UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is pleased to announce the formation of three regional junior teams comprised of some of the best U17 athletes in the province, a first for the association. The GAO Team Ontario program formerly was made up of a U19 and U17 team, now the provincial team features the 12 best U19 athletes, regardless of age, while three regional teams in the Ottawa, York and Waterloo regions have been set up for an additional 36 male and female athletes under the age of 17 (12 on each squad).
The teams were created in the Fall based on combines held in the three regions. Each region features a head coach and a strength and condition coach to help the athletes train during the winter months.
The pilot project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Sport Priority Funding Program through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It focuses on two educational components: technical and physical. The technical aspect identifies gaps in the athlete’s game, then targets and monitors improvements. As for the physical side, the athletes get a biomechanical assessment followed by custom workout and nutrition plans.
“The GAO is thrilled to be expanding the pool of talented athletes and coaches in Ontario and the opportunity to enhance our support to members clubs and families in all parts of this great province,” said GAO Managing Director, Sport Mike Kelly. “As we inch closer to golf’s return to the Olympic program in 2016 and 2015 Pan-Para Pan-Am Games in Toronto, investments like these will clear the path for podium performances in the near future, hopefully paved in gold!”
The program will run during the months of November to March and is comprised of 11 three-hour training sessions (approximately two per month). The teams will conclude the program with a five-day training camp and Regional Team Competition during March Break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Team Ottawa
Team Ottawa is made up of athletes from Ottawa and surrounding area stretching from Almonte to Kingston. The team is led by Head Coach Adam Holden, a PGA Canada and PGA Australia Class ‘A’ Professional. Holden is in his 12th year coaching at the Kevin Haime Golf School in Kanata. Allen Hicks is the team’s strength and condition coach. He brings more than 20-years of experience as a physiotherapist and strength coach.
Team Ottawa consists of: Jake Bryson, 14, from Dunrobin, a GAO Public Player, coached by Kevin Haime; Christopher Carwardine, 14, from Kanata and Kanata Lakes Golf & Country Club; Ty Celone, 14, from Long Sault and Summerheights Golf Links; David Iaderosa, 15, from Ottawa, a GAO Public Player, coached by Kevin Haime; James Parsons, 15, from Almonte and Mississippi Golf Club, coached by Adam Holden; Tyler Read, 13, from Brockville and Brockville Golf & Country Club, coached by Matt Wilson; Nicolas Valiquette, 15, from Cornwall and Canadian Golf & Country Club; Sarah Cushing, 14, from Brockville and the Brockville Golf & Country Club, coached by Derek McDonald; Danielle Humilde, 14, from Greeley and Greyhawk Golf Club, coached by Marty Rog; Lilian Klekner-Alt, 15, from Ottawa and Camelot Golf Club, coached by Dale Trafford; Diana McDonald, 15, from Kingston and Loyalist Country Club, coached by Matt Robinson; and Kiley Rodrigues, 13, from Kingston and Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, coached by Kevin Dickey.
Team York
The York team pulls together athletes from the Toronto area as far east as Peterborough and the Oakville area in the west. They are coached PGA of Canada Class ‘A’ Professional Jeff Overholt. Overholt has worked with Team Ontario in the past and is the Head Coach of the Toronto North Junior Golf Development Centre. He was named 2013 Coach of the Year by the PGA of Ontario. Kathryn Robinson is the team’s strength and condition coach. Robinson is currently the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Specialist at York University.
Athletes on Team York are: Kyle MacDonald, 15, from Oakville and Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, coached by Rich Storey; Sam Meek, 15, from Peterborough and Kawartha Golf & Country Club, coached by Mark Ahrens; Nicklaus Naumovski, 14, from Halton Hills and Brampton Golf Club; Lachlan O’Hara, 14, from Mississauga and Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, coached by Jerry Anderson; Mathew Suarez, 15, from Toronto and Mad River Golf Club, coached by Jeff Overholt and Andrew Love; James Wyndham-West, 15, from King City and King’s Riding Golf Club, coached by Henry Brunton; David Yoon, 15, from Richmond Hill and Station Creek Golf Club; Delana Basanisi, 13, from Mississauga and Trafalgar Golf Club, coached by Gary Hay; Ellice Hong, 14, from Thornhill and Glendale Golf & Country Club, coached by Don Lee; Hailey McLaughlin, 12, from Markham and Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club, coached by Cameron Carty; Alexandra Naumovski, 16, from Hornby and Brampton Golf Club; and Emily Zhu, 9, from Richmond Hill and Station Creek Golf Club, coached by Jason Helman.
Team Waterloo
The Team Waterloo region includes Kitchener-Waterloo and everything south and west to the U.S. boarder. Mike Martz, PGA Class ‘A’ Professional, is the Head Coach for this team. He has more than 25 years of experience. Most recently Mike has become Certified as a Coach for New Competitors and trained as a Coach for Developing Competitors with the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada. The team’s strength and conditioning coach is Angella Lee. She is currently the strength and conditioning coach of the Whistle Bear Junior Team in Cambridge.
The athletes on the team are: Jackson Bowery, 16, from London and Greenhills Golf Club, coached by Len Foran; Drake Jefferson, 15, from Bayfield and Bluewater Golf Club, coached by Brian Gallant; Vince Friyia, 15, from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines Golf Club; Mackenzie Raines, 14, from Kitchener and Whistle Bear Golf Club, coached by Mark Wilson; Thomas Code, 16, from Dorchester, GAO Public Player, coached by Dean Code; Justin DiCienzo, 13, from Niagara Falls and St. Catherines Golf Club, coached by John White; Sparky MacLean, 14, from Niagara Falls and St. Catherines Golf Club, coached by John White; Madeline Marck-Sherk, 16, from Ridgeway and Bridgewater Golf & Country Club, coached by Mary Kraus; Isabella Portokalis, 12, from London and London Hunt and Country Club, coached by Chris Lawson; Haley Barclay, 13, from Strathroy and Sawmill Creek Golf; Kristen Giles, 13, from Georgetown and Cutten Fields, coached by Bradlee Ryall; and Taylor Kehoe, 9, from Strathroy and Whistle Bear Golf Club, coached by Dave Smallwood and Carrie Vaughn.
