UXBRIDGE — Six players are returning to Team Ontario in 2017 and will be joined by 10 new faces as Golf Ontario is pleased to announce the newest installment of the squad. The 2017 team will see an even split of eight boys and eight girls.
After the 2016 season, the provincial team program was pleased to hear that a pair of team members had been selected to move up to Golf Canada’s National Development Squad. Golf Ontario is proud to see Richmond Hill’s Monet Chun and Langton’s Peyton Callens take the next step in their playing careers. Chun had been a member of the team since 2013, while Callens was a 2016 team member. Chun had numerous top finishes in 2016 including a win at CN Future Links Quebec. As for Callens, he too had a great season, highlighted by a win at the Investors Group Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship.
Returning to the team in 2017 are: Dunrobin’s Jake Bryson, Long Sault’s Ty Celone, Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play Champion Markham’s Hailey McLaughlin, CN Future Links Ontario winner London’s Isabella Portokalis and Ontario Bantam Girls’ Champion Maple’s Alyssa DiMarcantonio. Also rejoining the team is Toronto’s Tyler Nagano who was a member in 2014.
New to the team in 2017 on the boys’ side will be: Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Champion Stoney Creek’s Johnny Travale, Mississauga’s Matthew Anderson, Mississauga’s Robbie Latter, Toronto’s Zack Mason and Guelph’s Anthony Occhiuto. As for the girls, new to the squad are: Ontario Peewee Champion Markham’s Victoria Zheng, Niagara Falls’ Emily Ward, Tilbury’s Hailey Katona, Toronto’s Cynthia Zhao and Toronto’s Sarah Beqaj.
Once again Reggie Millage will coach the team, his fourth season as Head Provincial Coach. He is joined by Strength and Conditioning Coach Nick Martichenko, Athletic Therapist Andrew Hoermann, and Mental Skills Coach Charles Fitzsimmons.
The team will once again be training throughout the winter at Peak Performance Golf in Vaughan. They will have a pair of fall camps, followed by winter warm weather camps and will conclude their off season with the Can/Am Matches, during March Break with the South Carolina Junior Golf Association at the Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
“Golf Ontario is excited to put forward this year’s Team Ontario squad,” said Andrew Moss, Golf Ontario Director of High Performance. “Our expanded support of junior golf through Team Ontario activities builds on the ongoing local development being delivered by home PGA Professionals and personal coaches.”
2017 Team Ontario
| Name | Age (2017) | Hometown | Club | Coach |
| Johnny Travale | 17 | Stoney Creek | Hamilton G&CC | Scott Cowx |
| Tyler Nagano | 18 | Toronto | York Downs Golf & Country | Jon Roy |
| Matthew Anderson | 17 | Mississauga | Credit Valley G&CC | Alf Callowhill |
| Jake Bryson | 18 | Dunrobin | Public Player | Kevin Haime |
| Robbie Latter | 16 | Mississauga | Credit Valley G&CC | Nick Starchuck |
| Ty Celone | 18 | Long Sault | Upper Canada GC | N/A |
| Zack Mason | 18 | Toronto | Donalda Club | Dave Woods |
| Anthony Occhiuto | 18 | Guelph | Cutten Fields | Scott Cowx |
| Victoria Zheng | 13 | Markham | Station Creek GC | Dong Hee Lee |
| Hailey McLaughlin | 16 | Markham | Cedar Brae G&CC | Reggie Millage |
| Isabella Portokalis | 16 | London | West Haven G&CC | Reggie Millage |
| Emily Ward | 17 | Niagara Falls | Public Player | Ann Carroll |
| Hailey Katona | 16 | Tilbury | Tilbury Golf Club | Chris Kucera |
| Cynthia Zhao | 17 | Toronto | Station Creek | Gord Burns |
| Alyssa DiMarcantonio | 14 | Maple | Station Creek | Reggie Millage |
| Sarah Beqaj | 15 | Toronto | Toronto Golf Club | Ann Carroll |
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.
