Perth’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard to make her pro debut this week – Australian Golf Digest

by Admin
June 5, 2024

[PHOTO: Getty Images]

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard has been a professional golfer in the making since she was a little girl growing up in Perth. This week, the former Australian Junior champion gets the opportunity to live out that dream.

Hinson-Tolchard, a Karrie Webb Scholarship-holder, makes her professional debut on the Epson Tour at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Michigan, playing for a $US200,000 prize pool.

The 22-year-old from Gosnells Golf Club is excited at the prospects, having completed her studies and graduated in exercise science from Oklahoma State University where she won a Big 10 title in 2023.

Hinson-Tolchard has held off turning professional so that she could complete her degree and also compete in the 2024 Augusta Women’s Invitational tournament, but the time has arrived.

“Been a long time coming, but I finally get to say I’m a professional golfer!!” she posted on social media this week.

“Thank you to my whole team back in Aus for always backing me, I can’t wait to take this next step with you guys and my biggest thanks goes to my family for always believing in me.”

Karrie Webb, the seven-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer was among those who reached out to her this week.

Hinson-Tolchard secured playing rights on the secondary tour in the United States by reaching the second stage of LPGA Tour school last year.

Half of the Epson Tour season has passed already, meaning that she has come catching up to do. The top 15 players on the Epson Tour by season’s end earn LPGA Tour cards for 2025, which was the vehicle by which another Aussie, Gabi Ruffels, graduated to the main circuit this year.

Hinson-Tolchard has represented WA and Australia at all levels and won the 2018 Australian Junior at just 16 years of age.

Meanwhile, Jason Day and Cam Davis lead the Australian charge at the PGA Tour’s signature event, the Memorial Tournament, in Ohio this week.

And 49-year-old Webb makes her first appearance on the LPGA Tour since 2022 when she tees it up in the ShopRite Classic in New Jersey alongside a bunch of Australians.