Hello all!!!

It has been a long long while since my last email blog! I hope you are all doing well and have had a wonderful 2014!

Here is a wrap of my 2014 season!

It started out pretty decent with a few good finishes at our ALPG Pro Am’s, followed by a tie for third place at the Bing Lee Fujitsu General Women’s NSW Open at Oatlands GC. From there, the results for the rest of the Aussie season did not go as well as hoped for. Fortunately, things quickly turned around and I had a couple of good weeks in Mission Hills, China and in Morocco.

After a bit of time at home, I started a good run in Florida (USA) at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial Cup at Cypress Lakes finishing in an outright 2nd place. From here, I flew to Turkey and posted my first top ten for the 2014 LET season at the Turkish Airline Ladies Open played at the National GC. Continuing my good run, I managed to qualify for the US Women’s Open at the international qualifying site at the Buckinghamshire GC in England. I was the first group out and by the day’s end, after 36 holes, I ended up coming in =4th with four others which made up the 8 spots that were available! It was a very nerve-racking two hours after I was done as I had to wait for the rest of the field to come in. But it was all smiles when it was confirmed. Job done!

From there, it was the Deloitte Ladies Open at the International GC in Amsterdam. A decent week there but nothing special, then a couple of weeks off before heading back to the US. I played in Decatur, IL before heading to my first US Open and second major appearance. What a special week that was. We played at the well renowned Pinehurst No.2!!! We were greeted on our arrival with brand new Lexus 4WD to drive for the week; I knew it was going to be a great week no matter what. My only experience of a US Open was back in 2008 when I won the Karrie Webb Series and part of the scholarship was getting to spend a week with Karrie herself at the US Open. So this time around it was so great to be playing in it. And my week started on a high playing a practice round with Karrie and two other KWS winners; Stacey Keating and Minjee Lee on the Monday. I have not enjoyed a practice round as much as I did that day… I was enjoying it so much that I barely realised how long the course was set up! It wasn’t until about the 14th, I realised “Wow, I have hit 4 iron and rescue into a lot of par 4s today!”. The course was in great shape especially when you take into account that the Men played the same course the week before! My final prep for the tournament was nine holes with two hall of famers; Juli Inkster and Karrie Webb. Wow. This was so surreal. What an honour to be playing with two great names of golf!!! I believe it was Juli’s last US Open so this was even more special as I will never have that pairing again. I enjoyed every second of it and am so grateful to Karrie for organising it.

Unfortunately my great week didn’t continue into the weekend. After a solid first round, I was enroute to playing the weekend but I dropped a couple of shots coming in on the second day and ended up missing the cut by ONE SHOT!!! Yep, gut wrenching!!! Albeit my short appearance at my first US Open, it was truly an invaluable experience and I will cherish great memories of the week especially having Pappa Na there with me every step of the way. I look forward to playing many more and stepping it up!

From Pinehurst I flew up to Michigan, right up to the Upper Peninsula for the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass GC in Harris. Here, I posted my second top ten finish on the Symetra Tour – had a great chance of getting my first win but the flat stick just wasn’t working for me that final day and ended up in a tie for 5th place. Then from there, I flew across the Atlantic back to England for the European Masters at the Buckinghamshire – a solid week but not quite enough to get me an exemption into the British Open. So it was a long Sunday – after completing the final round it was straight in car, on the road, four hours north to play the Final Qualifier the next day. Another successful qualifying day for me as I shot 4 under to get through. So off to Royal Birkdale for the week! What a pure golf course!!! After waiting around all morning to get started at 3:06pm, I got off to a rough start, but was still in for a chance. Left the course at 9:30pm (true British Open style!) and returned the following morning and played really solid and finished even for the day without holing a thing. It seemed to be looking good for me to make the cut on the number but the pure perfect afternoon conditions did not help my situation and the cut score stayed as it was and I missed by ONE SHOT AGAIN! Heart breaking! I really wanted to play the course again, but it was not to be.

Despite the misses and the disappointment it was another great week to put in the ‘experience’ bank!!! From there I played in Germany and then it was back to the US for four events. I played solid in the majority of them but nothing special to write about. And after my tenth week in a row, I had a week off from tournament play. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Feeling refreshed and ready to go again, I had a great week in Scotland at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Open. My best finish on the LET schedule for the second year running at this event, this year coming in =3rd. Definitely one of my favourite events of the year! Such a beautiful country and I love the course at Archerfield Links.

Then, it was back across the Atlantic again to the US for the final three events on the Symetra schedule. First stop was Mayetta, KS. Again, I put myself in a great position to finish well, but found trouble on the last hole and slipped to finish in a tie for 6th. The next two events were just average finishes which put me in 32nd position on the Symetra ‘Race for the Card’ Money list for 2014 and 47th on the LET Money list.

Overall it was a solid season. A year of “almosts” I would say. I found myself in a handful of final round final group pairings which meant I put myself in contention a number of times this year but just didn’t quite have the finish I needed to get the big W. The win felt so close, but I kept falling short. So hopefully there is a win in me soon!!! I played the LET and with the intention of trying to get my LPGA card by playing Symetra as well. Unfortunately it didn’t end so well for me in the US, so I find myself with the same playing rights for 2015. Two full cards on both LET and Symetra. Only time will tell with what my plans are but for now, it’s time to work and get my game sharp for the upcoming ALPG season starting mid Jan! My fave time of year!!!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank my sponsor, Envestra for the past four years of support – I couldn’t have been out on Tour without it! So thank you! Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, but I am truly so grateful that I had the support that has given me opportunities which otherwise would not have been possible.

Back to the drawing board I go, and if anyone knows of any potential sponsorship out there, I’d be ever so grateful to hear about it. It’s a costly exercise this thing they call Tour golf!!!

You can contact me via this email address: stephna276@hotmail.com

And now, you can follow me on Twitter for updates on the go, rather than reading through a thesis!!! ;) @stephna276

Best wishes to all over the festive season, may you all have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. And wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!!! Thanks for the support!!! Much appreciated! :) Bring on 2015!!!

HAPPY GOLFING!

 Steph :)