Power Up Athlete: Casey MacNeil

October 12, 2021

Perseverance and dedication

She first picked up a golf club at age 6, and by 10 years old she knew she wanted to turn pro. “I was forced to tag along to games at an early age, being the youngest in a big family,” she explains. “I quickly fell in love with the sport.”

She soon was playing tournaments, and that’s what convinced her that golf was her game. “I knew I wanted to pursue it. It was such a thrill to practice hard and compete.”

She was a bronze medalist at the 2010 Ontario Summer Games, and later, at Chicago State University, she played the NCAA Division 1 from 2012-2016. She won the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Invitational in 2013.

Turning pro after graduation, she qualified for the Symetra Tour in 2019. Her LPGA card seemed almost within reach when a car accident in California (another driver sailed through a red light) forced her to temporarily put a halt on all play.

Through perseverance and dedication, she is now back in peak performance. Her goals for the 2021-2022 season are “to play multiple Monday LPGA qualifiers and qualify through Q-School and earn my tour card. Her three favourite golf tips: “Swing hard, keep your head still, and hold your finish.” Where mental preparedness is concerned, she believes it’s important to trust your swing, and focus only on the shot at hand. “You have to control your emotions, or you will never succeed,” she emphasizes. “You must embrace the ups and downs.”

She has had her share of both, and we’re glad she’s back on her game and is joining our roster of 2021 Power Up Bursary recipients.

Casey’s championship highlights:

2010 & 2011 Team Ontario golf member
2010 Ontario Summer Games Bronze medallist
2012-2016 NCAA Division 1 golfer at Charleston Southern/Chicago State University
2012 Big South All-Conference Freshman Team
2013 University of Wisconsin Green Bay Invitational Champion
September 2013 Western Athletic Conference Golfer of the Month
2019 Symetra Tour member
2021 PGA of Canada Teaching Apprentice

Follow Casey:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/caseymac

About the Power Up Bursary

Driven by DCM’s commitment to women’s professional development, the Power Up Bursary significantly boosts the careers of female golfers on the brink of LPGA Tour status by providing them with financial assistance, increased player visibility, training and skill development, sponsorship coaching, and marketing.

We are proud to have the continued support of our Power Up partners: