How long have you been golfing?
I started when I was about 8, going to the driving range occasionally with pops. Started to play junior tournaments when I was 12. Was a AAA baseball and hockey goalie but gave them up for golf when I was about 14. (Loved playing hockey but the shots got to hard for me, Im a whimp.)
What does the Great Lakes Tour mean to you?
Great Lakes Tour means a lot. I played my first event in 2006 on the amateur series. A funny story I will never forget was my first GLT amateur event, I was 16 and played at Copetown Woods. I shot 69 (which was a great score for me at the time) and found myself in a playoff with Vic Ciesielski. I was so nervous playing against Big Vic – I felt like Rocco and he was Tiger! Yeah, he kicked my butt in the playoff and then qualified for the Canadian Open the next day. I went to the Open to watch him and I got his autograph! Now he is a good buddy of mine. In 2008, I turned pro and have played multiple events each year since then. The competition is outstanding, the events are professionally run and it is a great way to prepare yourself for PGA Tour Canada.
You tuned Pro at a young age, what advice do you have for other young players?
Follow your dreams. My dream ever since I was a youngster was to play on the PGA Tour. Getting a sniff of that last year at the Canadian Open makes you want to work that much harder to get out there!
Were you recruited by any American schools?
I talked to many schools throughout the States but didn’t believe it was the path for me so I decided otherwise.
Where do you plan on competing this year?
This year I plan on playing Great Lakes to get ready for my PGA Tour Canada season. I have sectionals of US Open qualifying followed by 8-9 PGA Tour Canada events in which I hope to add a few other events or Monday quaifiers.
What did you do over the winter to prepare for the 2013 season?
The last few winters I have been training in Houston, Texas with a good buddy of mine. This year I was fortunate enough to receive a Sunshine Tour membership as well as an exemption into the European Tours Joburg Open so I spent a month in South Africa traveling and playing a couple events. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. It is very different over there and quite eye opening.
Why did you choose Hidden Lake as your home course?
When I was 13 I started working at Hidden Lake. They have a great junior and ‘yogi’ program which is kids who work 2 shifts a week for free golf. At the time I could not afford a membership and took advantage of this great opportunity. Since then I have fell in love with the course, facility, members and staff and am proud to call Hidden Lake home.
What do you do in your spare time?
I am a sports fanatic, I dont ever really watch TV shows, I couldn’t tell you anything about any TV series (other then Dexter) but I could tell you about every sports game each night! I spend alot of time outside the golf course with my caddy Ryan Leeming. He is a good friend and I can’t thank him enough for all the time he has put towards caddying for me over the last couple years.
How often do you practice?
During the summer I try to practice everyday. You dont want to get worn out, but my days off’ usually include an hour or two on the putting green. I like the quote “If your not getting better everyday, someone else is”.
What are your gym workouts like?
I’ve been fortunate to have joined Twist Sports Conditioning in Burlington. Its very sports specific. They have great, highly educated trainers and really target each workout to your needs which is what I like. Most places have generic workouts in which they give to everyone but Twist is different. My workouts consist of balance, core, stability etc. I have a great trainer and really look forward to going to the gym. My only regret…not knowing about Twist earlier!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself on the PGA Tour. Its been a dream of mine for many years now. I’d love to make it so I can give back to the people who have helped me along the way, especially my family. They have made some big sacrifices for me. My brother has severe autism so it’s a goal of mine to be able to help by contributing financially to autism research. Another goal of mine, within a year or two, is to raise money and run a half marathon for autism.
When you win your first PGA Tour event, what will you buy?
Depends on when it was I won it. If I won next week, I would be the new Range Rover and probably a down payment on a house. I have a passion in real estate and investing so I’d probably put the rest into something like that.
Great Lakes Tour 