Gerrod Chadwell recaps winter break and A&M's upcoming spring slate

Texas A&M women’s golf head coach Gerrod Chadwell joined us on Tuesday’s edition of TexAgs Live ahead of the 2025 spring season. He spoke about his team's performance over break and what to expect in the buildup to another championship run in April and May.

Key notes from Gerrod Chadwell’s interview

• When the weather is like this, we wear nice, warm, puffy jackets. As long as there isn’t precipitation, we can still get things done. Any golfer would tell you that time away would hurt your short game. If we can keep a wedge or putter in our hands, we can keep that stuff away. We are supposed to go play Oklahoma State in a match this weekend, but the weather keeps getting worse.
   
• Lauren Nguyen and Kynadie Adams played well over the break. Scores are deflated because of the weather in Florida. For us, it's nice to see those young ladies competing over the break. It shows they want to keep their craft polished. Vanessa Borovilos had a great week in Phoenix at the Patriot All-American. Adams and Nguyen played at the SALLY (South Atlantic Women’s Championship), which is a historic amateur event. With our sport, every event counts, and there is no warm-up to anything. That's why we're trying to do these one-day deals early. We'll see one of the best fields all year in Orlando next month.
   
• This was the first break I have had during my coaching career. We have Blanca Fernández Gercía-Poggio with a full card. Adela Cernousek has LPGA status. Hailee Cooper has a full card. It's really cool that we planted our flag, and now it's flying at the highest level of our sport. It's neat to see.
   
• This weekend is supposed to be an individual weekend. The next weekend, we'll go do some testing with PING, play Grayhawk and then Sunday-Monday, we'll play an invitational deal in Phoenix, which is where they're playing an NCAA Regional this year. There will be seven or eight teams. I know we'll get that event in. We're getting ready for April and May.
   
• Cayetana Fernández Gercía-Poggio was ready to go this morning at our workout. Every coach would say they coach each player differently; that's the trust. Cayetana is just Cayetana. I coach her differently but love her the same as I do the other players. I give her space, but I know what it means for her when her name is called on the first tee. She does what she needs to be prepared. She has had the most growth off the golf course. Things are heard and said, and she's taking a mature approach to things. When she came in, she was No. 2 in the world. In a way, she only has one way to go, and that's down. Her sister, Blanca, being here has really helped. We are now seeing the player that she was in the junior golf world in the amateur golf world. She has the game, but we're keeping her present and in the moment. We're working on that.
   
• In our sport, you'll hear that it's 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. A round of golf is four to five hours of you alone with your thoughts. There is a lot of walking shot-to-shot, and there are a lot of thoughts. Assistant AD Ryan Pittsinger has been great for our team. Golf is tough mentally because it's slow in nature. The person who can control their mind the best, like Tiger Woods, has a chance to dominate.
   
• Borovilos had a breakthrough midway through the semester. It was the adjustment to school. Acclimating to being a little fish in a big pond was important. She led a tournament for 45 holes. She's now comfortable in her own skin.
   
• Just because we have does not mean we will. This team has to figure out what they want. We'll help them get there. That's the beauty and the fun of going through this journey because now it's on them. I'm excited for today because we need to take a step forward in our ownership of things, and we'll see what it equals to come April and May.
   
• We're a month or two removed from Cernousek turning professional. She shot under par every time she teed it up. That's what we call an eraser because it makes up for other people's mistakes. We didn't have the chance to try to replace her in the transfer portal, but collectively, we can cover it up with three or four people each day. Are there people that can shoot 68? Absolutely, but Cernousek did it with ease. That's how we have to attack it: As a group, we can make up for what's missing.
   
• Right now, what we've seen is just in our building. You see the experience and composure leaving, but those who are working with and around the program know it's going to be alright because these young ladies are ready to step up. That's what we're excited about.