Jennifer Ha back home to compete
Glencoe win event would go a long way
Jennifer Ha can’t really put a finger on what went wrong at Kent State this season.
A year after being named the 2014 MAC ( Mid- American Conference) golfer of the year, the Calgarian’s game tailed off just enough that instead of being the No. 1 or No. 2 player on the Golden Flashes, she was mostly third fiddle.
The recently turned 21- year- old mostly shrugs it off, though, chalking it up to a slump that even the best golfers can suffer through sometimes.
“I didn’t have that great of a season, it’s less than I expected,” Ha said during the Golf Canada media day on Monday at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club ahead of the 36- hole Canadian Women’s Tour opener there on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“But I’m really feeling confident about this event just because it’s a course I’ve been a member at for five years,” added Ha, who played out of the Glencoe when she was younger before moving to Country Hills. “Just being home, it’s been nice to have my family here and all my coaches and teammates here. It’s been cool.”
Life is, indeed, very cool for the Team Canada member. She just got back to Calgary from school three days ago, wrapping up a communications degree. And she’s heading into her final summer as an amateur before turning pro.
The golden path to a professional golf lifestyle that few get to experience has a neon ‘ Welcome’ sign affixed above it.
Dad John is never far from her side; even on Monday he followed her silently in the distance, video camera in hand.
He and wife Christina moved the family from Seoul, South Korea, when Jennifer and her sister Jummy were young kids. Jennifer had clubs in her hand early but didn’t get serious about golf until age 14.
Seven years on, though, backed up by her dad’s dedication ( he has often caddied for her, too), Ha is in her third year of the national program with a team of support behind her — a big plus in the turning- pro equation.
“They’ve definitely helped me become more consistent throughout the years,” she said of Golf Canada.
“I’ve gained a lot of confidence just knowing I have an entire program and even an entire country behind me.”
Ha learned first- hand of that strong Canuck golf support during the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open LPGA Tour event, where she made the cut and was cheered in London, Ont., giving her confidence she can play with the best.
Success this week would further her career advancement. The winner at Glencoe will receive an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Aug. 17- 23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B. C.
“We have anything from amateurs to professionals here,” she noted of a strong field, which will also include locals Kim Carrington, Nicole Forshner, Andrea Kosa, Jaclyn Lee, Grace Howie and Sydney MacDonald.
“It’s been great because this tournament provides such a great opportunity for women to earn exemptions into big tournaments like the Canadian Open. Especially with everyone trying to turn pro, it gives great exemptions for Qschool.”
Since the 2016 tournament will be at Calgary’s Priddis Greens, there is even more urgency for quick success as a pro. As a 15- yearold, Ha was in the gallery for 2009’ s event, inspired toward greatness by what she saw.
“I was watching Suzann Pettersen, she was unreal. She ended up winning the event. It was great to see all those pros out there and just to think I could be out there one day, it’s really exciting.
“Priddis Greens is a great course. It’s definitely one that fits to my game and I’m really excited if I have the opportunity to play it.”
But first the Glencoe, which also sets up well for Ha, who was a member in her younger years. The tourney will go off of the Slopes and Bridges nines at the 45- hole facility.
“I like the Bridges a lot because you have to be a longer hitter to have easier irons going into the holes,” she said.
“I’m definitely going to use that to my advantage. The par fives aren’t really reachable, so I’m going to work hard on my wedges and see where that takes me.
“I think I have an advantage in my distance,” added Ha, who often outdrove her amateur male playing partners in Monday’s media scramble.
“I hit it pretty far off the tee. It just allows me to have shorter clubs going into the green. That’s definitely an advantage and I’d say I’m pretty good within 15 feet of the hole. I make a lot of putts.”
All skills needed for success this week.