OUR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK COMMUNITY PARTNER
Each week, Monitor staff selects and interviews a local Athlete of the Week. Learn more about their accomplishments, their goals and what makes them unique. We’d like to thank our sponsor Capital City Kia.
Our partners do not participate in the selection of these athletes. That is fully at the discretion of our journalists.
Bishop Brady’s junior golfer and Division III player of the year, Mady Savary, emerged as one of the strongest golfers in the state last year and has kept her pace this season.
The Giants are undefeated, 18-0, so far this season, and Savary has played a crucial role in leading her team into that position. On top of playing golf, she’s also part of her school’s field hockey team and somehow finds a way to balance two varsity sports in one season.
She has finished as a medalist in five of Brady’s six golf matches this season and is already a frontrunner for the individual tournament.
Savary continued honing her craft over the summer and finished as the runner-up in the New Hampshire Women’s Amateur Championship at only 16 years old.
The Monitor asked Savary about her golf journey, her tips and tricks, and how she balances school, golf and field hockey all in one season.
Q: How long have you played golf, and who taught you?
A: I’ve been playing golf for 9 years, and my dad, Jeff, taught me.
Q: What do you love most about it?
A: I like traveling and playing new courses. I also like meeting new people.
Q: What’s your favorite club and why?
My putter is my favorite club because I like making putts, and it’s the club that puts the ball in the hole. I especially like making long putts.
Q: What’s your favorite course in New Hampshire?
My home course, Concord Country Club and I loved Lake Winnipesaukee when I had a chance to play it this summer.
Q: Who is your favorite golfer?
Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda.
Q: What does it take to be successful in high school golf?
Practicing what you struggle with and having patience. You can’t expect results in a day, but you can get a little better each day.
Q: You’re also a field hockey player. How do you balance both in one season?
I do half practices each day when I don’t have a match or game. I do an hour of field hockey and then head to the golf course for the last half of practice. If I have a golf match and a field hockey game on the same day, I go to the golf match since it’s my primary sport. I’m able to miss golf practice in order to go to field hockey games.
Q: What do you like most about your teams at Bishop Brady?
For golf, I love the camaraderie and going out to get food after away matches. Everything about the team is fun. For field hockey, I love the team bonding activities that we do, like having team dinners, apple picking and painting pumpkins.
Q: How do you balance two sports and school?
After practices, matches or games, I come home and do homework and study. I have to be focused on whatever I need to do in the moment. It’s about working hard at both sports and school.
Q: What helps you focus on the course?
Thinking and talking about anything other than golf until I need to concentrate on the next shot. It helps keep me relaxed.
Q: How would you describe your play style?
I try to play smart golf. I don’t like to risk making a big number on silly mistakes.
Q: Who are some of your mentors, and how have they helped you?
My high school coach, Jason Bird, because he’s all about a positive environment and approach to the game. I’ve also had great coaching from Patrick Gocklin, Jeff Hakala and my dad.
Q: Do you have any golf superstitions or good luck charms?
My superstitions change. If I have a good round, I try to make sure I do the same things before my next round, like if I’m wearing a certain hat and I play well, I make sure I wear that same hat the next day. I’ll also use the same golf ball for multiple rounds if I’m playing well. My good luck charm is a Pinehurst No. 10 tee.
Q: What are some aspects of your game you want to improve?
My driving because I want to keep it consistently straight off the tee.
Q: How does golf compare to other sports you’ve participated in?
It’s all individual, even when you’re on a team, you’re still playing on your own and making my own decisions. It’s not fast-paced like other sports.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new golfers?
Celebrate the good shots and learn from the bad shots.