Four From B.C. Part Of 2018 Team Canada Golf Squad
Inset From L-R: BC's Nolan Thoroughgood, Naomi Ko, Chris Crisologo And Euna Han Join National Team Members (Background L-R) Hugo Bernard And Maddie Szeryk As Part Of The 2018 Team Canada Golf Squad - Image(s) Courtesy Golf Canada/Jurgen Kaminski/BC Golf
18 athletes selected to represent Team Canada’s National Amateur and Development Squads
Centralized component introduced for Development Squad at Bear Mountain Resort; 36-hole Nicklaus design & resort continues to serve as national team training facility
Team Canada coaching staff announced
OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the 18 athletes who have been chosen to represent Team Canada as part of the 2018 National Amateur Squad and Development Squad.
In all, eight athletes comprise Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad including four players on the men’s team and four on the women’s. The 10-member Development Squad will include five women and five men.
“Based on their outstanding performances this year, we are pleased to announce the young men and women chosen to represent Canada as part of the national team program,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer. These talented athletes are a product of a circle of support that includes personal coaches, parents and provincial high-performance programs and will proudly represent Canada on the global golf stage.”
The following athletes have been selected to Team Canada’s 2018 Amateur Squad:
WOMEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR SQUAD
- Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Tex., Ontario Public Player (21)
- Naomi Ko, Victoria, B.C., Olympic View Golf Club (20)
- Jaclyn Lee, Calgary, Alta., Glencoe Golf & Country Club (20)
- Grace St-Germain, Ottawa, Ont., Camelot Golf & Country Club (19)
MEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR SQUAD
- Hugo Bernard, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., Laval sur-le-Lac Club (22)
- Josh Whalen, Napanee, Ont., Napanee Golf & Country Club (22)
- Joey Savoie, La Prairie, Que., Pinegrove Country Club (23)
- Chris Crisologo, Richmond, B.C., Marine Drive Golf Club (21)
Complete National Amateur Squad bios can be found here.
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The following athletes have been selected to Team Canada’s 2018 Development Squad:
WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
- Céleste Dao, Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Que., Summerlea Golf & Country Club (16)
- Monet Chun, Richmond Hill, Ont., Summit Golf & Country Club (16)
- Ellie Szeryk, Allen, Tex., Ontario Public Player (16)
- Alyssa DiMarcantonio, Maple, Ont., Station Creek Golf Club (14)
- Euna Han, Coquitlam, B.C., Morgan Creek Golf Course (15)
MEN’S DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
- Christopher Vandette, Beaconsfield, Que., Summerlea Golf & Country Club (16)
- Johnny Travale, Stoney Creek, Ont., Hamilton Golf & Country Club (16)
- Nolan Thoroughgood, Victoria, B.C., Royal Colwood Golf Club (17)
- Peyton Callens, Langton, Ont., Delhi Golf & Country Club (17)
- Thomas Critch, Cedar Park, Tex., Ontario Public Player (17)
Complete Development Squad player bios can be found here.
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Development Squad to Feature Centralized Program out of Bear Mountain Resort
New in 2018, the National Development Squad program will feature a centralized component, which will be based out of Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C.—Team Canada’s official training centre since 2015.
The program will send Development Squad athletes to Bear Mountain from February through to early June to be immersed in a focused centre of excellence, surrounded by world-class technical coaching staff and experts in the areas of mental performance, physiotherapy, biomechanics and nutrition.
The change in program structure and commitment to a centralized training environment over four and a half months of the year are designed to better support emerging talents as part of Golf Canada’s next generation strategy.
The number of days that Development Squad athletes will spend in a world-class training environment will increase from approximately 30 (in the current structure) to 120 in the new program.
“We felt that this change was necessary to deliver a significant impact to targeted athletes aged 18 and under in this crucial stage of their development,” said Thompson. “An increased number of contact days with our expert high-performance coaches and sport science staff will provide our next generation athletes with a true world-class training environment.”
In addition to the world-class facilities available at Bear Mountain, athletes will have access to one of the best training centres in the country just 10 minutes away – the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.
For accommodation, Development Squad members will be paired with billet families in the region to provide safe, supportive home environments for training and study throughout the program. All potential billet candidates will undergo a screening process with Golf Canada.
Athletes will be enrolled at Belmont Secondary School in Langford, B.C., where they will attend classes in the morning, followed by training in the afternoon. Team members will also be assigned a teacher from West Shore Distributed Learning Centre, where they will take online courses and receive advanced credits for their sports training. Academic commitment will remain a cornerstone of the Team Canada program with Golf Canada coaches and support team working closely with the teaching staff to ensure success in and out of the classroom.
Bear Mountain Resort has served as Golf Canada’s national team training centre since 2015. In addition to world class amenities and accommodations, the resort features a 36-hole Nicklaus design golf course located on 836 acres with spectacular mountain vistas and views of British Columbia’s seaside capital city.
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Team Canada Coaching Staff Announced….
Golf Canada is pleased to announce the 2018 Team Canada coaching staff that will support both the National Amateur and Development Squads.
On the women’s side, Tristan Mullally of Waterdown, Ont returns as Women’s Amateur Squad Head Coach. Matt Wilson, from Newmarket, Ont., will oversee the Women’s Development Squad. Wilson, who also works as Golf Canada’s director of next generation performance, takes over for long-serving Women’s Development Squad coach Ann Carroll who will be taking a new step in her coaching career.
Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man. returns as Men’s Amateur Squad Head Coach. Robert Ratcliffe of Comox, B.C. will be leading the Men’s Development Squad.
“Derek and Tristan have had tremendous success with Team Canada athletes and the evolution of our national team program will see Robert and Matt play a more significant role through the centralized training environment at Bear Mountain,” added Thompson. “We also want to express our sincere thanks to Ann Carroll on her tremendous contributions to our Women’s Development Squad over the past six years.”
Mullally, Ingram, Ratcliffe and Wilson are all class “A” professionals with the PGA of Canada.
“Not only am I excited to see these young athletes represent Team Canada in 2018, but I’m also thrilled for their PGA of Canada coaches as well,” PGA of Canada President Steve Wood. “The commitment Golf Canada has shown in collaborating with the PGA of Canada in our world class teaching and coaching certification programs is exemplary.”
The 2018 Young Pro Squad team selection is expected in December.
ABOUT CANADA’S NATIONAL AMATEUR TEAM PROGRAM
Canada’s National Amateur Team program incorporates advanced coaching, sport science expertise, training camps and world-class competition. Golf Canada allocates over $1.5 million of its resources annually to the National Team program, encompassing strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, biomechanics and technique development. Players who are selected to the National Amateur and National Developmental Teams represent Canada at six to 10 internationally-sanctioned golf competitions throughout the year. The intent of this comprehensive program is to aid Canada’s top up-and-coming amateur players in all areas of their development, helping Canada produce the best golfers in the world.
Team Canada, the pinnacle of Golf Canada’s High-Performance Program, provides access to world-class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment and elite competitive opportunities. The program builds on the support team members have received in their development years from their family, member clubs, personal coaches, university programs and provincial golf associations. Golf Canada’s High-Performance Program and Team Canada are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Titleist, FootJoy, adidas Golf, ClubLink, Heritage Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee. For more information about Team Canada or to donate towards the development of Canada’s future golf stars, please visit www.golfcanada.ca/teamcanada
GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 305,000 golfers and more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.
Media contacts:
Dan Pino
Director, Corporate Communications
Golf Canada
(t) 1-800-263-0009 x 406
(c) 416-434-5525
(e) dpino@golfcanada.ca