Matt Hopley couldn鈥檛 have conceived of a better birthday gift.
The 琉璃神社 teenager, who turned 15 this week, was granted a sponsor鈥檚 exemption into the GolfBC Championship on his home track at Gallagher鈥檚 Canyon.
Hopley, a Grade 9 student at Immaculata Regional High School, was among 156 players who teed it up Thursday morning for the third event of the season on Canada鈥檚 Mackenzie Tour.
To be surrounded by professionals, most of whom are at least five years his senior, is an experience Hopley plans to absorb to the fullest.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely the best birthday present I鈥檝e ever got,鈥� Hopley said following a practise round on Wednesday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so exciting to come out here and play with these guys, some of the best players in Canada鈥 think it鈥檚 really going to improve my game and it鈥檒l just be a great experience.鈥�
Despite his relative youth and inexperience, Hopley hasn鈥檛 shown any apprehension in his young career to date in competing against older players.
This season on the Zone 2 Junior Golf Tour, competing against players as much as four years his senior, Hopley won two events and placed second on the Order of Merit.
The son of Gallagher鈥檚 Canyon director of golf, Peter Hopley, Matt grew up in what could be considered the ideal golf environment. But according to his coach, it鈥檚 more than his surroundings, natural abilities and hard work that sets Hopley apart from most players his age.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a fantastic kid who is mature beyond his years,鈥� said Chris Trunzer, director of instruction at Gallagher鈥檚. 鈥淗is dad did the perfect job giving him the basics, now we鈥檙e just fine tuning.
鈥淚 always talk to him like I鈥檓 talking to an adult,鈥� added Trunzer. 鈥淗e reminds of when Jordan Spieth came up, very mature and years beyond his age.鈥�
When he鈥檚 not studying and keeping his grades up, Matt eats, breathes and sleeps golf. He may only be 15, but Hopley is already dreaming big.
鈥淢y goal would be to play on the PGA Tour and be one of the best players in the world, that鈥檚 my goal,鈥� said Hopley. 鈥淭his is another stepping stone for me. I love the game, everything about it and it鈥檚 what I want to do with my life.鈥�
Still, Hopley, and his dad, Peter, are all acutely aware of the challenges facing young golfers and that the road traveled to a pro career isn鈥檛 always a smooth one.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of him and his work ethic, it鈥檚 far beyond what I ever had as a player,鈥� said Peter Hopley. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an older soul who has matured quicker than most and that鈥檚 allowed him to have so much success at a young age.
鈥淚t can be a tough go,鈥� Peter continued, referring to the journey to a pro career. 鈥淭here are challenges and hardship, so in that way I鈥檓 torn. But right now, I want him to go out there, learn and enjoy the game and experience all the good things that come with it.鈥�
Following the GolfBC Championship, Matt will take a trip to Coeur d鈥橝lene, Idaho where he鈥檒l try to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship next month in Andover, Kansas.
For more information on the GolfBC Championship, go to
WORLD LONG DRIVE CHAMP鈥�
For more than a decade, Jamie Sadlowski鈥檚 golf career consisted of driving a ball as high and far as his body could muster, with no need for a short game.
Now the former two-time world long drive champion is in the process of refining his entire skill set for a run at a career on tour.
A 28-year-old native of St. Paul Alta., Sadlowksi is making his debut on Canada鈥檚 Mackenzie Tour this week in 琉璃神社 at the GolfBC Championship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously a career change since being in long drive since 2003,鈥� said Sadlowski, who won the 2008 and 2009 world long drive titles. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a different challenge but I was ready to try, the Mackenzie Tour is a great start, a great stepping stone in hopefully getting where I want to get to.鈥�
Sadlowski had his first taste of the big time last month when he made his PGA Tour debut at the Dean and Deluca Invitational in Texas.
He didn鈥檛 make the cut but was happy to get his foot in the door in a pro tournament environment.
鈥淚t was something that was very exciting for me, I was inside the cut line the first day, didn鈥檛 have it going the second day,鈥� Sadlowski said. 鈥淥verall, it was a great experience, to get your feet wet in your first event, stepping up to that first tee and striping it felt good, they can鈥檛 take that away, it was an awesome experience.
Among other first-timers to watch this week at the GolfBC Championship is Jared du Toit, formerly ranked the No. 1 amateur in Canada. du Toit caught the imagination of golf fans last summer with a surprise ninth-place showing at the Canadian Open.
