Chemical Engineering major and Canadian LPGA Tour golfer Brittany Marchand offers up a home schooling lesson where we investigate how the size and weight of a golf ball will affect the distance and speed that the ball travels.

View more from this series here.

As a second-year member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Squad, Brigitte Thibault has established herself as one of the country’s most promising amateurs.

Since the spring of 2019, the native of Rosemère, Que., has been playing some the best golf of her career.

After being selected as the only Canadian to compete at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April of 2019, Thibault would go on to win the Ontario Women’s Amateur title and the Mountain West Conference Championship.

The second year Amateur Squad member is also a standout at Fresno State University. She’s carried the success from 2019 over to her junior year, having recorded six NCAA top ten finishes.

However, in early March, her collegiate season came to an end when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of the remaining tournaments on the NCAA schedule.

Faced with the unprecedented circumstances, the 21-year-old was extra cautious as she travelled back home to Rosemère, Que.

“First thought when travelling back to Canada was to stay healthy and take all the precaution possible to not catch anything. I knew that if I made a mistake, I could have put my family at risk,” she noted.

“Then quarantine was actually not as bad as I thought. It gave me enough time to think about my game plan, prepare my game plan, so when my 14 days were over, then I would be able to train and keep my routine as normal as possible,” added Thibault, who was recently selected to the NCAA All-Mountain West first team.

Given her recent stellar results on the golf course, it might be surprising for some to find out that Thibault did not start focusing on golf until the age of 15.

And while she was introduced to the sport prior that by her father, Daniel and her mother, Josee, it wasn’t something that she invested much time in to initially.

“My parents were members at a golf course back home and I remember of Sundays, we would always go eat at the course and afterwards we would hit some golf balls on the range. But it was always just for fun at the time,” Thibault recalled.

Growing up young Brigitte dedicated most of her time to cheerleading and gymnastics.

“Cheerleading was huge for my competitiveness. In cheerleading, you have this rush of energy that is boiling inside of you with so many people watching. You have to put yourself all in all the time. My work ethic really grew from cheerleading,” she pointed out.

“I was into cheerleading and gymnastics but all the flips and jumping was hard on my body.  So my parents suggested that I focus on golf instead. They have been playing golf for 30 years and wanted me to try it out,” said Thibault.

Faced with injuries, Thibault followed her parent’s suggestion and decided to shift her focus from cheerleading and gymnastics to golf.

“I really got started at the age of 15, and I remember having coaches approach me and telling me how raw my talent was,” she recalled.

Despite the relative late start, Thibault would make up for it with an all in approach.

“I was super focused. I was just trying to learn as much as I could. I would wake up at 5 a.m. and spend the whole day at the golf course,” she pointed out.

Thibault says she became inspired and fascinated by athletes who achieved greatness in their sport – such as Tiger Woods and the late great Kobe Bryant. She was impressed by their work ethic and level of dedication to their craft.

“I used to look for videos of them because I was always intrigued by their greatness and how obsessive they were about getting better and figuring out how to get to that next level. I have taken this same obsession and approach to my development in golf,” she revealed.

Thibault’s desire to achieve her own version of excellence on the golf course combined with her hard work and dedication would lead to impressive results.

In 2016, just two years after dedicating herself to the game of golf, the then 17-year-old Monday qualified for the CP Women’s Open.

Thibault remembers qualifying for the LPGA event, which was held at the Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in Calgary, gave her confidence in her game, as well as, motivation to work even harder.

She also adds that playing in her first LPGA tournament at 17 was an eye-opening experience.

“I remember that my heart was racing like crazy and my energy level was so high. It felt like an out-of-body experience. All the golfers that I looked up to were sitting next to me having lunch and everything just seemed so surreal,” she recalled.

Thibault is glad to have been able to continue her development at Fresno State University.

“Being at Fresno State, the weather is always nice. And it’s great that I get to be play Division I golf with some of the best amateurs of the world,” said Thibault, who will be entering her senior year this autumn.

She’s also thankful to be part of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

“The program has been great, we learn about the mental side of golf, and we learn about nutrition, physio, fitness and a lot of other things to be successful on the golf course and away from it,” noted the second year Amateur Squad member.

“I also love working with Tristan (Mullally) because he’s very direct and to the point and gives great feedback.”

The 21-year-old amateur standout credits continued improvements in her game for the recent success on the golf course.

Head Coach Tristan Mullally and Brigitte Thibault at a training camp in Phoenix, Ariz.

“My putter is starting to gain momentum and my short game is starting to step up.  I’ve also been working hard to improve on my wedge and approach,” pointed out Thibault, who is also known to show creativity on her shots.

Looking ahead, Thibault believes her all in approach will provide the opportunity to achieve her own version of greatness on the golf course.

“The game of golf is incredible and I would love to be able to play on the LPGA Tour one day and make an impact and do my part to bring the women’s game to the next level.”

And despite the restrictions from practicing social and physical distancing, Thibault’s long-term goals have kept her motivated and focused during the pandemic.

“I’m up at 5 a.m., filled with busy days and doing it all over again. My own personal growth and grind aren’t going to pause in regards to the conditions of COVID-19,” she said.

With golf courses across the country preparing to open up again, there is optimism that tournament golf will soon return. And when it does, the second year Amateur Squad member will surely be ready.

“I am actually working on all aspects of training – fitness wise, golf wise, and mentally. I’m doing my best to keep improving and being my best self.”

Currently in his third year with Golf Canada’s National Team Program, Chris Crisologo is considered one of Canada’s top golfing prospects. The Richmond, B.C. native spent the first two years on the Amateur Squad, and presently, he’s in his first season with the Young Pro Squad.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, Crisogolo is trying to make the most of his time indoors.

“I’ve been able to read more books to pass the time. One specific book was given to me by my coach, Derek Ingram, called ‘Pound the Stone’ written by Joshua Medcalf. I’ve really enjoyed taking a few notes, and working on the mental side of both sport and life,” said the Simon Fraser University grad.

“On the physical side, I’ve done a lot of body weight exercises, as well as, some band work specific for golf mobility. I’ve also worked on tempo and rhythm, as well as path, with the putter,” Crisologo continued.

“I’m trying to make the most of this time to strengthen myself and make improvements for when the season starts up again,” he added with optimism.

As the 24-year-old reflects on his journey, he’s thankful to his dad, Lorenzo Crisologo, for introducing him to the sport.

“My dad and I were playing tennis, and there was a golf club close by so he decided to take me to the course,” recalled Crisologo about his humble beginnings.

“I was five or six at the time and when I hit the ball that first time I got hooked. I hit a three wood and saw the ball take flight and thought ‘this is unreal’ and knew this is what I want to do over and over again.”

Besides his interest in golf, young Chris was an all around athlete and had interest in a number of other sports.

“I played a whole lot of basketball growing up, and did volleyball, and track and field also.  I spent a lot of time on the tennis courts, and so, of course, I played a bit of tennis – but not competitively,” he said.

During his summers, Crisologo would spend all day on the golf course as his parents would drop him off in the morning.

“I played from 7 am to 7 pm until they picked my up. Looking back, I guess spending all those hours on the golf course got me to where I am today,” he noted.

Crisologo says it wasn’t until the 10th grade that he decided to take golf more seriously.

“I had played in golf tournaments since I was eight, but I never really thought that it would be something that I would be focusing on until grade 10,” he pointed out.

“That’s when I started to take it more seriously, and started to focus more on how to play the game the right way.”

Since his childhood years, Crisologo knew he wanted to be involved in sports but it took him time to figure out which sport he had the most passion for – and the best chance to find success.

“Unlike basketball or track and field, golf is one of those sports where you don’t have to be the biggest, the strongest or the fastest,” said Crisologo, who is listed at five foot nine but is known for his ball striking and distance on the golf course.

After completing high school, Crisologo attended Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.  Its interesting to note that SFU is the only Canadian university affiliated with and competing in the U.S.-based National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II.

In addition to winning numerous NCAA tournaments during his time at SFU, Crisologo caught the attention of many golf fans when he finished fourth in the Canadian Amateur in 2016.

From there, other notable accomplishments include qualifying for the U.S. Amateur in 2017, and winning the B.C. Amateur in 2018.

But perhaps his most impressive accomplishment as an amateur came at the RBC Canadian Open in 2018. Crisologo finished in a tie for 45th spot at Glen Abbey, and was the low Canadian amateur – taking home the Gary Cowan medal.

Crisologo recalls heading into the tournament with a lot of confidence.

“The weeks leading up to it I was playing some great golf.  I won the B.C. Amateur right before the RBC Canadian Open and that gave me some momentum heading in,” he said.

“It was just amazing to feed off the energy from the crowd at Glen Abbey. It’s definitely something that I will always remember,”added Crisologo about his experience at the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

Currently, in his third year with the National Team Program, Crisologo says he’s well supported and believes his career as a professional golfer is on the right trajectory.

“We are supported through great coaching. We have a mental coach and physio coach. Having this support and the resources provided through the program allows us to really focus on success.  I’m really grateful to be part of the program because it’d be pretty difficult to figure it all out on our own,” said Crisologo.

Derek Ingram, head coach of the men’s National Team Program, is quick to point out Crisologo’s strengths which has contributed to his success on the golf course.

“Chris is very explosive off the tee.  He’s not a big guy but he is surprisingly long off the tee and also very accurate.  Chris is smart and patient and has really improved his iron game over the past few years,” said Ingram.

Having turned professional in August of 2019, Crisologo has his sights set on competing on the PGA Tour full time within the next five years.

Ingram believes Crisologo is on track to reach his goal. He candidly points out some of the areas that the first year Young Pro Squad member will need to address in order to take his game to the next level.

“Chris has to get more consistent.  He has to putt better on a day to day basis and eliminate mistakes off the tee – such as penalties,” said Ingram.

“And of course, he has to get used to the daily grind of being a professional and the travel that goes with it.  The ladder comes from experience.”

Ingram points out that having role models to look up to will be a big asset for Crisologo in his quest to play the sport at the highest level.

“It really is great for players like Chris – and others on our Young Pro Squad and Amateur Team – to have guys on the PGA Tour to look up to. Players like Mac (Hughes) and Corey (Conners), as well as others, like Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin have been great to the players coming behind them,” said Ingram.

“They’ve taken the time to share experiences and information.  They’ve been excellent role models and become friends with the current players on the program.”

The talented 24-year-old golfer agrees with his coach and is appreciative of the guidance from those who have gone through the National Team Program – and have left a trail for success.

“Seeing all the guys who have been on the program before us and seeing their success on the PGA Tour is great,” Crisologo acknowledged.

“From a mental standpoint, it just gives me motivation and inspiration to work harder and focus on making improvements each day, so I can have that same success in the future.”

Georgia Bulldogs women’s golf coach Josh Brewer has long believed that Celeste Dao is a special player.

She proved him right this week.

Dao, from Notre-Dame-de-L’Ile-Perrot, Que., won the Gold Rush golf tournament on Tuesday, finishing 7-under 209, a shot better than teammate Caterina Don. The Bulldogs placed three players in the NCAA event’s top four to run away with the team title, besting second-place Fresno State by 23 strokes.

Playing a shotgun start, Dao’s coaches and teammates first had to track her down on the course at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, Calif., to tell her she had won and led the team to victory. Once Dao’s teammates had chased her down they all hugged to celebrate her first collegiate win.

“I think it says a lot about Celeste that when she was giving her victory speech she congratulated her team just 30 seconds into her speech on winning the team title,” Brewer said. “I’m just lucky as a coach to have an individual who is able to step back and say ‘what wonderful teammates I have.’

 

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Striking a pose for that first collegiate win ????

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Feb 26, 2020 at 6:12am PST

“That’s why the reaction was the way it was when she had won and she gave it right back to them.”

Dao, a graduate of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad, was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for women’s golf on Wednesday following the victory.

It’s the same sort of class that impressed Brewer when he first met Dao.

She had already won the Quebec Women’s Amateur title in 2017, and then the Mexican Junior Girls Championship and the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in 2018 when she and her family dropped in on Brewer at the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens. They spent 90 minutes together before parting company and then Brewer attended a nearby junior tournament Dao was competing in.

Brewer had already planned to attend the event for recruiting purposes and to support some of his student-athletes but followed Dao for a few holes.

She struggled in the first round of that event but then bounced back with rounds in the high 60s. That piqued Brewer’s interest.

“We both had good first impressions and the relationship just grew from there,” Brewer said. “She’s very upbeat, positive. Just works hard as far her golf game and is wanting to play professional golf, which we want.

“We want people who have big dreams and she wants to be the next Brooke Henderson, write her own chapter in women’s golf for Canada.”

Dao, an 18-year-old freshman, got better each round at the Gold Rush this week, shooting a 71-70-68. Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., who was named the 2019 female amateur of the year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada, was 14th for Fresno State.

Brewer was impressed with Dao’s poise at the Gold Rush, holding on to her second-round lead.

“I would be fibbing if I didn’t say I didn’t know how she would respond. First time in that position, on a collegiate level,” Brewer said. “I think she handled the atmosphere well.

“It’s hard to close when you’re leading. I know she battled to the end and it was a tough one-shot victory. But again, winning in this sport is always to make par too when you’re coming down the stretch and you have a lead but she found a way to do it.”

Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is headed back to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The 21-year-old National Team member was the only Canadian in the field at the inaugural event last year and was officially invited back on Saturday. Participating in the first-even women’s event at the prestigious course was the start of a career season for Thibault. She went on to win the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and the NCAA’s Mountain West Conference Championship.

“I didn’t want to set expectations because I didn’t know if they were keeping the same procedures, I didn’t know how they would select the people this year,” said Thibault. “So I didn’t want to set expectations, but I knew I had a great year. I did a lot of things right.”

Thibault, who is a member of Golf Canada’s national amateur squad, is entering her third season on Fresno State University’s golf team.

 

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?BACK to Augusta National! ?⁣ ⁣ We’re proud to have #TeamCanada’s @bri.thib represent Canada for a second straight year at the @anwagolf from April 1-4 ⛳️??‍♀️⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #golfstagram #anwagolf #golf #golfer #golflife #roadtoaugusta

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Jan 25, 2020 at 7:19am PST

She was also part of Canada’s bronze-medal team at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with Mary Parsons, Austin Connelly and Joey Savoie. After her productive 2019 Thibault was named the female amateur of the year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.

Although Thibault missed the cut at last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur she thinks the experience will set her up for greater success.

“There were things I did right, things I did wrong,” said Thibault. “Last year there was so much excitement and we didn’t really know what to expect. None of the players had an advantage. None of them had played there before.

Back to back ? #blessed pic.twitter.com/B4FT25dF5L

— brigitte thibault (@bri_thib) January 25, 2020

“So to know what we’re expecting to play, what shot you’re supposed to hit, and all these things are definitely good to have learned.”

After an intensive training camp with Golf Canada’s national amateur squad, coach Tristan Mullally is excited for the future of the women’s game in this country.

Mullally worked with Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Noemie Pare of Victoriaville, Que., Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., and Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C. last week at The Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix. The camp focused on the ongoing development of all four players, preparing them to make the leap to the professional ranks.

“We’ve got a young, dynamic group that are a little bit light on experience but have some of the best attitudes that I’ve ever seen in terms of our national team,” said Mullally on Wednesday. “It’s very easy to improve their golf when their attitude is the way it is.

“I’m expecting over the next couple of years to start to see some of these players starting to be those next discussion points.”

Of course, right now the biggest discussion point in Canadian golf is Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. She became the winningest golfer in Canadian history last season and is ranked eighth in the world. Henderson and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp represent the Canadian contingent on the LPGA Tour this season.

It’s a reversal of fortunes from last year when five Canadians were LPGA regulars with Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay and Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee joining Henderson and Sharp.

The injury bug bit, however, with Tanguay having to take a one-year sabbatical to heal an ailing back and focus on personal projects. Lee’s season was derailed by ongoing issues with her wrist. She’ll have partial LPGA status this season as she plays under a medical exemption.

Longtime Symetra Tour player Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., retired in the off-season after finishing 30th on the second-tier tour’s money list, further depleting Canada’s presence in the pro ranks.

But Mullally is optimistic about the next wave of young Canadian golfers playing in the NCAA.

“All of these athletes are on the national team for a reason, they know how to work hard to be efficient with their time,” said Mullally, who collaborates with the players’ university coaches to design individual development plans. “They’ve all done that, they’ve all come back a little bit better than when they left the last national camp and we want to continue that.”

Thibault is coming off of a career season where she competed in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, won the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and the NCAA’s Mountain West Conference Championship. That led to her being named the female amateur of the year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.

She and Parsons were also part of Canada’s bronze-medal team at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with Austin Connelly and Joey Savoie.

Never afraid to try something new, Team Canada alumnus Blair Hamilton decided to attend a 10-day silent retreat in Southern Alberta this past off-season to improve his mental game.

The talkative Hamilton found the experience challenging but rewarding. Communication among the 70 students living at the Vipassana centre was forbidden, with long days focused solely on how to clear the mind.

“The first bell goes at 4:30 in the morning, you meditate from 4:30 to 6:30, then you break down for breakfast,” said Hamilton on Tuesday after completing the first round of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s qualifying tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. “Then you’re meditating in different sessions, but pretty much constantly until lunch, and then you meditate from, I think it’s 2:30 until 9 p.m. and it’s all guided meditation,

“The whole purpose of this is to teach you to observe the things that come into your mind and not react to them and disassociate from your ego. Your ego by definition would be a false sense of self, whether it’s telling you that you’re super good or super bad. You know, that’s just the thing in your mind.”

Attending the silent retreat came at the suggestion of his mentor Kaz Hashimoto, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Pink Zulu Labs. Hashimoto and Hamilton first connected last season when the 26-year-old golfer reached out to a variety of leading figures in different industries – including Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield – to pick their brains on how they excelled in their field.

Hashimoto and mental performance coach Paul Dewland are helping Hamilton improve his psychology because he believes that’s what separates golf’s very best players from the rest of the pro ranks.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 31: Blair Hamilton of Canada plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on January 31, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“If you were to line up a guy on the Mackenzie Tour, PGA Tour China, PGA Tour Latinoamerica, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour on the range and you’re watching them hit and you just brought in a random person and said, ‘Tell me who’s on which tour,’ they wouldn’t be able to say,” said Hamilton. “Everyone at the level can hit the golf ball, no problem, but it’s the very little mini things that make all the difference.

“If you can save half a shot a round that’s two shots on the total tournament. I mean, that’s the difference of finishing, you know, seventh or third or third and first.”

Hamilton, from Burlington, Ont., is joined at this week’s PGA Tour Latinoamerica qualifying event by fellow Canadians Zahidali Nathu of Richmond, B.C., Matthew Shubley of Oshawa, Ont., Mathew Iceton of Brooklin, Ont.. and Vancouver’s Trevor Yu.

After hopefully qualifying for the Latinoamerica circuit for the third consecutive year, Hamilton plans to do some mini tour events in Florida and some qualifiers for the Korn Ferry Tour’s events in Colombia, and Panama.

If Hamilton does qualify for the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, then it will be down to South America, playing golf and keeping up with a hectic travel schedule that is akin to crisscrossing Canada on a weekly basis.

“We spend quite a bit of time down in Argentina which, you know, a direct flight from Toronto’s about 11 or 12 hours,” said Hamilton, who is currently based in South Florida. “We’ll be going to Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia all over the continent down there.

“It’s not uncommon to have a five-hour flight between events, which is like flying Toronto to Vancouver.”

One of the highlights of his time playing golf in South America is his unlikely friendship with caddy Leandro Ferreyra.

Hamilton was competing in a tournament in Cordoba, Argentina, and Ferreyra was caddying for one of the other golfers in his group. Afterwards, the pair connected on Instagram and Hamilton asked Ferreyra if he wanted to be his caddy at another event in Argentina.

Since then, they’ve teamed up at five or six events and have become close friends.

“I find that people in Latin America, they’re quite loyal. They’re loyal friends and when they care about you, they truly care about you,” said Hamilton. “His family always sends me messages, just checking in and stuff like that. You build friendships like that.

“Who would have thought that me and Leandro, this guy that’s 40 years old from Cordoba, Argentina, would become close friends? Golf’s kinda funny that way.”

During the mid-November early signing period, many Canadian junior athletes shared the exciting news of their respective signings to NCAA programs.

National Junior Squad members Sarah Beqaj, Monet Chun and Ellie Szeryk were among the women to pen their signatures on National Signing Day (Nov. 13).

Women

Men

” … I’m very excited to become a Wolverine in the fall, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the team with some of the best coaches and teammates. Hopefully, I will be able to make a positive contribution to the program …”

Release | https://t.co/CKs7J84aic#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ULs1kzcFpM

— Michigan Golf (@umichgolf) November 14, 2019

???? @ellieszeryk officially signs on with Texas A&M #NationalSigningDay #Golf pic.twitter.com/y5JRZH9FOb

— Flagstick Golf (@Flagstick) November 13, 2019

 Did we miss someone? Hit us up on Twitter @GolfCanada and let us know!

Team Canada members and Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada pros Jared du Toit and Taylor Pendrith share in the excitement heading into this week’s All-Star Pro-Am at the CP Women’s Open at in Aurora, Ont., at Magna Golf Club.

Maddie Szeryk has long been considered one of Canada’s top young golf prospects. And so far in her first season as a professional, the former amateur standout is proving that she’s up for the challenge.

Szeryk had an impressive amateur and collegiate career with the Texas A&M Aggies – winning four collegiate tournaments in her four years playing with the team.

She decided to go back for a fifth year to complete her studies and just graduated earlier this year.

“It’s exciting to be able to finished that chapter and to be able to focus full-time now on golf,” said Szeryk at the Team Canada media day in June.

In May, the London, Ont., native had her best result as a pro when she scored a second place finish at the Zimmer Biomet Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez.

The Symetra Tour rookie was happy she was able to raise her level of play for the big tournament.

“It was awesome and it didn’t hurt that it was one of the biggest purses of the year so it was a great tournament to play well at,” said Szeryk of her second place finish.

“It was my first finals pairing on the Symetra Tour, so it’s great to get that experience also. I think its huge to know that I can play so well on such a big stage and to know that I can really turn it on when it counts,” she added.

Szeryk’s strong start to the 2019 Symetra season has her in contention for a spot in the top 10 on the Symetra Tour’s money list. And of course those who finish the season in the top 10 on the Symetra Tour earnings score their full LPGA Tour card for the 2020 season.

According the Tristan Mullally, head coach of the Canadian women’s national team, the second place finish at the Zimmer Biomet Championship provides just a glimpse of what Szeryk is capable of when she plays up to her potential.

“Maddie has been a top amateur in the world for the last couple of years. She was really close to getting her LPGA card last year and she wasn’t happy about not getting it – but she’s refocused and understands that this is her journey.” noted Mullally.

“Playing on the Symetra tour is great experience for Maddie because it gives her opportunity to get out there and play against other good players and cut her teeth a little bit. It allows young players to get used to life as a professional golfer. She’s showed at the Zimmer Bioment that when she plays her game she’s capable of great results,” he added.

Mullally speaks highly about Szeryk’s overall game.

“Inside 150 years she’s lethal. She’s very aggressive to tight pins has great distance control and is one of the best putters that I’ve seen when she’s on,” he pointed out.

“When you combine her great iron play with the fact that she makes her putts she scan go very low – and that’s the kind of thing you need to do be a winner on LPGA Tour.”

The 23-year-old is a fifth year member of the National Team Program – first four years on the amateur squad and now first season on young pro squad – says she’s grateful for the support she’s received over that time.

“Tristan has helped me so much with my game in terms of learning about myself and my game. And we also have physio and a mental coach and they’ve been great. We’ve been supported both on and off the golf course and that’s really helped my game a lot,” said the Texas A&M grad.

Szeryk says her top goal for 2019 is to secure her LPGA Tour card – and is up for the challenge whether that comes from finishing in the top 10 on the Symetra Tour money list or getting it through Q-school in December.

The former amateur standout will have a chance to test her game against the best on the LPGA Tour when she competes at the CP women’s Open.

“I didn’t play last year but I’ve have played the CP women’s open previously.  I just love playing in the event.  It’s always so much fun playing in Canada,” said Szeryk.

“The crowds are great. A lot of people say it’s like one of the majors; and for us Canadians getting that chance to play on home soil and getting all that support from fans is awesome.”