With your University of North Texas, you won the C-USA Conference Championship last weekend. How is your adaptation going in the United States, where you have been studying since last year?

I adapted very well, I was ready to go on my own and experience something new. The girls welcomed me warmly and at an English level, that's fine since New Caledonia is close to Australia and New Zealand. I am doing a physiotherapy course at the university.

Between New Caledonia and Texas, it must be a small expedition to make the trip ...

Oh yeah (Laughs). Normally, it takes a day, we go through Australia. I will be returning to New Caledonia soon, but as New Zealand and Australia are currently closed, I will have to go around the world and take a Dallas-Paris, Paris-Tokyo and Tokyo-Noumea flight.

How did you get started with golf?

My father is a trainer in New Caledonia (Dominique Ricaud is the coach of the selection) and I had plastic clubs in my hands from an early age. But I started the competition in college, I was in a sport-study which allowed me to play an hour a day.

How important is golf in New Caledonia?

The golf course is quite well developed, there are four really varied 18 hole courses, with different designs. For the girls it is a little more complicated, because there are few players among the young people.

Your ultimate golfer dream?

Already, going professional would be good. But my dream would be to win the Evian Championship with my father as a caddy. It's a promise we both made. Somehow he is also living his dream through me.

Your best memory on a course?

To have won the Pacific Games by team for New Caledonia and individually, in Samoa in 2019. I had played -13 over 4 rounds, starting with +2 on the first day. There is also my victory over the Doral in Miami (the equivalent of the World Cup for young people) in December 2018, in the 16-18 age group. I had followed the Annika Invitational in New Zealand and this tournament, with my father. I remember the first round, we played in a storm. Despite that, I was +2 after 14 holes and very few players had scored under 80 that day. But the organizers stopped the games and canceled the scores of the day. I was disgusted, but that didn't stop me from winning the tournament.

And your worst memory?

My minimal French championship lost in the final against Candice Mahé, in 2017 at the Bondues golf course. I had played very well all the rounds except the final.

What do you think is your strength and weakness in golf?

My weak point has been playing games for years. I also have big problems managing my stress in competition. On small big putts, I tend to put too much pressure on myself. My strong point, it depends a little on the days. (She thinks) I would say my ability to work a lot. I can spend hours working on one aspect of my swing.

Is there a player you admire?

Paul Barjon (member of the Korn Ferry Tour, the antechamber of the PGA Tour). Like me, he is from New Caledonia. I remember him in golf school when I was little. Seeing how far he has come is an example for me, I tell myself that it is possible. I've seen him two or three times in Texas, he lives in Fort Worth.

Apart from golf, what are your interests?

I love playing video games (laughs) ! I like to skate too. When I'm in Texas, I don't have too much time for myself. On weekends, I take this opportunity to get on with my homework. Otherwise I go out with my friends.

Interview by Franck Crudo

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