championship a number of years ago, and then how much you have improved yourself in the last couple of years, you must be going into the next chapter very confident in yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely. After playing two Curtis Cups and playing in a major and making the cut. All of those experiences definitely gave me a lot of confidence coming into the pro game. In both those Curtis Cups, roseanne was on the opposing team and actually played a couple rounds with her at Nationals and she went on to win her first pro start. After playing with her knowing that her game was incredible but at the same time mine is an incomparable spot to that I knew I could have success. I made my pro debut, missed a cup by I think one or two on that LBGA event, but came back to Europe and have had some really good finishes since. I think that gives me a lot of confidence coming into this year and doing this first full season as a pro. As we mentioned, college was top academically too, so I had to put a lot of hours into my school as well. I guess I'm excited now to be able to do golf full time and be able to fully commit all of my time to it.
Speaker 1:So the parameters obviously changed. You had a parameter at amateur level and Curtis Cups was at the top of it. So what does the new parameter look like? Have you got one designed yet?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think I'm still working on a little bit, but I think I would love to go on to play Solheims and win majors. I think there are probably the two big things at the top of this pyramid.
Speaker 1:And then, I suppose, in terms of getting some playing rights next year, you have to go through again a very tough couple of weeks in terms of Q-School. So how much of your past experience had you to rely on, I suppose, to get through Q-School?
Speaker 2:Yeah, obviously. So I tried to get the LPGA one Earlier last year. Obviously stage one didn't quite go so well. I didn't have my best week but I think, coming into Q-School for the LAT, I think I learned a lot from that week, especially for me.
Speaker 2:Throughout my amateur career I always went to a tournament trying to win and then I think you go to Q-School and you change. I guess it was the wrong thing to do at the time, but I think for LPD I kind of changed this mindset into I need to make the cut and I need to finish in the top however many, which is kind of a difficult mindset to do because, as I said, in amateur golf and in any other tournament, you don't go anywhere to make a cut, you go to win. So I think that was a big thing I brought into Morocco. Like I said to myself, you know however many get their cards great, but like I want to go win and I think that really helped. You know I scored well all week and played really nicely and just missed out in the top 20 for a full card. But I think finishing in 22nd, I'm quite high up in the other category. I should get plenty of starts this year to get me started.
Speaker 1:And when does your season kick off? Or do you know it?
Speaker 2:So my first event will be in Kenya the first second week in February, so I'm excited for that.
Speaker 1:One of the advantages. That can be disadvantage depending on how you look at it, but like one of the advantages, definitely to. Amateur golf has gone that way a bit too. But like the pro life is, you are going to get to see a lot of the world in the coming year, aren't you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll get to take off a lot of cool places. You know I've never been to Kenya, so that will be a new experience. Then, a couple of weeks after that, there's two weeks in Australia and two weeks in South Africa that I'm hoping to get into. So again, a lot of travel, a lot of air miles, but a lot of cool new places to go see and experiences to have.
Speaker 1:And what has this winter plan was with Q school running so late. What's the winter plan now in terms of like? Is there any structure to what you want to improve on? Are you kind of just taking over at the moment?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think I was fortunate that, you know, because I had to kind of stay sharp all the way up until, you know, the 23rd December. I haven't really had much of an off season as such, but that also meant that, like, I kept my swing and my game was very much where I wanted it to be in December. So I haven't had to do a whole lot of work there. You know, a lot of what I'm doing is kind of maintaining the swing thoughts that I've had for the last, you know, 12 months, because I feel like I've kind of found what really works for me. So, yeah, you know, the last couple of weeks I've just kind of been going out in the gym a little bit more and then in the next kind of couple of weeks I'll probably go back, maybe stateside or somewhere around, to get some practice in better, more favorable conditions than what I was looking for and what Ireland's providing right now.
Speaker 1:Some water training is never a bad thing. We get plenty of dark and early nights here. So 2024, london. So like, what's the main goal for you next year? Well, this year no.
Speaker 2:I think a win on the on the latest European tour would be great. You know I kind of got myself into contention a lot last year and the LAT access so and you know I know I can compete at that level and you know I got one start on the LAT in Switzerland then finished 13th. So I think in all the starts I'll get this year I think a win would be nice and yeah, that's the big goal for 2024.
Speaker 1:I think I don't think you'd have to wait too long to be for it. I think your game is more than good enough at that level and I suppose it is like everything else is getting reps and getting used to a different environment. But just back to Q school for one second. So like, would it be an extended couple of days like the LAT one? So like, how do you stay mentally fresh already for that, I suppose knowing the battle that's ahead of you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, it's. It's a difficult one because obviously everything was on the line. You know, if I played, well, great. But if not I didn't have any status anywhere. So I tried not to really think about that and I was fortunate I had a, had a good carry Caddy with me how are you in who's? You know who's Irish and Caddy's on the LAT, so you know he was good to kind of keep me relaxed and distracted from, I guess, the task at hand. You know we focused on the shot when we had to, but kind of in between shots we were, you know, chatting about anything and and yeah, it was a long, long two weeks and a lot of golf reps and I think by the end of it I was so exhausted by the time the last put went in the hole. But yeah, you kind of just have to distract yourself kind of between it all, try not focus on the big task at hand but kind of just look at each kind of individual shot. And yeah, I was, I was happy it went okay.
Speaker 1:It went really well. It was a really interesting following, along with Stephanie, one of them ones that, like I've seen in a bit over the years, just involved like with golf in general, and Q school is one of them ones where, like, I suppose, the pressure of what can happen and that's more so on the side of not getting a carry, rather than the kind of the pressure at the top end, but so like what, what? All that secured for next year then. So I don't know, but maybe do. Maybe don't have you a caddy in place for the year. Are you still kind of in search?
Speaker 2:I'm still kind of searching. I have someone lined up for Kenya who actually caddies on the LPGA, so he's going to do Kenya with me just because he has an off week, and then after that I'll kind of see how it goes. Because of where my category is, I kind of have to wait a little while to see what exact events I'll get into. So, yeah, we'll see no one locked down for sure. Yeah, but I'm sure it will fall into place.
Speaker 1:No idea. Best of luck for the upcoming season. It's been absolutely amazing following you as an amateur and no doubt I'll keep very close tabs on you as a pro as well. Thanks for all your help over the last couple of years with info and stuff that I've asked for, and best of luck. As I said, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Thanks for all the work you do for Amateur Golf. I know all of us following along really appreciate it.
Speaker 1:So we want to thank you.