Maria Fernanda Giles
Chihuahua
,
Mexico
Age: 12 - 13
Gender: Girls
Region: Southwest
The Path to the National Finals
Qualifying Path
Should a player advance through local qualifying, the subregional and regional qualifying sites are pre-determined based upon the local qualifying site. The player is not guaranteed participation in the subregional qualifier unless he/she advances through local qualifying. The player is not guaranteed participation in the regional qualifier unless he/she advances through local and subregional qualifying.
PLAYER BIRTHPLACE:
Chihuahua, Mexico
NAME AND LOCATION OF SCHOOL:
High point International School, Chihuaha, Mexico
GRADE IN SCHOOL:
8th grade
HOME GOLF COURSE AND LOCATION:
Campestre Chihuahua Country Club
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
Right handed
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
3 years old
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
34 (9 holes), 69 (18 holes)
HANDICAP INDEX:
5
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
My dad took me to the driving range when I was 3 years old, and I fell in love with it.
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My dad
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My sister and my grandmother
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Isaac Macias
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
The peace, the landscape, the kind of competition and the challenge of mental strategy you have to use to play.
WHAT PART OF GOLF DO YOU LIKE TO PRACTICE THE MOST?
Putting
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
Staying concentrated and keeping calm when you miss a shot.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLUB?
Putter
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Torrey Pines and Augusta National
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
Qualifying for the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in Augusta and playing the Junior Worlds.
HAVE YOU EVER PARTICIPATED IN A USGA OR PGA OF AMERICA EVENT? IF SO, WHICH ONE(S), WHEN, AND HOW DID YOU DO?
I have not.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
Getting to play in different golf courses and the different type of competition that challenges you in a different way.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
Me and my sister qualified until regionals together in the same age group, and of course when I realized that I had qualified for Augusta.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
This is my first time in Drive, Chip and Putt.
DID YOU WATCH LAST YEAR’S DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT NATIONAL FINALS ON TELEVISION? IF SO, WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR?
I thought it was a fun tournament to play and that it would be awesome to go to Augusta National.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Putt, chip, drive
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MASTERS BEFORE? IF SO, WHEN?
No
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MASTERS MEMORY? U.S. OPEN OR U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN MEMORY? PGA CHAMPIONSHIP OR WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP MEMORY?
Seeing Maria Fassi's face when she walked on the 18th green and won second place in the 2019 Augusta National Women's Amateur.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WATCHING GOLF ON TV?
Watching Tiger Woods celebrating his PGA victories.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Tiger Woods because I like his mindset and his competitiveness.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Nelly Korda because she is a very consistent player and Maria Fassi because she has a very good driver and has a lot of confidence.
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Lorena Ochoa because she was number one in the world and has a good mindset.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Lorena Ochoa, Tiger Woods and Maria Fassi.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
I like to listen to music before getting to the golf course to relax, and if I don't do it, I feel like I am not relaxed.
DO YOU PLAY ANY GOLF VIDEO GAMES? IF SO, WHICH ONE(S)?
Sometimes I play EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour on Xbox with my little brother.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Spicy boneless wings and pasta
FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT:
Physics
FAVORITE SCHOOL TEACHER:
Mr. Vazquez (English)
FAVORITE SPORT (OTHER THAN GOLF):
Tennis
FAVORITE MOVIE:
New York Minute
FAVORITE SINGER / MUSIC GROUP:
Taylor Swift
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Alexa and Katie
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
Very good student, I like to read, I like to work out, hang with friends, listen to music, I like to travel and spend time with family.
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
My dad
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Keep climbing one step at a time even if you fall down sometimes and never give up.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Professional golfer on the LPGA Tour
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
I am a very competitive person. I always like to keep pushing myself to be better. I like to accept every challenge that comes into my life.
