Checking in with Team Canada

Where are they this week?

Barry University freshman Adam Svensson is back in action this week at the Bobcat Invitational in Eatonton, GA. The Team Canada Development Squad member has had an exceptional debut season for Barry, racking up three top-10’s in just a few weeks.

Adam Svensson - Bobcat Invitational March 18-19
Justin Shin - Desert Shootout March 21-23
Corey Conners – Seahawk Invitational March 24-25
Taylor Pendrith – Seahawk Invitational March 24-25

Recent Accomplishments

T1 – Taylor Pendrith, General Hackler Invitational (71-75-69)
3rd – Corey Conners, General Hackler Invitational (74-70-72)
T2 – Adam Svensson, Southeastern Collegiate (74-69-72)
T11 - Eric Banks, Schenkel Invitational (76-72-68)
T22 – Justin Shin, Don Puckette N.I.T (70-71-75)
T58 – Jennifer Ha, SunTrust Gator Invitational (78-77-76)
T58 – Christine Wong, SunTrust Gator Invitational (81-76-74)

Alumni Watch

Former Development Team member Riley Wheeldon of Comox, B.C., notched his first professional victory Sunday on the NGA Tour. The 22-year-old fired a final round 2-under-par 70 to capture the Kandy Waters Memorial Classic by one stroke over Brian Richey of Lakeland, FL. To read more about Wheeldon’s win check out Jeff Brooke’s story here.

Toronto’s Albin Choi continued his steady collegiate play at the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate last week. Choi finished tied for 6th after rounds of 69-72-71, while NC State teammate Mitch Sutton finished in a tie for 12th. Choi is one of the front-runners to be selected for the prestigious Ben Hogan Award later in the spring. This past week he also cracked the top-10 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings for the first time in his career.

Team Canada’s World Amateur Rankings

51- Corey Conners
76– Justin Shin
128– Taylor Pendrith
186– Adam Svensson
208– Garrett Rank
277– Chris Hemmerich
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28– Brooke Henderson
106- Augusta James
111- Brittany Marchand
252– Jisoo Keel
268- Christine Wong

Tweets of the week

Talk about gutting it out!!@ericbanks19 of @thegolfcanada #dragons +9 thru 23 holes in T64, plays final 31 holes -9 for a T11. #belief :)

— Derek Ingram (@dingramgolf) March 18, 2013

Thanks again to @thengatour @mountvintagegc for a great week. Family, friends and supporters... #couldnthavedoneitwithoutyou!

— Riley Wheeldon (@rileywheeldon09) March 17, 2013

Canes game with @augusta_james and @mitchsutton #loveit

— Albin Choi (@AlbinChoi) March 14, 2013

Get to know Team Canada

This week we check in with Augusta James of Bath, Ont. Currently a sophomore at NC State, James has had an impressive spring season with the Wolfpack already posting two top-5 finishes. Last season as a Team Canada member, the 19-year-old finished tied for 2nd at the Ontario Amateur and also finished tied for 12th at the World Amateur Championship.

On Course Questions:

GC: Ever had hole in one? If so where and how did it happen?
AJ: I have had two hole in ones. My first was at the Cataraqui Country Club in Kingston, Ont., during a practice round and my second was at Bay Of Quinte in a practice round for the Ontario Amateur.

GC: What golfers would make up your dream pairing?
AJ: Suzanne Peterson, Tiger Woods, and Stacy Lewis

GC: How did you learn to play golf/who introduced you?
AJ: My parents introduced me to the game

GC: What is your most memorable golfing moment?
AJ: Numerous late night rounds with my dad

GC: What’s the best golfing advice you’ve ever been given?
AJ: “Its still all about getting the ball into the hole”

GC: If someone were to ask you why they should pick up the game of golf, what would you tell them?
AJ: It is a game that anyone can play at any age and any skill level

GC: If you could sit down and have dinner with any professional golfer, who would it be and what would you ask them?
AJ: Annika Sorentstam and I’d ask her what her days looked like as a professional golfer, any tips for someone transitioning from school to professional golf?

GC: What’s in your golf bag aside from your golf clubs? Any lucky charms?
AJ: An Olympic Loonie, a stone from Dr. Hedgepath, an American dollar coin, and $2 American bill

Off Course Questions:

GC: If you didn’t play golf what sport would you have wanted to be better at?
AJ: Hockey

GC: If you could have any super power, what would it be?
AJ: Super speed

GC: What’s on your iPod right now?
AJ: Whatever my roommate puts on it

GC: When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?
AJ: A professional golfer

GC: What’s a typical day in your life like?
AJ: Workouts, class, practice/playing golf, TV and homework.

GC: What food can’t you live without?
AJ: Chocolate