Power up Kate Johnson

Power Up Athlete: Kate Johnston

October 19, 2021

Forget the last shot and focus on the next one

Her first mentor came not from golf but from competitive skiing. “My coach Erica taught me the meaning of hard work and determination,” says Kate Johnston. “The discipline she instilled in me was one of the reasons I picked up golf so quickly.”

When Kate tore an ACL twice while skiing, she was forced to give it up. “While I was waiting for my surgery, I decided to give golf a try because it was one of the few sports I could still do.” She fell in love with the game.

“I started thinking about pursuing a professional golf career when I was in my third year of university,” she says. “Due to COVID-19, I took a few months after finishing school to work for sales at a tech company. It was then that I realized how much I missed the game. I felt I was not reaching my full potential. So I quit my job and turned pro.”

In 2019 she reached a golf milestone: qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship. “It was one of the best golf experiences I have had,” she says, “and probably one of the biggest highlights of my amateur career.”

For 2021-2022, her primary goal is a Symetra tour card. Meanwhile, she’s working to improve her strokes, and would like to win a professional event.

She offers three interesting favourite golf tips: “When it’s breezy, swing it easy; create space in the backswing; and good speed control is more important than line.”

She also shares some insightful advice for mental preparedness: “You are out there on your own for four hours; talk nicely to yourself”.

It becomes clear from her responses that she has a particular resilience and balanced approach to the game. “The ability to move on and move past tough times is really important,” she says. “You can hit a great shot and then hit a poor one.”

“What’s important in golf is the ability to forget the last shot and focus on the next one. Sometimes in real life, bad things happen, but you have to regroup and move on.” Her down-to-earth practicality is an example for all aspiring athletes, and we’re very pleased to have her on the DCM Power Up roster for 2021-2022.

Kate’s championship highlights:

  • 2021 DCM PGA Women’s Championship
  • 2019 – qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Championship
  • 2019 Corban Spring Invitational – 1st
  • 2019 Gail Moore Invitational – 1st
  • 2019 – UBC golf team won NAIA Championship; Kate was 3rd overall
  • 2019 All-American team

Follow Kate:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katejohnston98/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katejohnston98/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katejohnston98?lang=en

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:

  • Natasha Staniszewski provides expert media and personal brand training.
  • RBC educates athletes on managing their money.
  • Adidas Golf Canada provides winners with apparel and footwear.

Learn more about the DCM Power Up Bursary on the PGA website.

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