Up-and-coming New Zealand golf star Eunseo Choi won the New Zealand Women's Stroke Play Championship in 2024, placed third in the 2024 Australian Women's Amateur Championship, and was ranked #54 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
She joined Jason Pine to chat about studying at Pepperdine College in California, and the upcoming Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in Wellington.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Royal Wellington Golf Club is hosting the eighth edition of
the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship from February twelve through
fifteen next year, bringing together the region's best young amateur
women's golfers. The winner earns starts in three major championships,
the AIG Women's Open, the Amundai Evon Championship and the
Chevron Championship. Eighty four players from twenty eight country set
(00:34):
to contest, including a record nine from New Zealand. Among
them is in Sir Choi, who is currently ranked fifty
fourth in the World Amateur Rankings, our top amateur. She
joins us now and so thanks for joining us. You've
played this event several times before. How special is it
to play the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship though in
your own home country?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Actually this is my I played at fourth time, so
there's my fift time going into playing this toilet and
it feels like a great honor to be playing it
back in my home country. Because I've been telling many
other competitors that New Zern is such a great place
to come to, and it's like such a pride to
be able to show people how after raw is and
how amazing Golfusian is able to provide for the rest
(01:20):
of the players of the world to come compare on
our home soil.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So you were thirteenth in the twenty twenty five edition,
are the best of the kiwis sixty one, sorry, sixty seven,
seventy one, sixty seven, sixty seven. How do you reflect
back on the twenty twenty five edition of this tournament.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I think it was a really great learning opportunity for me.
It was definitely one of my best performances so far,
and I'm very part of the result I've made, and
during this time there were many moments where I hope
that I could have done better, but I think it
was a moment for me to reflect on and push
(01:55):
forward for the twenty twenty sixth editions.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
The winner earns starts in three major championships. How big
and incentive is that for an amateur golfer.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
That is a very big incentive. It's one of the
three major events, and it's a great opportunity for us
to get to know the professional playing field and just
getting within the top top ranking of that tournament gives
us like points for this college ranking system, which allows
if we have enough points, which allows us to go
(02:28):
professional without taking any two school or pro testing. So
it's like a very big incentive for us.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Absolutely. I just want to take you back to twenty
twenty four. You won the New Zealand Women's Strike Play
Championship and the New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship, and that's
a double that even lydia Co didn't achieve in the
same year when she was an amateur. So tell us
about twenty twenty four in a particular those two wins.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Last year two and two four us prapping for college
and it was like my final year of high school.
So around the last months of twenty twenty four, I
had no school and just exams. So I've been grinding
on golf for a very long time and during that
time I have managed one the two tournaments, which I'm
(03:18):
very grateful and thankful for. I think it was all
based on a hard work and the grind that I've
been putting in for the past twenty twenty four and
that's what got me to that level.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
So you're now based at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California,
which sounds like a very nice part of the world.
Tell us about the decision to move there and how
you've enjoyed your time there.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Firstly, I've met the coach in Australia while playing a
tournament as I was playing with one of the graduate
students there. She just told me about how great Peppadine
was and I was like, oh, that sounds so great,
and she was like asking if she should put me
on with the coach. So I talked with the coach
a fair bit with both my parents and going to
(04:04):
California on my own did seem a bit risky. However,
she was very welcoming in and a lot of my
teammates already knew beforehand, so it felt like a big
family going there. And everyone at Paperline is really nice.
The weather's great, which is the best part. We're by
the ocean, the views amazing, so you can't really hate
(04:26):
ma Levis.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
No, it doesn't sound like it sounds like a great
place to be playing golf. So how much has your
game developed in the last twelve months since you've been
in the States.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
It definitely has developed a lot I'm hitting it much further,
my scores are much more consistent, I'm feeling much stronger
for sure. I'm definitely much more ready for future tournaments
and anything that is to come, as I'm balancing much
more scorework and the travels that's been going on for
the past year.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
So in a typical week, and so how much golf
are you playing? Are you playing every day or does
your study not allow that? What does a typical week
look like for you?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Typical we would look like six days a week and
then a day off, But then it'll be for us.
It's a bit different during the winter and the summer
because sometimes it gets dark at like five pm or
like six pm, so we'll start from twelve pm after
our classes are finished until it gets dark and then
(05:26):
we study for the rest of the night.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Wow, and when and how did your golf journey begin?
Can you remember the first time you picked up a
golf club?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yes? I can. So. The thing was, I always enjoyed
playing different sports, and it actually started off from mini
golf and then my dad asked if I wanted to
play golf for real, and honestly, maybe naive, I didn't
realize what he meant by it, and I just said
yes willingly. And on christmopshy, I just found not golf
(05:58):
close were under the tree and I was like yay,
And that is luckily how I started.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
So how old were you then?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Around seven and a half?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Amazing, amazing and what you just thought it was going
to be a big game of mini golf?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, with my differences of clubs, amazing interrange?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So when did when did you start to take it
quite seriously?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Then?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
How old would you have been? So?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Funny thing is my dad also realed me into it.
He said, the thing is, if I was to start
a golf then I have to go pro, like I
have to be serious on the start. So I guess
from the end of eight.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Wow, So you're dad when you were an eight year old?
Said okay, you can play, but only if you take
it seriously enough to turn pro one day.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yes, you've got the vision before I start.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Well, so let's talk about that. Then you mentioned it
before about getting enough points. How will you know when
it's time to turn pro? Or is it just a
matter of getting enough points? How does it all work?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
So the college system has its own point, but to
go professional it's honestly all to you are then most countries,
I think you have to be eighteen to grow professional,
while LPGA is eighteen. However, once you hit the age,
you can choose to play college or you can choose
(07:21):
to like if you play really well, you can make
you can get points in college as I mentioned before,
or you can just decide to grow professional and like
try to school, which is like the testing stage for
going professional.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So have you?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah? So have you? What is the plan? Will you
complete your studies? What is the plan? When do you think,
as we said here today, when ideally would you go pro?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I've got two more This was my second year, so
I have brown two and a half more years left
of college and I think I will finish, so once
again my degree, I think I will try and grow professional.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Amazing, amazing, Well, it's a very exciting time for you
and in particular coming to Royal Wellington in the middle
of February for the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship, and sir,
it's been wonderful to get the chance to chat to
you all the best for that tournament and for your
golfing career. We look forward to staying in touch. Thank you, no,
thank you. Inser Joy our top female amateur golfer, heed
(08:22):
of the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship at Royal Wellington
in mid February.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Royal Wellington Golf Club is hosting the eighth edition of
the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship from February twelve through
fifteen next year, bringing together the region's best young amateur
women's golfers. The winner earns starts in three major championships,
the AIG Women's Open, the Amundai Evon Championship and the
Chevron Championship. Eighty four players from twenty eight country set
(00:34):
to contest, including a record nine from New Zealand. Among
them is in Sir Choi, who is currently ranked fifty
fourth in the World Amateur Rankings, our top amateur. She
joins us now and so thanks for joining us. You've
played this event several times before. How special is it
to play the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship though in
your own home country?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Actually this is my I played at fourth time, so
there's my fift time going into playing this toilet and
it feels like a great honor to be playing it
back in my home country. Because I've been telling many
other competitors that New Zern is such a great place
to come to, and it's like such a pride to
be able to show people how after raw is and
how amazing Golfusian is able to provide for the rest
(01:20):
of the players of the world to come compare on
our home soil.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
So you were thirteenth in the twenty twenty five edition,
are the best of the kiwis sixty one, sorry, sixty seven,
seventy one, sixty seven, sixty seven. How do you reflect
back on the twenty twenty five edition of this tournament.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I think it was a really great learning opportunity for me.
It was definitely one of my best performances so far,
and I'm very part of the result I've made, and
during this time there were many moments where I hope
that I could have done better, but I think it
was a moment for me to reflect on and push
(01:55):
forward for the twenty twenty sixth editions.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
The winner earns starts in three major championships. How big
and incentive is that for an amateur golfer.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
That is a very big incentive. It's one of the
three major events, and it's a great opportunity for us
to get to know the professional playing field and just
getting within the top top ranking of that tournament gives
us like points for this college ranking system, which allows
if we have enough points, which allows us to go
(02:28):
professional without taking any two school or pro testing. So
it's like a very big incentive for us.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Absolutely. I just want to take you back to twenty
twenty four. You won the New Zealand Women's Strike Play
Championship and the New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship, and that's
a double that even lydia Co didn't achieve in the
same year when she was an amateur. So tell us
about twenty twenty four in a particular those two wins.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Last year two and two four us prapping for college
and it was like my final year of high school.
So around the last months of twenty twenty four, I
had no school and just exams. So I've been grinding
on golf for a very long time and during that
time I have managed one the two tournaments, which I'm
(03:18):
very grateful and thankful for. I think it was all
based on a hard work and the grind that I've
been putting in for the past twenty twenty four and
that's what got me to that level.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
So you're now based at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California,
which sounds like a very nice part of the world.
Tell us about the decision to move there and how
you've enjoyed your time there.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Firstly, I've met the coach in Australia while playing a
tournament as I was playing with one of the graduate
students there. She just told me about how great Peppadine
was and I was like, oh, that sounds so great,
and she was like asking if she should put me
on with the coach. So I talked with the coach
a fair bit with both my parents and going to
(04:04):
California on my own did seem a bit risky. However,
she was very welcoming in and a lot of my
teammates already knew beforehand, so it felt like a big
family going there. And everyone at Paperline is really nice.
The weather's great, which is the best part. We're by
the ocean, the views amazing, so you can't really hate
(04:26):
ma Levis.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
No, it doesn't sound like it sounds like a great
place to be playing golf. So how much has your
game developed in the last twelve months since you've been
in the States.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
It definitely has developed a lot I'm hitting it much further,
my scores are much more consistent, I'm feeling much stronger
for sure. I'm definitely much more ready for future tournaments
and anything that is to come, as I'm balancing much
more scorework and the travels that's been going on for
the past year.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
So in a typical week, and so how much golf
are you playing? Are you playing every day or does
your study not allow that? What does a typical week
look like for you?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Typical we would look like six days a week and
then a day off, But then it'll be for us.
It's a bit different during the winter and the summer
because sometimes it gets dark at like five pm or
like six pm, so we'll start from twelve pm after
our classes are finished until it gets dark and then
(05:26):
we study for the rest of the night.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Wow, and when and how did your golf journey begin?
Can you remember the first time you picked up a
golf club?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yes? I can. So. The thing was, I always enjoyed
playing different sports, and it actually started off from mini
golf and then my dad asked if I wanted to
play golf for real, and honestly, maybe naive, I didn't
realize what he meant by it, and I just said
yes willingly. And on christmopshy, I just found not golf
(05:58):
close were under the tree and I was like yay,
And that is luckily how I started.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
So how old were you then?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Around seven and a half?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Amazing, amazing and what you just thought it was going
to be a big game of mini golf?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, with my differences of clubs, amazing interrange?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So when did when did you start to take it
quite seriously?
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Then?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
How old would you have been? So?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Funny thing is my dad also realed me into it.
He said, the thing is, if I was to start
a golf then I have to go pro, like I
have to be serious on the start. So I guess
from the end of eight.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Wow, So you're dad when you were an eight year old?
Said okay, you can play, but only if you take
it seriously enough to turn pro one day.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yes, you've got the vision before I start.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Well, so let's talk about that. Then you mentioned it
before about getting enough points. How will you know when
it's time to turn pro? Or is it just a
matter of getting enough points? How does it all work?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
So the college system has its own point, but to
go professional it's honestly all to you are then most countries,
I think you have to be eighteen to grow professional,
while LPGA is eighteen. However, once you hit the age,
you can choose to play college or you can choose
(07:21):
to like if you play really well, you can make
you can get points in college as I mentioned before,
or you can just decide to grow professional and like
try to school, which is like the testing stage for
going professional.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
So have you?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah? So have you? What is the plan? Will you
complete your studies? What is the plan? When do you think,
as we said here today, when ideally would you go pro?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I've got two more This was my second year, so
I have brown two and a half more years left
of college and I think I will finish, so once
again my degree, I think I will try and grow professional.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Amazing, amazing, Well, it's a very exciting time for you
and in particular coming to Royal Wellington in the middle
of February for the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship, and sir,
it's been wonderful to get the chance to chat to
you all the best for that tournament and for your
golfing career. We look forward to staying in touch. Thank you, no,
thank you. Inser Joy our top female amateur golfer, heed
(08:22):
of the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific Championship at Royal Wellington
in mid February.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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