Port Alberni golfer Christina Proteau has capped a successful season with the prestigious Pacific Northwest Golf Association mid-amateur player of the year title. And she found out about it on Twitter.
The PNGA candidates are nominated by various state and provincial golf associations that comprise the PNGA, including Alaska, Alberta, B.C., Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
“I found out on a Twitter feed from the B.C. Golf association,” Proteau said. “I’ve only been on Twitter for about a month. I thought ‘hey, there’s a Twitter feed about me: I won an award!’”
She received the formal e-mail from the PNGA the following day.
This is the first year that the PNGA has included a mid-am (25 and over) category in its player of the year awards.
“I was super excited,” Proteau said. “It’s nice to be recognized because you do put in a lot of hours trying to achieve your goals.”
Last year was a special season for Proteau, who played in the US Women’s Open and also attended qualifying school for the LPGA.
She continued her strong play in 2012 with a 17-stroke victory at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Lethbridge, Alta. She also placed 22nd at the Canadian Amateur championship that same weekend, and was runner-up at the B.C. women’s mid-amateur.
Proteau made it to the quarter-finals (the top eight players) at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in San Antonio, Texas, in October. There were 405 players eligible for the U.S. mid-am. When she made it to the top 16, Proteau played against defending champion Ellen Port of St. Louis, Mo., and won before losing in the next round.
Placing in the quarter-finals means Proteau is eligible to attend the U.S. mid-am next year without having to qualify.
“They’re like the Jackie Littles from the United States,” Proteau said of the 2012 Senior Women’s B.C. champion, who is also from Port Alberni.
Proteau worked on the mental aspect of her game this year, and feels this was one of her strongest seasons yet.
“I’m going to be 30 in January and I can still compete against gals that are 17, 18. I have strengths I can use over them.”
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