It’s early days in the 23-year-old’s pro journey, but momentum has a way of carrying a golfer beyond their expectations. Reeves admits her first few weeks in the professional ranks have felt “like a great confidence booster” as she settles into life on tour.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start, really,” she told Golf Australia magazine ahead of her Pro-Am on Wednesday.
“It’s taken the edge off a little bit, knowing I’ve already secured some opportunities for next year. Now I can just focus on playing golf and continuing to build.”
PLUS…
Reeves wins Mollymook regional qualifier on pro debut
Queenslander Hannah Reeves joined an elite group to have won at their first professional start, fighting against a sapping, gusty wind to win the Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Mollymook Golf Club’s Hilltop course on Saturday.
That building process takes a significant step this week at Willunga, where the Webex Players Series South Australia represents the deepest field the Queenslander has faced in her professional career so far. It’ll also be the first time since turning pro that she’ll be competing against both men and women in the mixed-field format, and Reeves knows the margins will be thin.
“It’s obviously a much different week,” she said.
“Playing against the boys, the depth is incredible. But I feel good within my game. It’s been great the last few weeks, so I’m just trying to start fresh, take each shot as it comes, and see where it gets me.”
It’s not Reeves’ first trip around Willunga — she first teed it up there as an amateur two years ago — and the layout is one she’s comfortable with, and she admits that it demands precision.
“It’s quite tight, quite tree-lined,” she explained. “You’ve got to get yourself in the right positions off the tee. Some of the greens are a bit slopy too, so you don’t want to miss short-sided. It’s definitely a course where you’ve got to play smart and think your way around.”
Accuracy off the tee is going to be important in South Australia this week. PHOTO: Getty Images.
That kind of strategic golf suits Reeves, her ability to stay disciplined and keep the ball in play has served her well through the amateur ranks and the early stages of her pro career.
The decision to turn pro came when she simply felt ready.
“I’d played all the amateur stuff I really wanted to,” she said.
“I did the American trips, a few Asian ones, and then the Asia-Pacific event earlier this year. I stayed amateur for that just to get more experience overseas, but after that I knew I was ready. The first event after that was Mollymook, so I just turned pro there.”
PLUS…
Reeves claims second straight NSW Open qualifying win
When you send golf scribes scurrying for the record books after your round, it’s invariably a good thing. In Hannah Reeves’ case, it’s an exceptional thing.
The rest, as it turns out, was history in the making. Back-to-back wins followed, and now a chance at a hat-trick looms. Still, Reeves’ focus remains steady.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play a few professional events as an amateur, so I knew my game was good enough to compete,” she said. “It’s just about staying competitive, week after week.”
Beyond South Australia, Reeves hasn’t set any rigid targets. She’s aware that pro golf rarely follows a smooth plan.
“It’s hard to track what’s to come in golf,” she said with a laugh.
“Even doing well in those first two events has already changed a few things for next year. I’ll definitely play the full season here in Australia, and then maybe look at Q-schools in Asia or Europe mid-to-late next year. But for now, it’s just about seeing how I finish.”
Whether she leaves Willunga with three straight titles or simply another week of experience under her belt, Reeves has announced herself. And if this is what the start of her professional story looks like, the chapters to come are already looking fairly special.
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