Making adjustments on the fly is nothing new for Sara-Maude Juneau. The 26-year-old Canadian has made quick transitions in cultures, languages and on the golf course to thrive in the world of professional golf.
Now, the Quebec City native is in her second season on the Epson Tour, using her experience as a college star and one season apiece on the Epson Tour and LPGA to learn even more about developing a successful career. Entering this week’s Four Winds Invitational in South Bend, Ind., Juneau has two top-10 finishes and is ranked 16th on the money list, just six spots and $3,200 away from securing a spot on the 2015 LPGA. It’s a similar position to 2012 when she placed 10th on the Epson Tour money list (by just more than $4,000) and advanced to the 2013 LPGA.
“I went to college with an open-minded approach and that continues now,” Juneau said. “It’s important to be able to adjust out here when you’re traveling and trying new things. I have turned these situations around really quickly. Of course, I’ve been on my own and independent since I was age 18.”
Growing up in Canada’s hockey-crazy sports world – but also with a great interest in golf – was the inspiration for Juneau to take up the sport. Her parents, Dennis and Sonia, passed along their love of golf and NHL hockey (the Montreal Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques, who now reside in Denver as the Colorado Avalanche) to their daughter and son, Marc-Antoine. Sara-Maude favored golf, while the younger of the two, Marc-Antoine, chose hockey, where he played at the University of British Columbia.
As a successful junior golfer and the member of a golf academy run by instructor Fred Colgan, American colleges became interested. She chose Louisville after a recommendation from her coach. Juneau visited and liked the campus and warmer weather in Kentucky. The next step: A French-Canadian goes South.
“It was funny because I could barely understand people when talking with them,” Juneau said. “I was in Kentucky and had a strong French accent. One of the first golfers I met, Laura Anderson (now Roper), had a thick Kentucky accent, and we became really close friends. I’m good at mimicking stuff. So now you hear me saying ‘y’all’ and ‘I’m fixing to do something.’ I’ve got a Southern French feel to it. My brother learned English in Canada and we speak quite differently.”
Juneau was the 2010 Big East Conference Player of the Year, boosting her professional hopes. The Epson Tour success in 2012 was balanced by a 2013 rookie season on the LPGA where she made but four cuts in 15 starts.
“I was very consistent on the Epson Tour,” Juneau said. “But the LPGA was a big change. The biggest adjustment was to a new routine of traveling by plane. Once I got adjusted I play better. But I would be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed.
“But I tried to turn the page quickly. I didn’t want to be bitter about my first season on the LPGA. Now that I’ve been through that, I think I have a better chance to not only make the LPGA but also stay there.”
On course, Juneau said her biggest directive is to improve her short game.
“Everything is about the short game out here,” she said.
“I try not to look ahead too much. I don’t analyze where anybody else stands. I can’t get caught up in that. Two years ago, I learned I just need to focus on the round and shot at hand.”
)
)
)
)
