Matt Hopley couldn91裸聊视频檛 have conceived of a better birthday gift.
The Kelowna teenager, who turned 15 this week, was granted a sponsor91裸聊视频檚 exemption into the GolfBC Championship on his home track at Gallagher91裸聊视频檚 Canyon.
Hopley, a Grade 9 student at Immaculata Regional High School, was among 156 players who teed it up Thursday morning for the third event of the season on Canada91裸聊视频檚 Mackenzie Tour.
To be surrounded by professionals, most of whom are at least five years his senior, is an experience Hopley plans to absorb to the fullest.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 definitely the best birthday present I91裸聊视频檝e ever got,91裸聊视频� Hopley said following a practise round on Wednesday. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 so exciting to come out here and play with these guys, some of the best players in Canada91裸聊视频 think it91裸聊视频檚 really going to improve my game and it91裸聊视频檒l just be a great experience.91裸聊视频�
Despite his relative youth and inexperience, Hopley hasn91裸聊视频檛 shown any apprehension in his young career to date in competing against older players.
This season on the Zone 2 Junior Golf Tour, competing against players as much as four years his senior, Hopley won two events and placed second on the Order of Merit.
The son of Gallagher91裸聊视频檚 Canyon director of golf, Peter Hopley, Matt grew up in what could be considered the ideal golf environment. But according to his coach, it91裸聊视频檚 more than his surroundings, natural abilities and hard work that sets Hopley apart from most players his age.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a fantastic kid who is mature beyond his years,91裸聊视频� said Chris Trunzer, director of instruction at Gallagher91裸聊视频檚. 91裸聊视频淗is dad did the perfect job giving him the basics, now we91裸聊视频檙e just fine tuning.
91裸聊视频淚 always talk to him like I91裸聊视频檓 talking to an adult,91裸聊视频� added Trunzer. 91裸聊视频淗e reminds of when Jordan Spieth came up, very mature and years beyond his age.91裸聊视频�
When he91裸聊视频檚 not studying and keeping his grades up, Matt eats, breathes and sleeps golf. He may only be 15, but Hopley is already dreaming big.
91裸聊视频淢y goal would be to play on the PGA Tour and be one of the best players in the world, that91裸聊视频檚 my goal,91裸聊视频� said Hopley. 91裸聊视频淭his is another stepping stone for me. I love the game, everything about it and it91裸聊视频檚 what I want to do with my life.91裸聊视频�
Still, Hopley, and his dad, Peter, are all acutely aware of the challenges facing young golfers and that the road traveled to a pro career isn91裸聊视频檛 always a smooth one.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 so proud of him and his work ethic, it91裸聊视频檚 far beyond what I ever had as a player,91裸聊视频� said Peter Hopley. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 an older soul who has matured quicker than most and that91裸聊视频檚 allowed him to have so much success at a young age.
91裸聊视频淚t can be a tough go,91裸聊视频� Peter continued, referring to the journey to a pro career. 91裸聊视频淭here are challenges and hardship, so in that way I91裸聊视频檓 torn. But right now, I want him to go out there, learn and enjoy the game and experience all the good things that come with it.91裸聊视频�
Following the GolfBC Championship, Matt will take a trip to Coeur d91裸聊视频橝lene, Idaho where he91裸聊视频檒l try to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship next month in Andover, Kansas.
For more information on the GolfBC Championship, go to
WORLD LONG DRIVE CHAMP91裸聊视频�
For more than a decade, Jamie Sadlowski91裸聊视频檚 golf career consisted of driving a ball as high and far as his body could muster, with no need for a short game.
Now the former two-time world long drive champion is in the process of refining his entire skill set for a run at a career on tour.
A 28-year-old native of St. Paul Alta., Sadlowksi is making his debut on Canada91裸聊视频檚 Mackenzie Tour this week in Kelowna at the GolfBC Championship.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 obviously a career change since being in long drive since 2003,91裸聊视频� said Sadlowski, who won the 2008 and 2009 world long drive titles. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a different challenge but I was ready to try, the Mackenzie Tour is a great start, a great stepping stone in hopefully getting where I want to get to.91裸聊视频�
Sadlowski had his first taste of the big time last month when he made his PGA Tour debut at the Dean and Deluca Invitational in Texas.
He didn91裸聊视频檛 make the cut but was happy to get his foot in the door in a pro tournament environment.
91裸聊视频淚t was something that was very exciting for me, I was inside the cut line the first day, didn91裸聊视频檛 have it going the second day,91裸聊视频� Sadlowski said. 91裸聊视频淥verall, it was a great experience, to get your feet wet in your first event, stepping up to that first tee and striping it felt good, they can91裸聊视频檛 take that away, it was an awesome experience.
Among other first-timers to watch this week at the GolfBC Championship is Jared du Toit, formerly ranked the No. 1 amateur in Canada. du Toit caught the imagination of golf fans last summer with a surprise ninth-place showing at the Canadian Open.
