Female Pro creating history - PGA of Australia

Female Pro creating history


Lisa Jean delivered a performance for the record books becoming the first female to win the Victorian Club Professional Championship this week.

Lisa Jean delivered a performance for the record books becoming the first female to win the Victorian Club Professional Championship this week.

"LisaJean, the Golf Operations Manager at Horsham Golf Club in
country Victoria, teed up in the prestigious PGA title with little
expectations.

At the end of the 18 holes Jean had etched her name on the
trophy and earned a place in the PGA Tour of Australasia’s 2016 Victorian PGA
Championship.

"I haven’t been playing at all, so I was just hoping to have
a good day and play reasonably so not to embarrass myself. I went in relaxed, I
didn’t think I had much chance of winning but it ended up being a very good
result," said Jean who fired an even par round, from the ladies championship
tees at Eynesbury Golf Club.  

Ensuring vocational PGA Professionals have the opportunity
to compete in the Victorian PGA Championship the winner, Jean, was provided an
invite to the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament.

"Our vocational PGA Professionals are exceptional players in
their own rights, providing the Victorian Club Professional champion a place in
the Victorian PGA Championship allows them the opportunity to measure their
game against their Tour Professional colleagues," said Simon Butterly, General
Manager – Tournaments Division of the PGA of Australia.

"That Lisa, as a female, has been able to qualify is a
remarkable feat and also goes to show the depth of talent we have across
Victoria in both the male and female game."

"But I think the biggest winner out of Lisa’s experience is
her students at Horsham Golf Club. To have a player of Lisa’s calibre also
coaching is a real benefit to regional Victoria."  

No stranger to tournament golf, Jean competed on the Ladies
European Tour for six years before trading in the clubs for a place on the
lesson tee.

"I think having played a lot, I back myself, I know that I
will play reasonably, it definitely helps when you are in tight spots," added
Jean.

"Just play your shots and not get worked up about things."

Jean’s experience will come in handy when competing against
the male Tour Professionals which is a daunting prospect.

"I am pretty nervous about the thought of playing, but I am
trying not to let the thoughts get to me," added Jean who will play off the
men’s tees in the Victorian PGA Championship.

"Obviously playing against the men, they are going to be out
driving and out hitting me."

"I just need to play my game and see how it goes, if I start
trying to play a different game to what I am used to them it will effect what I
do."

"If I do some decent practice going into the Vic PGA then it
will be nice to make the cut but that is a lofty expectation. To play around
par, maybe, is a good goal to have off the men’s tee."

Jean won’t be the first female to compete on the PGA Tour of
Australasia, recent LPGA champion Minjee Lee was a regular competitor at the WA
Open as an amateur from 2011 until 2013, more recently fellow West Australian
amateur Hannah Green has also teed it up.

"I have always been of the thought process that women can’t
compete against the men off the men’s tees, so for the experience of playing
alongside them I think it’s good provided they don’t feel too much pressure,"
added Jean.

The PGA Professionals Championship of Victoria was played
concurrently with the Victorian Club Professional Championship with Nick Dastey
taking out the honours on 2-under 70.

Lisa Jean finished runner-up and along with the top-11
finishers, finds herself in the field for the PGA Professionals Championship at
Hamilton Island.

"I am really looking forward to these upcoming tournaments,
once a competitor always a competitor," added Jean.

"It’s got me excited about golf again."


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