Chasing Pars Golf Podcast

After a fantastic season on the LPGA Tour which includes Nelly korda winning 7 events including last weeks The Anika at Pelican, Hannah Green and Lydia Ko with 3 wins each as well as 2 wins each for Lauren Coughlin and Ronni Yin we have reached the season ending CME Tour Championship Finals with the Top 60 in the race to CME Globe making it through to Tiburon in Florida!

 I am joined by Scott Mader @BJays129 as we go through this year on LPGA Tour, some highlights and who we think will go well this week!

Listen and Download on Podbean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For the final time in 2024 for a tournament perspective, enjoy!

We made it all the way to 150 Episode guys! At times thought we would never get there so as always to everyone that takes time to listen in and support the show in anyway I'm always greatly appreciative! 

In this episode I was joined by Epson Tour/LET Caddy Jonny Lane who phones in from his local football club Welwyn Garden City facility as we discuss the fundamentals of being a Professional Tour Caddy as well as one of the main points for Jonny was becoming a Tour Winning Caddy in September when his player the highly talented Fatima Fernandez Cano would win on Epson Tour for the 3rd time at Guardian Championship in Alabama with Fati defeating Former World Number 1 Amateur Ingrid Lindblad by a shot! 

From Welwyn City, Jonny would spend time at his local Golf Club playing at the same club as where LET pro Hannah Burke played from. Jonny would be a Golfing Travel Holiday representative before fellow pro Caddy on DP World Tour Callum Matheson would show Jonny the ropes of what it took to become a Pro Caddy! Jonny has worked for the likes of Gemma Clews, Hannah Burke on occasion & Leonie Harm before getting the call from Fatima Fernandez Cano at Scandinavian Mixed and the rest is history as in a 9 tournament run Jonny & Fati would get a win, a 2nd & few more top 10s on Epson Tour where Fatima would gain her LPGA Tour card for 2025 after finishing 3rd overall on Epson Tour points list! 

Jonny also talks about adapting some Aim Point training that he took to advance his Caddying credentials for helping people out if needed in the future as well as development in helping providing funds for Caddies if needed & helping with a new Caddy 'LinkedIn system' for future.

In the space of a full year as a Caddy Jonny has had an impressive run! Hopefully the best is yet to come!

Thanks so much to all my followers on this 3 & half year journey so far!

Listen & Download on Podbean, Spotify & Apple.

In this latest episode I was joined by Ladies European Tour & ex LPGA Tour caddy Big Ginge (aka Alex Williams) as we speak about a range of subjects including winning on his caddying debut on Seniors Tour with European Tour legend Barry Lane, growing up as part of Autistic Spectrum, what life is like travelling for someone with Aspergers Syndrome as well as finding out the main roles and responsibilities as a Pro Caddy including everything from the yardage books to wind factors to decision making.

Alex was an all round sportsman playing everything from County Cricket, Badminton & Tennis before choosing to take up Golf more seriously and had some Junior success. In 2017 Alex would help Barry Lane win Seniors event at an impressive 22 under and work under Barry's tutorship for 3 years before finding some work working for Former British Am Champion Emily Toy  before working on LET & LPGA for the likes of Leonie Harm, Kim Metraux & Ines Laklalech as well as currently with Rosie Davies & occasionally Marta Martin on LET. 

A greatly respected caddy that has a larger than life presence but one of life's good guys! It was a pleasure Ginge! 

Listen & Download on Podbean, Spotify & Apple Podcasts 

After a couple of weeks break, I was joined by one of the game's Elite Golf Coaches Chris Mayson who has coached some of the very best players in the game from World Number 1's in Ariya Jutanugarn to Major Champions in I K Kim.

Chris played Professionally for a period of time after being a good winner at Amateur level at University. At the age of 25 he would have to give up playing g due to a disk injury in his back which by his own admission Chris was doing things wrong in his own practice and routine. Starting out his coaching route Chris would have at an early stage around 7 very good players to help evaluate their swings etc with before gaining a reputation for being a great mind in the coaching analysis side of things. 

Examples of Chris' success is last week Ricky Castillo who would go on to win his PGA Tour card for next year from the Korn Ferry Tour, Chris who has worked with Ricky since 12 years old. Also a few weeks back at Solheim Cup 2 of Chris' players Sarah Schmelzel & Alison Lee were heavily involved in USA's 15.5-12.5 victory over Europe at Robert Trent Jones GC in Virginia! Chris is massively credited by Alison herself for turning her career around!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an elite level Golf coach then please be sure to listen in via Podbean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, I hope you enjoy!

First of all a little bit of a Disclaimer in I was out at the time of recording so unfortunately will be background noise but I was joined by Founder of Sterling Sports Management and Golf Enthusiast Jeff Chilcoat who phones in from Ohio to discuss Solheim Cup in Virginia, the job Stacey Lewis done for Team USA, trying to keep neutral having players on both sides with Megan Khang, Sarah Schmelzel, Allisen Corpuz on Team USA & Maja Stark on Team Europe for Jeff's clients! We find out about the day to day running of being a Player Manager to several LPGA Players and what is involved in the role as well as talking about potential growth in the years to come!

Sterling Sports Management is fast becoming a well respected Management stable with multiple Major Champions & multiple title Victories! Jeff has over 25 years worth of experience and having met him at St Andrews on the Friday of AIG Women's Open I can say he was a great guy! 

Hope you enjoy. Listen & Download on Podbean, Apple & Spotify!

In this episode I was pleased to be joined by an integral part of Team USA's success at last week's Solheim Cup the 2023 US Women's Open Champion Allisen Corpuz who phones in from Las Vegas, Nevada took talk about in her own words 'the surreal week' at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia for Solheim Cup that saw Allisen win 3 points out of 4 available including win both Morning Foursomes matches with close friend Nelly Korda & a statement victory over the vastly experienced Anna Nordqvist in the Sunday Singles. We talk everything from Barack Obama being in attendance to Allisen watching Lilia Vu clinch the Cup for the US with a brilliant approach at 18 vs Valenzuela to 2 feet to win. 

Allisen assesses life on Tour, her 2024 season which has been consistent including 9 Top 25s & a season best finish of T4th a couple of weeks back in Boston for FM Championship, we discuss the life changing week at Pebble Beach in 2023 for US Women's Open and Starting out as a LPGA Tour member in 2022 after finishing T16 in LPGA Q Series in 2021 to win her LPGA Card.

Allisen was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii before enrolling at University of South California from 2016-2021 which included 2021 Curtis Cup win for US (went 3-0-0 that week), 2x Palmer Cup Participant in 2020 & 2021 as well as playing in 3x US Women's Opens as an Amateur while reaching a high of 7th in the World Amateur Rankings. In 2021 Allisen turned Professional and has never looked back since then having had 31 Top 25s since 2022 making 52/67 cuts since then. 2x Solheim Cup Participant for USA (Won 5 out of 8 Matches played) & in 2023 at Pebble Beach Allisen would defeat Charley Hull & Jiyai Shin by 3 shots to win US Women's Open which remains her sole LPGA Tour win. 

A hugely consistent and accurate player with a great game. Surely only a matter of time before Corpuz wins more titles. 

If you could listen in via Podbean, Spotify & Apple Podcasts that would be great. Appreciate the Support! Enjoy.

In this next player episode I was joined by fellow Scottish compatriot and Scottish Women's Number 1 player Gemma Dryburgh who calls in from Texas due to a hurricane emergency evacuation in New Orleans. We find out how Gemma has found her season so far with 11 cuts made in 20 events this year on LPGA Tour including 6 Top 25 finishes and what is to come for the rest of the year after this week's Solheim Cup is finished. 

Gemma is from Westhill in Aberdeenshire about 7 miles short of Aberdeen and grew up playing Football and supporting both Aberdeen & Manchester United. Gemma went to Tulane University in Louisiana, New Orleans where she would win 2x Individual Titles, Represent Scotland at World, European & South American Team Championships & would participate for Great Britain & Ireland at 2014 Curtis Cup. In 2015 Gemma would turn professional and would gain starts on the Ladies European Tour for the first 2/3 seasons before winning a LPGA Tour card for 2018. 

Gemma is a 5x Professional title winner including the biggest win of her career in at Toto Japan Classic in November 2022 defeating home faithful Kana Nagai by 4 shots to win for the first time on LPGA Tour. Gemma has also won in 2017 on ALPG Tour & 3x Rose Ladies Series event winner in 2020 & 2021 in events hosted by Justin & Kate Rose! In 2023 Gemma would make every cut at the 5 Majors including a career best T8th at 2023 Evian Championship & would get the nod of approval from European Solheim Cup Captain Suzann Pettersen to represent Team Europe at Finca Cortesin where she earned a Full Point in 2 matches in Spain, something that is still memorable for her to this day!

Gemma was great fun to have on and I enjoyed speaking to a fellow Scot! I hope you enjoy also!

Listen & Download on either of Podbean, Apple Podcasts or Spotify! I appreciate the support!

In the 21st player episode of 2024, Craig was joined by current LPGA Tour Rookie Isabella Fierro who calls in from Ohio to discuss life on LPGA Tour so far after winning her LPGA card finishing 9th overall on the Epson Tour last year!

Inspired & mentored by the legendary 27x LPGA Tour winner, former world number 1 & LPGA Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa, Isabella talks about what Lorena's influence has had on her and for Mexican Golf in general!

Isabella is from Ciudad del Carmen in Mexico and took up Golf at the age of 4 Inspired by her father. She also went to the Oklahoma State University with the likes of Maja Stark and got to 28 in the WAGR at Amateur level which included multiple titles most notably 2017 North & South Women's Amateur Championship. Isabella also competed at 2021 Palmer Cup for Team International, 2021 NCAA Women's Match Championship, 2x at Augusta National Women's Amateur & finished 76th at 2022 Chevron Championship as an Amateur.  

Isabella turned Pro in 2023 where she would start on the Epson Tour and would shoot a final round 62 at Garden City Charity Classic to finish T2nd. She would also have runs in June with T11th at Island Resort Champs, T17th at Hartford Healthcare Women's Champs & T8th at Black Desert Resort Championship. She would finish the Epson Tour season with T3rd, T4th, a win at Tuscaloosa Classic and T8th at Epson Tour finals to gain LPGA Tour status for 2024. The most notable result for Isabella this year was the T23rd at Chevron Championship in April at the first major of the year! 

I wish Isabella all the best for the remainder of the year and hopefully she progresses next year! A very talented player for sure! Thanks Isabella!

Listen & Download on Podbean,  Spotify & Apple Podcasts 

After an enthralling ending to the CPKC Women's Open in Calgary where on her 101st LPGA Tour start Lauren Coughlin finally became a LPGA Tour title winner after standing tall at a tough Earl Grey Golf Club defeating Mao Saigo by 2 shots while Haeran Ryu a stalwart for much of the tournament alongside Coughlin fell away to finish T3rd. Congratulations to former podcast guest Lauren on finally achieving her dreams! 

This week the LPGA heads to a familiar sport in the State of Oregon for the Portland Classic at the  ever present 6400+ yards  Columbia Edgewater Country Club which usually generates great scoring chances for the players and with sun & light winds expected it should be more of the see as Chanettee Wannasaen defends her title after romping to a 4 shot victory at -26 to Xiyu Lin to win as a qualifier at 19 years old. I am joined by Scott Mader as we try our best to guide you through the best plays of the week in what is an extremely weak field this year due to the Olympics being next week for the Women's side.

Be sure to follow myself @ThomsonGolf94 on Twitter for all LPGA content including the LPGA 6 as myself & 5 associates give our best picks of the week just for you lovely people. 

Listen & Download on Podbean, Spotify & Apple Podcasts, enjoy!

In another player episode of the podcast I was joined by the current number 1 ranked in the race for the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year and 1x LET Winner Chiara Tamburlini who calls in from back home in Switzerland as she enjoys some time off before back to tournament action in mid August for the Scottish Open! It's been a great rookie season so far on the LET for Chiara with 5 Top 10's including a win by a whopping 7 shots at Joburg Ladies Open in April, a T2nd at Jabra Ladies Open at Evian Resort in May and a T3rd on her LET debut in Kenya.

Chiara talks about her journey into the game while having a successful Amateur and College Career playing in 4x European Amateur Team events for Switzerland, playing Espirito Santo Trophy,  playing 2x Palmer Cup's for International team and playing last year Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship! We found out how she has found Tour life so far while striking up friendships with many people. In 2023 Chiara would turn professional and on her first tournament played as a pro she would win the PGA Championship Gothenburg on the LETAS tour by 5 shots then a few weeks later with the Justin Rose backed Rose Ladies Open she would win that by 2 ultimately gaining her LET card after finishing 3rd overall! A couple of weeks ago Chiara would make her Major Championship debut at a Golf Course she has lots of experience at for the Evian Championship where she would make the weekend and finish T55th she would also play on the Saturday with none other than the Undisputed Number 1 Nelly Korda a surreal experience for anybody!

Chiara was a great guest and I hope you enjoy the episode. A super talented Golfer with the world at her feet. Loved this episode. Thanks to Chiara.

Download and listen via Podbean, Spotify & Apple Podcasts