Adam Hadwin & Nick Taylor Named
To RCGA National Amateur Team
By Dan Kinvig
Abbotsford News - November 10, 2007

Abbotsford burnished its reputation as a golf mecca on Wednesday, as Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor were named to the national amateur men’s team. Their presence on the six-man Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) squad means that Abbotsford accounts for fully one-third of the national team.

Asked why his hometown seems to churn out so many elite young golfers, Hadwin pointed to his home course growing up – Ledgeview Golf and Country Club. “Growing up at Ledgeview definitely helps,” he asserted. “The greens are some of the best in the Fraser Valley, so you get to learn to play on good greens and it hones your short game. The weather definitely helps a lot, too, since we have such a mild climate and get to play for most of the year.”

Whatever the reason, Hadwin and Taylor are doing their part to add to the long tradition of top-notch local golfers that includes former PGA Tour veteran Ray Stewart and 2005 NCAA champ James Lepp. Hadwin, a University of Louisville golfer, is coming off a series of strong performances this summer. He finished second at the B.C. Amateur to earn a spot on the provincial Willingdon Cup team, and posted the fourth-best score during stroke play at the Canadian Amateur.

Taylor has won a national title in each of the past two summers. He claimed the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in 2006, and followed with a Canadian Amateur victory this past summer. Taylor, a University of Washington sophomore, added a semifinal appearance at the U.S. Amateur.

Being named to the national amateur team means that Taylor and Hadwin will represent Canada in international tournaments over the next year. The program also gives them access to sports psychologists, nutritionists and coaches in an effort to maximize their potential. “They’re basically providing us with another support level to improve our games, and hopefully take it to the next level after amateur,” Hadwin said. “And any time you can represent your country in the sport that you play, it’s an amazing opportunity and an amazing accomplishment. I’m very proud, and hopefully I can represent the country the best that I can.”


Oakville, Ont.,   Nov.08/2007   (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) announced today the names of athletes who have been selected to join the 2008 RCGA Men’s and Women’s National Amateur Golf Team Program.

In all, 11 players will comprise the 2008 National Amateur Team including five on the women’s team and six on the men’s team. Team Canada welcomes back four returning players as well as five rookies and a pair of former National Junior Team members graduating up to the amateur ranks.

Among the new faces on this year’s team is 2007 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. Taylor, the 2006 Canadian Junior Boys champion was also a quarterfinalist at the 2007 US Amateur. The 19-year old is one of four newcomers to the men’s team including 2007 Canadian Men’s Amateur runner-up Michael Knight of Calgary, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. and Mark Sommerfeld of Waterloo, Ont. while 18-year old Mathieu Rivard of Granby, Que. makes the jump from the 2007 Junior Team to the Amateur squad in 2008. Graham Hill of Bright’s Grove, Ont., the lone holdover from the 2007 men’s team, returns for a third year with the National Amateur Team.

The 2008 women’s team features an infusion of talented young athletes and will be anchored by 2007 Royale Cup National Women’s Amateur champion Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont. as well as returning Team Canada members Kira Meixner of Delta B.C. and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Windsor, Que. Junior sensation Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. graduates to the senior ranks after a stellar 2007 season that saw the 16-year old claim runner-up honours at the 2007 Royale Cup National Women’s Amateur Championship. Rounding out the women’s team is rookie Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que.

As part of the National Amateur Team Program, the RCGA has also introduced a 22-and-under Development Team to replace the former National Junior Team. The development team features eight male and seven female athletes and will include a minimum of four junior-aged (18-and-under) athletes. The development team will help facilitate a smooth transition for Canada’s top young players from the junior to the senior amateur ranks.

“We are very excited to welcome each of our new and returning athletes to the 2008 National Amateur Golf Team,” said Jeff Thompson, RCGA Managing Director of Player & Program Development. “Our player development model incorporates both high performance training and full-time coaching and sport science support and we feel strongly that a program of this design will continue to yield strong international results for our players. As well, introducing a 22-and-under development team will help to ensure the continuity of training our athletes receive at successive stages of our high performance program.”

The following athletes have been selected for the 2008 National Amateur Golf Team:

Men’s National Amateur Team
Adam Hadwin, Abbotsford, B.C.
Mike Knight, Calgary, Alta.
Mathieu Rivard, Granby, Que.
Mark Sommerfeld, Waterloo, Ont.
Graham Hill, Bright’s Grove, Ont.
Nick Taylor, Abbotsford, B.C.

Women's National Amateur Team
Kira Meixner, Delta, B.C.
Stephanie Sherlock, Barrie, Ont.
Sue Kim, Langley, B.C.
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc, Windsor, Que.
Sara-Maude Juneau, Fossambault, Que.