“I didn’t want to stop playing because I was playing badly, I wanted the decision to be good or bad in terms of results.”
Marchand improved his performance throughout the 2021 Symetra Tour season, including tied for third at the Carolina Golf Classic on September 30. Her last professional tournament was the Symetra Tour Championship where she finished tied for 30th on October 7th.
“I felt like my game was back to where I felt comfortable again, I felt a little more like Brittany again,” said Marchand. “I wasn’t playing my best, but I still felt a lot more comfortable playing there and even with that, I didn’t wake up and like it every day.”
Marchand announced her retirement via social media on October 26, with Canada’s golf community praising not only her game but also her role as an ambassador for the sport.
“Congratulations Brit !! I wish you all the best for the future! You will be awesome! ”Commented world number 10 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont.
“What to be proud of (Brittany)! Congratulations from all of us at (Golf Canada). Stay close and we’re here for whatever comes next! ” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada.
“What good memories and something to be proud of! »Declared Anne-Catherine Tanguay, a compatriot from Quebec, one of Marchand’s closest friends on tour.
Marchand, 29, graduated in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University, where she was three times selected All-ACC and WGCA All-American 2014 and holds the school’s record for the greatest number of career wins with three. She also won the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship in 2012.
A former member of the national team, Marchand became a Golf Ambassador for Future Links for Golf Canada in 2019, a program that teaches children about sport. She also supported Let’s Talk Science, a Canadian charity committed to engaging young people in science, engineering and technology.
She said on Monday that working with children would be one of the things she would miss the most about being a professional player.
“Having the platform to inspire young children was, for me, a big part of the job,” said Marchand. “I’m the type of person where it gives me a lot of meaning in my life, to be able to feel like helping people in some way.”
Marchand is still figuring out what his next move will be and plans to return to school to pursue his own studies. In the meantime, she and her partner George are building a new home in North Carolina, where she plans to stay for the foreseeable future.
One thing’s for sure though – she’ll be taking a break from golf, at least for the winter.
“I used to play golf when it was 40 degrees (Fahrenheit) because I had to,” Marchand said with a laugh. “Now I don’t have to do that anymore so I’ll be 100% a golfer in good weather. “
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 8, 2021.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
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