Matt Hopley couldn害羞草研究所檛 have conceived of a better birthday gift.
The Kelowna teenager, who turned 15 this week, was granted a sponsor害羞草研究所檚 exemption into the GolfBC Championship on his home track at Gallagher害羞草研究所檚 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 Canada害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely the best birthday present I害羞草研究所檝e ever got,害羞草研究所� Hopley said following a practise round on Wednesday. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so exciting to come out here and play with these guys, some of the best players in Canada害羞草研究所 think it害羞草研究所檚 really going to improve my game and it害羞草研究所檒l just be a great experience.害羞草研究所�
Despite his relative youth and inexperience, Hopley hasn害羞草研究所檛 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 Gallagher害羞草研究所檚 Canyon director of golf, Peter Hopley, Matt grew up in what could be considered the ideal golf environment. But according to his coach, it害羞草研究所檚 more than his surroundings, natural abilities and hard work that sets Hopley apart from most players his age.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a fantastic kid who is mature beyond his years,害羞草研究所� said Chris Trunzer, director of instruction at Gallagher害羞草研究所檚. 害羞草研究所淗is dad did the perfect job giving him the basics, now we害羞草研究所檙e just fine tuning.
害羞草研究所淚 always talk to him like I害羞草研究所檓 talking to an adult,害羞草研究所� added Trunzer. 害羞草研究所淗e reminds of when Jordan Spieth came up, very mature and years beyond his age.害羞草研究所�
When he害羞草研究所檚 not studying and keeping his grades up, Matt eats, breathes and sleeps golf. He may only be 15, but Hopley is already dreaming big.
害羞草研究所淢y goal would be to play on the PGA Tour and be one of the best players in the world, that害羞草研究所檚 my goal,害羞草研究所� said Hopley. 害羞草研究所淭his is another stepping stone for me. I love the game, everything about it and it害羞草研究所檚 what I want to do with my life.害羞草研究所�
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 isn害羞草研究所檛 always a smooth one.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 so proud of him and his work ethic, it害羞草研究所檚 far beyond what I ever had as a player,害羞草研究所� said Peter Hopley. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 an older soul who has matured quicker than most and that害羞草研究所檚 allowed him to have so much success at a young age.
害羞草研究所淚t can be a tough go,害羞草研究所� Peter continued, referring to the journey to a pro career. 害羞草研究所淭here are challenges and hardship, so in that way I害羞草研究所檓 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.害羞草研究所�
Following the GolfBC Championship, Matt will take a trip to Coeur d害羞草研究所橝lene, Idaho where he害羞草研究所檒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 CHAMP害羞草研究所�
For more than a decade, Jamie Sadlowski害羞草研究所檚 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 Canada害羞草研究所檚 Mackenzie Tour this week in Kelowna at the GolfBC Championship.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 obviously a career change since being in long drive since 2003,害羞草研究所� said Sadlowski, who won the 2008 and 2009 world long drive titles. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�
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 didn害羞草研究所檛 make the cut but was happy to get his foot in the door in a pro tournament environment.
害羞草研究所淚t was something that was very exciting for me, I was inside the cut line the first day, didn害羞草研究所檛 have it going the second day,害羞草研究所� Sadlowski said. 害羞草研究所淥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 can害羞草研究所檛 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.
