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Kelowna teen tees it up with the pros

At just 15, Matt Hopley is appearing in his first pro event, the GolfBC Championship
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Matt Hopley, 15, is the youngest player in the field at this year香蕉视频直播檚 GolfBC Championship. -Image: Warren Henderson/Capital News

Matt Hopley couldn香蕉视频直播檛 have conceived of a better birthday gift.

The Kelowna teenager, who turned 15 this week, was granted a sponsor香蕉视频直播檚 exemption into the GolfBC Championship on his home track at Gallagher香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 definitely the best birthday present I香蕉视频直播檝e ever got,香蕉视频直播 Hopley said following a practise round on Wednesday. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so exciting to come out here and play with these guys, some of the best players in Canada香蕉视频直播 think it香蕉视频直播檚 really going to improve my game and it香蕉视频直播檒l just be a great experience.香蕉视频直播

Despite his relative youth and inexperience, Hopley hasn香蕉视频直播檛 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香蕉视频直播檚 Canyon director of golf, Peter Hopley, Matt grew up in what could be considered the ideal golf environment. But according to his coach, it香蕉视频直播檚 more than his surroundings, natural abilities and hard work that sets Hopley apart from most players his age.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a fantastic kid who is mature beyond his years,香蕉视频直播 said Chris Trunzer, director of instruction at Gallagher香蕉视频直播檚. 香蕉视频直播淗is dad did the perfect job giving him the basics, now we香蕉视频直播檙e just fine tuning.

香蕉视频直播淚 always talk to him like I香蕉视频直播檓 talking to an adult,香蕉视频直播 added Trunzer. 香蕉视频直播淗e reminds of when Jordan Spieth came up, very mature and years beyond his age.香蕉视频直播

When he香蕉视频直播檚 not studying and keeping his grades up, Matt eats, breathes and sleeps golf. He may only be 15, but Hopley is already dreaming big.

香蕉视频直播淢y goal would be to play on the PGA Tour and be one of the best players in the world, that香蕉视频直播檚 my goal,香蕉视频直播 said Hopley. 香蕉视频直播淭his is another stepping stone for me. I love the game, everything about it and it香蕉视频直播檚 what I want to do with my life.香蕉视频直播

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香蕉视频直播檛 always a smooth one.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 so proud of him and his work ethic, it香蕉视频直播檚 far beyond what I ever had as a player,香蕉视频直播 said Peter Hopley. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 an older soul who has matured quicker than most and that香蕉视频直播檚 allowed him to have so much success at a young age.

香蕉视频直播淚t can be a tough go,香蕉视频直播 Peter continued, referring to the journey to a pro career. 香蕉视频直播淭here are challenges and hardship, so in that way I香蕉视频直播檓 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.香蕉视频直播

Following the GolfBC Championship, Matt will take a trip to Coeur d香蕉视频直播橝lene, Idaho where he香蕉视频直播檒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香蕉视频直播

For more than a decade, Jamie Sadlowski香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 Mackenzie Tour this week in Kelowna at the GolfBC Championship.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 obviously a career change since being in long drive since 2003,香蕉视频直播 said Sadlowski, who won the 2008 and 2009 world long drive titles. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播

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香蕉视频直播檛 make the cut but was happy to get his foot in the door in a pro tournament environment.

香蕉视频直播淚t was something that was very exciting for me, I was inside the cut line the first day, didn香蕉视频直播檛 have it going the second day,香蕉视频直播 Sadlowski said. 香蕉视频直播淥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香蕉视频直播檛 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.

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Warren Henderson/Capital News Canadian Jamie Sadlowksi, a two-time world long drive champ, is appearing in his first MacKenzie Tour event.




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