Basseterre, St. Kitts (January 3 2017) - This past Saturday, December 31, 2016, a team of 14 junior golfers from Golf Ontario arrived in St. Kitts to ring in their New Year by participating in a high performance training program on island. Their week-long visit is a direct result of the partnership between the destination and Golf Ontario established in 2015, which is designed to promote St. Kitts as a premier destination for golf within the key Ontario market.
"We are very pleased to welcome the first group of Golf Ontario golfers for 2017," said the Hon. Mr. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce. "Hosting this group of young up-and-coming golfers provides us with an opportunity to showcase St. Kitts both on and off the golf course as a premier travel destination among one of Canada's strongest consumer segments."
The Golf Ontario Team Ontario junior group is comprised of seven young men and seven young women representing the top junior players from the Canadian province of Ontario, as follows-
|
Name
|
Age (2017)
|
Hometown
|
Club
|
Coach
|
|
Jake Bryson
|
18
|
Dunrobin
|
Public Player
|
Kevin Haime
|
|
Ty Celone
|
18
|
Long Sault
|
Upper Canada GC
|
N/A
|
|
Zack Mason
|
18
|
Toronto
|
Donalda Club
|
Dave Woods
|
|
Tyler Nagano
|
18
|
Toronto
|
York Downs Golf & Country
|
Jon Roy
|
|
Anthony Occhiuto
|
18
|
Guelph
|
Cutten Fields
|
Scott Cowx
|
|
Johnny Travale
|
17
|
Stoney Creek
|
Hamilton G&CC
|
Scott Cowx
|
|
Emily Ward
|
17
|
Niagara Falls
|
Public Player
|
Ann Carroll
|
|
Cynthia Zhao
|
17
|
Toronto
|
Station Creek
|
Gord Burns
|
|
Matthew Anderson
|
16
|
Mississauga
|
Credit Valley G&CC
|
Alf Callowhil
|
|
Hailey Katona
|
16
|
Tilbury
|
Tilbury Golf Club
|
Chris Kucera
|
|
Robbie Latter
|
16
|
Mississauga
|
Credit Valley G&CC
|
Nick Starchuck
|
|
Hailey McLaughlin
|
16
|
Markham
|
Cedar Brae G&CC
|
Reggie Millage
|
|
Isabella Portokalis
|
16
|
London
|
West Haven G&CC
|
Reggie Millage
|
|
Sarah Beqaj
|
15
|
Toronto
|
Toronto Golf Club
|
Ann Carroll
|
|
Alyssa DiMarcantonio
|
14
|
Maple
|
Station Creek
|
Reggie Millage
|
|
Victoria Zheng
|
13
|
Markham
|
Station Creek GC
|
Dong Hee Lee
|
Each year, the group of junior players and their coaches make several training trips to prepare for the upcoming golf season when they will compete against top junior teams from other provinces' golf associations. Their December 31, 2016 to January 7, 2017 stay on St. Kitts is the team's first training trip outside North America. While on island, the team will participate in high performance training including gym workouts, full swing and short game practice sessions as well as on-course play. In addition, they will have the opportunity to take part in non-golfing activities and dine at various restaurants showcasing local West Indian food or other cuisines. The group is staying at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel and all on-course training will take place at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. Designed by Canadian course architect Thomas McBroom, it is an18-hole links-style course featuring holes on both the Caribbean and Atlantic.
Hosting the Golf Ontario junior group is a key part of St. Kitts' golf strategy to build and leverage partnerships that will increase awareness for the island as a world-class golf travel destination, particularly focused in Canada. Golf is the number one sport in Canada and it is also one of the most lucrative niche markets that can contribute to a destination's economy. More golfers live and play in the province of Ontario than any other region of Canada and Canada represents the second largest source market in North America for air passenger arrivals. There are nearly 6 million golfers in Canada and those who travel overseas to play golf spend $4.6 billion, representing a significant potential market for St. Kitts & Nevis.
About Team Ontario:
Golf Ontario's Team Ontario program is a high performance training program for the top junior aged golfers in Ontario. Athletes are selected in the fall each year and the program runs during the winter into the Ontario golf season. Team Ontario athletes receive the very best in coaching services, training/competitive opportunities, and sport science support. Being selected to Team Ontario is a tremendous accomplishment and offers unparalleled support and guidance to the participating athletes and their families. Golf Ontariois one of Canada's leading golf associations focused on building golf communities around the province, providing leading edge junior player development programming and the overall promotion of new opportunities to enjoy golf at all ages and skill levels.
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