Chasing Pars Golf Podcast

Joining me on this episode it was a pleasure to be joined by 2020 AIG Women's Open champion Sophia Popov who bares all in this incredible raw and honest story about the highest highs of winning in a remarkable fairytale story at Royal Troon to finding out finally after 3 years she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. 

Sophia was born in Boston, Massachusetts but moved to the Karlsruhe district in Germany at the age of 4 where she would compete in numerous competitions as a German player although has now stayed in Arizona for a number of years. Sophia would have success in her earlier years representing Team Europe at 2009 Junior Solheim Cup which included Leona Maguire & Klara Spilkova, she also won the 2010 International European Ladies Amateur Championship.

Sophia would go to University of South California representing USC Trojans and would play a part of 2x Espirito Santo Trophy's & 3x European Ladies' Amateur Team Championships for Germany and won 2x Vagliano Trophy's for Team Europe as well as winning numerous collegiate titles. In 2014 Sophia would turn pro at her home event on LET at German Masters and would win both a LET card & LPGA card for 2015 before disaster struck the early signs of fatigue, multiple pains and lack of appetite left Sophia feeling pretty frail and it would take 3 years to have a diagnosis of deadly Lyme Disease and now raises much needed awareness on Lyme Disease as an advocate.

In 2020 while on Symetra Tour just before the height of Covid 19 Pandemic it would come at a great time for Popov as it meant being still able to practice fully in her state of Arizona where Cactus Tour mini tour events were still taking place for player which included some top LPGA pros from Arizona area including 3x major champion Anna Nordqvist & Carlota Ciganda playing a couple. This gave Sophia a platform to stay competitive and it would pay off winning 3x Cactus Tour events before Tour Golf made a comeback and would finish well at Marathon Classic which would get Sophia into 2020 AIG Women's Open at Royal Troon, the rest as they say is history as Sophia Popov would overcome all the odds to complete a truly remarkable feat coming from unknown pro to Major Champion defeating Jasmine Suwannapura by 2 shots to etch her name in the history books forever, truly one of the most unbelievable tales. 

This year back playing on Epson Tour in Arizona would see Popov win Carlisle Arizona Women's Classic just a little over a year after giving birth to her little girl Maya and what makes the story even better is Sophia won the event on Mother's Day of all days to win in front of her daughter.

Please be sure to share this fantastic episode around as we try to tell the full story of Sophia Popov. Listen/Download on all the usual platforms and let's spread the word, one of the best episodes i've done on here!

In this latest episode of Chasing Pars I was joined by one of this year's LPGA Tour rookies Jessica Porvasnik as we find out about her experiences on tour this year what she has learned and what's the best part about tour life. Jessica on her last start in Hawaii at Lotte Championship Jessica finished 4th for her best finish on tour, Jessica is currently 107th in the Race to CME Globe in a crucial part of the season with Top 100 players retaining their LPGA Tour privileges.

Jessica is from Hinckley in Ohio but currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida for the all better golf weather. She attended Ohio State University where she gained honours such as 2014 Big Ten Individual Champion & Player of the Year, 4x Ohio State University Scholar Athlete, Big Ten Medal of Honor Finalist & played in 2014 US Women's Open as an am at Pinehurst. 

Jessica would turn pro in 2017 and would win 5 events including the 2017 & 2018 Ohio Women's Opens, 2020 NWGA LPGA International Champion, 2021 NWGA The Legends at Parris Island Championship & 2021 PXG Women's Strokeplay & Matchplay Championship. In 2022 Jessica would play full season on Epson Tour finishing 6th at Casino Del Sol Golf Classic & 25th at Murphy El Dorado Shootout. In 2023 would see her gain 9 Top 25 finishes including 6th at Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic, 9th at Guardian Championship & 9th at Murphy El Dorado Shootout. In 2024 things would turn for the better as she would be in contention loads resulting in two 2nd's, a 3rd, a 4th & an 8th resulting in Jessica finishing 4th on Epson Tour Order of Merit gaining her LPGA Tour card for 2025.

Want to thank Jessica Porvasnik for being a great guest. Download via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Enjoy!

Fresh off a major career decision I was joined by recently retired Ladies European Tour pro and 2024 Fidelity ADT Ladies Challenge champion Helen Tamy Kreuzer in what was a great chat as we dive straight into Helen's decision to end her professional golf career after 4 years as a pro which includes over 65+ starts on Ladies European Tour & Ladies European Tour Access Series amassing 11 Top 25 finishes between both tours including a career high T11th finish on LET at KPMG Women's Irish Open in 2022 & 3rd as a team at Aramco Team Series in Jeddah with Virginia Elena Carta & Lina Boqvist. 

Helen is from Bensheim, Germany around about half an hour away from the city of Frankfurt where she has a great attachment to Frankfurt Golf Club. Helen would go to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida & would win prestigious titles such as 2019 NCAA Div 2 South Regionals, 2021 South State Conference Championship & 2021 NCAA Div 2 Championship as well as representing Germany at for 2x European Ladies' Amateur Team Championship in 2020 at Uppsala in Sweden & 2021 at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland teaming with the likes of Alexandra Forsterling, Aline Krauter, Polly Mack & Sophie Witt. 

Helen would turn pro in 2021 & would gain her LET tour card for 2022 where she would start her LET journey in a the picturesque Magical Kenya Open while coming across wildlife such as Zebras & Giraffes. 2022 was a successful rookie year which includes results such as 35th at Joburg Ladies Open, 34th at SA Open, 27th at Madrid Open, 20th at Jabra Ladies Open, 31st at Italian Open, 15th at Big Green Egg Open, 11th at KPMG Women's Irish Open, 24th at Hero Indian Open & 28th individual at Aramco Series in Jeddah. Some other highlights on LETAS would be 2nd at PGA Championship Goteborg in 2024, 

Helen has a distinct passion for College Golf and openly acknowledges her roots & is looking at taking exams for future coaching privileges.

It was great to speak with Helen to reflect on a big career change, I wish her all the best going forward.

This podcast is in collaboration with Bunker Brigade Golf Apparel be sure to check out the latest designs and sales on Bunker Brigade website.

Be sure to listen & download via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

In this episode I was pleased to be joined by a truly talented young player in 2023 European Ladies' Amateur Champion, 3x Palmer Cup Participant & Former World Number 1 Amateur Julia Lopez Ramirez as we discuss her upbringing, brilliant amateur career and what her rookie season on LPGA Tour has looked like in her own view so far.

Julia is from Benahavis in Malaga and developed her impressive driving ability from getting in her own words 'teased by her coach' that he could hit it further. 

Julia would go to Mississippi State University as part of the Mississippi Bulldogs and would win 8 individual titles which included the prestigious 2023 European Ladies' Amateur Championship defeating then World Number 1 player Ingrid Lindblad in a thrilling final as well as participating in 3x Palmer Cups for Team International, 2023 Vagliano Trophy participant, 2023 Espirito Santo Trophy participant for Spain & 3x European Ladies' Amateur Team Championships for Spain which included winning for Spain in 2023 alongside ANWA champion Carla Bernat Escuder, Carolina Lopez-Chacarra, Cayetana Fernandez, Tejedo Mulet & Lopez Ortega. Julia would also be the 2023 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year & of course Number 1 Amateur in the world in 2024.

At the end of 2024 Julia would turn pro and would finish T10th at Final Stage of LPGA Q School to gain a tour card for this year 2025. She would tee it up in her first full event as a LPGA pro in Bradenton, Florida for Founders Cup before struggling with a shoulder injury that would hinder her start to the year before finding form early summer finishing T29th at Liberty National for Mizuho Americas Open followed by T45 at Mexico Riviera Maya. At Erin Hills for US Womens Open in June would see Julia be joint first round leader and 2nd going into the final day being in the final group at a major, although it didn't go to plan on the Sunday Julia sees the positives from that week and would make the weekend at 2 of the next majors T36th at KPMG PGA Championship & T28th at Evian Championship. At the Scottish Women's Open in July it would see Julia post her best LPGA Tour finish at Dundonald Links finishing T3rd before struggling at the tough Royal Porthcawl for AIG Women's Open.

It was a great pleasure to have Julia on the podcast. Such a talented player to watch. I wish her nothing but the best for the future and her battle to make CME Tour Finals.

This show is in co-operation with Bunker Brigade Golf Apparel. Bunker Brigade is a golf brand formed in 2024 in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It's main objective is high quality clothing for affordable prices so be sure to check the Bunker Brigade website for the latest clothing.

In this episode I was joined by 2x Ladies European Tour winner & 2x Solheim Cup participant Becky Brewerton who kindly came on for a great chat about her established career and what things are like at the minute having transitioned into a pro caddy since stopping playing in 2023.

Becky is from St Asaph in Northern Wales and turned pro in 2004 after a brilliant Junior & Amateur career which included representing Great Britain & Ireland at 2000 Curtis Cup and 2002 Espirito Santo Trophy. Becky represented Wales 3 times at European Ladies' Amateur Team Championships, she is also a 2x Welsh Girls' Amateur Champion, 2x Welsh Ladies' Amateur Champion & Ladies' European Amateur Champion. In 2003 Becky held the lead until the 17th hole on Sunday at Tenerife Women's Open as an amateur.

Becky turned pro in 2004 after finishing 13th at LET Final Q School and would make an instant impact on LET becoming a consistent figure on the tour. In 2007 she would win her maiden LET title at Chart Hills for Ladies English Open defeating Linda Wessberg, Kirsty Taylor & Karen Stupples by 3 shots before winning a 2nd title in 2009 at Panoramica Club for Open de Espana Femenino.

Becky would get picked for 2007 Solheim Cup at Halmstad Golfklubb in Sweden joining the likes of legendary Annika Sorenstam, Dame Laura Davies, Trish Johnson, Suzann Petterssen & Catriona Matthew which was won by USA 16-12 before getting a second bite at the cheery 2 years later in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois which would feature a young upcoming Anna Nordqvist the first of her 9 Solheim Cups.

Becky since stopping in 2023 has been caddying on LET for players such as Virginia Elena Carta & Meghan MacLaren and was good to chat about her different outlook in comparison to some of the players on the bag for.

Want to thank Becky for taking time to come on the podcast it was great to speak with someone of her calibre with the longevity she showed in her glittering career. I hope you enjoy!

Be sure to listen, download, like & subscribe via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify & be sure to leave a 5 star review it helps the show massively, thanks!

After a little bit of a break I was joined by Poland's history maker in Dorota Zalewska who became the first ever Polish player to win a tour card on Ladies European Tour in 2024 gaining 3 top 20's in her rookie season & held the lead at this year's Dutch Open at Goyer.

Dorota is from Szczesin, Poland and started out the game with her father at the age of 10 at Modry Las GC and has won Polish Junior Championship, Polish Matchplay & Polish Amateur Ladies Open. Dori went to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga winning 4  times at Chattanooga including NCAA Raleigh Regionals in 2023 and has represented Poland at 4 Espirito Santo Trophy's & 2 European Ladies' Amateur Team Championships. 

Growing up Dori played numerous sports including Tennis where we eventually talk about Polish sports people including now 6x Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, Hubert Hurkacz & the legendary Robert Lewandowski. Dori speaks about her admiration for everything that Iga Swiatek has done in Tennis for the whole scale of Poland. We also have a chat about Makaron z Trustkawkami which is effectively Pasta with Strawberries & Cream which came into the spotlight recently as Swiatek's favourite meal.

I want to thank Dorota for coming on and being a pleasure to chat with. I wish her all the best in her quest to keep her playing privileges for the next season. 

Be sure to listen, download while leaving a like and subscribe via the usual platforms Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Enjoy!

In another player interview I was joined by Ladies European Tour veteran Stacy Bregman.

After a brief interaction with Stacy at Abama when doing on course walk and talk with Hitaashee Bakshi we talk about all things Abama (especially the hills!!) I think the overall consensus is that the players although it was a hike they all loved it in Tenerife. 

Stacy is from Johannesburg in South Africa and started playing the game at about 13 years old, she achieved South African colours for Karate 7 times and was 2004 Sports Woman of the Year at King David Linksfield School. In 2006 Stacy alongside Ashleigh Simon (Buhai) & Kelli Shean would participate for Team South Africa at Espirito Santo Trophy on home soil in Stellenbosch which the 3 ladies would win.

Stacy in her long and established professional career has record 7 wins on Sunshine Ladies Tour and would win the team event at 2021 Aramco Team Series - Sotogrande along with Ash Buhai & Hayley Davis. Stacy has held her Tour card on LET since 2007 so is into her 18th season on tour without losing her card that is massively impressive achievement and longevity! 

This was a mixture of serious golf chat in with some very funny moments including learning about her being a Black Belt in Karate and Stacy's karaoke song of choice. Be sure to Listen, Download, Like & Subscribe via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify. 

Had a lot of fun with this one, enjoy!

In this episode a couple weeks later than originally planned I was joined by LET Card Holder for this year Michaela Finn who called in from Ohio.

Michaela splits her time between Jacksonville, Florida & Ohio and when she goes home to Sweden she resides outside of Brastad. In her time at Kent State University in Ohio, Michaela won 2017 Mid-American Conference Championship, 3x Mid-American Conference First Team Selection & participated in the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship in 2019. 

Michaela has represented Sweden on a number of occasion as a Junior/Amateur having been as partner the National selection for 2012 European Young Masters, 2014 World Amateur Team Championship in Canada where she got a Silver Medal alongside Emma Svensson & Filippa Möörk, 2014 European Girls' Team Championship finishing 3rd & 2017 European Ladies' Team Championship finishing 3rd. 

Michaela turned Pro in 2019 and would win 2019 Åhus Open on Swedish Golf Tour defeating Sara Kjellker by 1 shot at Kristianstad Golf Club. In 2020 Michaela would join Symetra Tour (Epson Tour) but only played few events due to Covid Pandemic. In 2021 at Symetra Tour Championship Michaela would shoot a history making -11 61 a record she still co-holds to this day alongside Fatima Fernandez Cano. At 2024 LET Final Q School finals Finn would finish T8th to gain full Ladies European Tour membership for season 2025 which has resulted in a few starts this year.

Interesting fact is that Michaela also works for Backswing Company raising over $7,000 for charity in one of her last fundraiser events. She also loves to cook and has her own special recipe for Traditional Swedish Meatballs.

As always be sure to check it out if possible. Download via Podbean,  Apple Podcasts and Spotify and be sure to tell me what you think, thank you Michaela for coming on to chat.

Enjoy.

On Day 2 here at Abama Golf for this week's Tenerife Womens Open on Ladies European Tour after a brief walk of the course on the back 9 towards home I caught up with 2024 Hero Indian Women's National number 1 player Hitaashee Bakshi who has had a decent start to life on LET with a T36th at Jabra Ladies Open & T12th at Dutch Women's Open alongside caddy Nathan Free, this potential star of the future has been pro since 17 years of age and we chat about her association with the well renowned DLF course in India as we break down what it takes to play there as well as go through the different head covers that she uses including some of her favourites.

We also caught up with 6x European Am Team Championship participant for Ireland Annabel Wilson who is making her way onto the tour having turned Pro in 2024 after a good Amateur career in the States. Annabel played the game in Scotland at 7 years old and with the Open Championship at Royal Portrush this year about half and hour away from Annabel we go into what it means for Northern Irish Golf.

Last interview is with 2024 Curtis Cup winner with GB&Ire Lorna McClymont who is finding her way through a mixture of LET & LETAS and talks through her experiences so far on tour, her time as an International Scholar at University of Stirling as well as of course the whole experience at last year's Curtis Cup event at Sunningdale where Great Britain & Ireland defeated America on home soil which included Mimi Rhodes, Sara Byrne & Lottie Woad. 

I hope you all enjoy as I had great fun doing these, as always like, Download and Subscribe via Podbean, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Here's to more!

As people are aware I am Tenerife this week for Tenerife Womens Open on Ladies European Tour. On the first day I walked the back 9 at Abama Golf with Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Danielle Du Toit as we done a walk and talk at the Par 4 15th. 

We discuss her win on Sunshine Ladies Tour back in SA in February as well as other fun stuff, be sure to listen in, tomorrow there will be more content from Day 2 with a few audio interviews. Enjoy