News Releases

Core Golf’s Wil Bateman wins first Florida victory

Youngest player to make Alberta’s Willingdon Cup team getting even better

ORLANDO, Florida (November 6, 2009)—After making history in Alberta this summer, Core Golf Junior Academy student Wil Bateman is starting to make his own in Florida.

In July at 15, the Edmonton native became the youngest player to make the Alberta Willingdon Cup team. He qualified for the four-person team, which represented the province in the 2009 Canadian team event, by finishing third in the Alberta Amateur.

This past weekend, Bateman captured his first junior tournament in Florida by winning the boys 13-15 division at the International Junior Golf Tour event at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel.

After opening with a 72 on Saturday, Bateman was two strokes back of leader Christopher Michael, a fellow Core Golf student. In Sunday’s final round, Bateman charged to a one-under 69 for a 141 total and a three-stroke victory.

Michael finished second. Fellow Core Golf students Sam Jackson finished T6th and Filip Klazar was in the Top 20 in the boys 16-19 division.

A long-hitter, Bateman used his driver off the tee only four times over two days.

“Not having to hit many drivers really helped me control the ball off the tee and hit a lot of fairways,” said Bateman, a former Alberta Junior Bantam Champion.

Working with Sean Foley

Core Golf’s PGA Tour Coach Sean Foley has been making significant changes to Bateman’s swing and it paid early dividends.

“Wil is a very talented player who will only get better,” said Tom Jackson, Core Golf’s Director of Instruction. “With Sean’s help, Wil is swinging really well.”

Bateman, who is in his first year at the academy, said coming to the academy will help him develop his game through the year. “Golf is my focus and it's hard to shut it down for four or five months, let alone seven months in Canada," he told The Edmonton Journal.

Competing on the top Florida junior tours is a key part of the Core Golf Junior Academy program, providing students with opportunities to showcase their talent for university coaches and scouts and to develop their tournament skills.

Along with other PGA Tour coaches Dr. Craig Davies and Neale Smith, the Core Golf Junior Academy provides intensive instruction, coaching and private education for young golfers who are determined to fulfill their dreams on and off the golf course.

The junior academy is part of the Core Golf Academy which provides high-quality instruction to all levels of players at two Greater Toronto Area facilities: The Core Golf Academy at Physiomed in Toronto and The Academy at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Oakville.

Nike Golf Canada is the official sponsor of the Core Golf Academy and supplies apparel, equipment, balls and footwear to Core Golf Academy instructors and to Core Golf Junior Academy students.

For more information, please visit coregolfacademy.com.

Contact:
Jeff Hay
Director of Operations
407.592.8236
jhay@coregolfacademy.com

Tim O'Connor
Director of Communications
519.341.4778
toconnor@coregolfacademy.com