Lisa Maguire talks life as a Blue Devils Golfer

Life as a Blue Devils golfer certainly does not lack excitement, according to Slieve Russell member Lisa Maguire.   Lisa alongside Sister Leona, made the decision to peruse a golf scholarship in the US after she completed her leaving certificate in 2014.

Asked why she chose Duke, she said ‘Leona and I visited different Universities and had spoken to other golfers who had attended Duke. When we visited the University – we spoke to the coach and the team, and the facilities were brilliant as were the academics, so it was an obvious choice’.

Lisa is a sophomore at the University alongside Leona and there are five other members on the women’s golf roster; Celine Boutier (France), Virginia Elena Carta (Italy), Sandy Choi (Seoul), Gurbani Singh (India) and Yi Xiao (China).

A standard day as a Blue Devils golfer includes attending class in the morning for her psychology studies, playing golf on a Monday/Wednesday and Friday afternoon and practicing on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The gym schedule is not to be snubbed as she is there at least three mornings a week, before class.

Lisa talked about the team environment and how there were significant differences between what she was used to in Ireland versus her daily routine in North Carolina, ‘we practice together, albeit it on different parts of our game. The dynamic is very different to Ireland but the programme is very coherent as the whole team are in the same place.’ 

Lisa went through a big swing change last year but the focus has switched slightly for now, as her focus is on pre shot and practice routines, ‘consistency is key’ added the talented 21 year old. ‘Practice and preparation vary depending on where the team are going to play next and whether its North or South’, Maguire stated.  Generally five players travel to each tournament and team selection differs from week to week. The selection criteria is not set in stone and is based on previous tournament performance, combined with results from weekly on course competitions. Lisa noted that ‘Dan Brooks, Head Coach always likes us to have a card in our hands as it focuses us even during on course practice.’

Supporting the basketball team, going to the movies and bowling are all off the course hobbies of Maguire’s. ‘Leona and I try to go shopping and max out Dad’s credit card too, when we can,’ she laughed.

Setting goals was always important for Lisa and she shared her short term plan with us, ‘I’m hoping to finish out the season well over here and then play well in the British Amateur in Scotland and European Individual in Sweden. June and July will be pretty hectic at home but I’m looking forward to it’.

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