Christiaan Maas, 2024 #SpiritAlum and senior at the University of Texas, led South Africa to its first-ever World Amateur Team Championship while also finishing as the event’s low individual. He joins the show to talk about making history, his dominance in Singapore, and what’s next in his journey as one of amateur golf’s rising stars.

Daniel Bennett, 2024 #SpiritAlum and standout at the University of Texas, joins the show after helping South Africa capture its first-ever World Amateur Team Championship. We talk about representing his country, life as a Longhorn, and what’s next for one of golf’s brightest young talents.

22 Spirit alums are competing in the 2025 Chevron Championship this week. In this episode, we hear from Stacy Lewis, World No. 1 Nelly Korda, Augusta National Women's Amateur champion Carla Bernat Escuder, and Vanessa Borovilos. 

The Spirit caught up with Glenn Weckerlin, Executive Director of the Chevron Championship, to start the week in the Woodlands for the first of five LPGA major championships on the 2025 schedule. Weckerlin discussed the third year (54th overall) of the Chevron Championship at the Nicklaus Course at Carlton Woods, what the Chevron Championship does for local charity and the Houston community, plus we deep dive into the eight amateurs who are in the field this week at the Chevron Championship. 

In the men's medal, Team USA's Tommy Morrison and David Ford are three shots back of Team Australia after opening 9-under 63, thanks to Morrison's seven birdies and an eagle on the sixth at Whispering Pines Golf Club. .

USA | Nathan Smith | Captain |Team USA Smith was a three-time gold medalist in the 2011 Spirit. He won gold in the individual men’s division (tied with six other players) and he and Kelly Kraft teamed to win the men’s team division at 18-under 270. He also won the international team division (Kraft, Austin Ernst, Emily Tubert) with a 31-under par in the 72-hole, best-ball stroke play championship.…Smith has played in 48 USGA championships and has won four U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships…he has played on three Walker Cup teams - 2009, 2011 and 2013 - and provided the match-winning point for the USA in 2013 at National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York…In 2025, Smith will captain the U.S. Walker Cup team…he was paired with golf legend Arnold Palmer at the 2004 Masters in Arnold’s last round at Augusta National…he resides in Pittsburgh, Penn.…played golf at Allegheny College where he earned NCAA Division III All-America honors and is a member of the Allegheny College Sports Hall of Fame    “It is an amazing honor to have played in The Spirit and to be asked to serve as captain of Team USA in this incredible event.”

Carla Bernat Escuder | Team Spain Age: 22 Hometown: Castellon, Spain College/University: Kansas State - Senior Lowest Round: 64 World Amateur Golf Ranking: 33   Collegiate/Amateur Highlights: 2023-24 Second Team All-American (WGCA) 2023-24 Third Team All-American (Golfweek) 2023-24 All-Big 12 (Coaches) 2024 Big 12 Golfer of the Month (March) 2022-23 AAC Women’s Golfer of the Year (Coaches) 2022-23 All-AAC (Coaches) 2022-23 Second Team All-American (WGCA) 2022-23 Third Team All-American (Golfweek)   Getting to Know Carla:  Tied for third in program history with two individual wins … Majoring in kinesiology … Favorite golfer is John Rahm … Has one career hole-in-one   “Proud to be representing Spain.” —Carla Bernat Escuder   Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio | Team Spain Age: 19 Hometown: Madrid, Spain College/University: Texas A&M - Sophomore Lowest Round: -8 World Amateur Golf Ranking: 29   Collegiate/Amateur Highlights: #24 in Clippd Scoreboard individual standings (as of Nov. 6) 2024 All-SEC Second Team 2024 All- SEC Freshman Team 2024 Golf Channel Preseason Second Team All-American 2023-24 ANNIKA Award Preseason Watch List 2024 Golf Channel Preseason First Team All-American Finished fourth at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (2023)

Australia's Kai Komulainen and Josiah Gilbert are leading the Men's Medal leaderboard after shooting 12-under 60 in the opening round of The Spirit! They talked to SGA post-round.