sports OSU’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard details busy summer of golf

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

Like most studentathletes, OSU women’s golfer Maddison Hinson-Tolchard has spent her summer surrounded by her sport.

Hinson-Tolchard began her summer by completing her collegiate season at the NCAA Golf Championship, where she placed fourth. The next day, at a qualifier in Carrollton, Texas, she shot 8-under for 36 holes to secure the win and one of two open spots to compete in the U.S. Women’s Open (July 6-9). All without previously stepping foot on the course she qualified on.

“When I found out that I had actually qualified, I was in shock, because last year I was an alternate and I just missed out last year on qualifying. This year I was like, ‘Holy crap, how did I actually do this?’” Hinson-Tolchard said. “It was overwhelming. I was so excited, I called my parents, and I was crying on the phone to my parents. It was all of the emotions in one.”

Playing at Pebble Beach Golf Links is something many golfers dream of. This summer, Hinson-Tolchard will step foot on that California course for the second time, giving her more confidence in her ability to know the course.

Once the qualifying day had passed and a few short relaxing days were placed into the schedule, the next adventure came shortly after. The Arnold Palmer Cup is specifically for college students from around the world to participate in. Team USA and Team International go head-to-head in a match-play style tournament.

Team International, which Perth, Australia, native Hinson-Tolchard played on, gave Team USA quite the competition but fell short, concluding the tournament with a 32-28 score.

“It’s always an honor to represent Australia,” HinsonTolchard said. “I miss home a lot, so every chance I get to represent my home flag is really awesome. I was surrounded with a whole heap of people on the international team at the Palmer Cup. The atmosphere that the international team created was awesome.”

The next item on HinsonTolchard’s agenda was attending the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She spent a week in New Jersey doing all things golf under the instruction of Hall of Fame golfer Karrie Webb. Hinson-Tolchard, along with another Australian amateur golfer, received the opportunity through the 2023 Karrie Webb Scholarship, which is given to two Australian women golfers each year.

“We played a lot of golf. We watched a lot of golf, so there were days I wasn’t playing and was able to rest,” Hinson-Tolchard said. “It was an awesome week and a big learning experience.”

A day after winning fourth at

Championships, sports.ed@ocolly.com

The last thing HinsonTolchard has on her schedule for the summer is playing on an Asia-Pacific team against a European team in a tournament located in Spain. Since this will be her first trip to Spain, excitement is abundant. Some think of summer as a time to relax and recharge, but Hinson-Tolchard is making her summer about enhancing her game and gaining experience.

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“You never really know with this game,” Fowler said. “You learn to appreciate the good times when you’re playing well, and you hope the strug-