Jodi Joins World's Best

May 12 2008 by The Journal

North East golfer Jodi Ewart is facing the biggest test of her burgeoning career this month. The Catterick Golf Club member will represent GB and Ireland against the best amateur ladies from the US in the Curtis Cup on the hallowed ground of the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Jodi learnt her golf at the lovely North Yorkshire course under the expert guidance of club professional Andy Marshall and is now doing well at the University of New Mexico where she has had an outstanding two years.

She has just become the first woman to defend her Mountain West Women's championship title. Jodi has also been name co-player of the year by the conference.

Jodi won the Daily Telegraph Girls' Championship in Dubai in 2006, and in 2007 became the English Amateur Strokeplay Champion.

Catterick club chairman Ian Ferguson said, 'This is a superb achievement for this delightful and talented young lady and the club congratulates Jodi on this major honour."

Several club members will be at St Andrew's to cheer her on.

The call-up represents another big achievement for Jodi and she said: "I am so excited to play at St Andrew's. I've played there before but nothing is going to compare to this experience.

Jodi is really getting the most from her time on the tough US college circuit.

She added: "I love being here at college it's so much fun, the weather is great and we have one of the top college facilities in the nation! The tuition is great and I get along amazingly well with both of our coaches as they are great fun."

Jodi is fairly happy with what she has achieved in the US so far but already has her sights set on turning pro.

She said: "The biggest highlight was winning our conference championship last April; it was really special being my first win. Also getting all-American honors and being player of the year plus freshman of the year for our conference was fantastic."

She admits that she is learning a lot, which will stand her in good stead once she finishes her time at college and moves into the professional ranks.

"The level of competition is probably the best in the world," Jodi added. "These are the girls that I will be playing against at pro level; they're all really great girls too. My current national ranking is 25th, though I have been up to 20th.

"I have two remaining years at college and I'm not sure what the future holds. I want to turn pro in the future. I'll probably start on the European Tour but my ultimate goal is to play (and be Number 1) on the LPGA tour in the US."

Jodi says that her great inspiration at Catterick is never far from her thoughts.

She said: "I tend to go straight to Andy Marshall at Catterick whenever something goes wrong. He's been my coach since I was eight-years-old. I owe everything I have achieved so far to him. He knows my swing like the back of his hand; I really owe a lot to him.