With winter creeping in you wouldn't assume local golfers would be making waves, but that is exactly what Kade Johnson is doing as he heads to a Canadian Golf Association tournament in Phoenix Thursday to compete with the best 14-16 year old golfers in the province.
Johnson, who won the Maple Leaf Gold order of Merit for the 14-16 age group, just turned fourteen in August which will make his first appearance in an age group he can look forward in competing in for the next three years, making his trip to Phoenix all about getting experience.
A sentiment Johnson pointed out by saying, "I really have no expectations going in other than seeing where I stack up and getting some experience against golfers in my category across the country."
Kade was the number one ranked golfer in Saskatchewan for the U-13 category and was the fourth best golfer in Canada before advancing to the U-16 age category in August at the turn of his birthday.
A major part of Johnson's rise has been the drastic improvement in his average score from 94 to 76 this year lowering his average strokes per round by 18 in just one summer. Johnson credits his rapid improvement to hard work put in the winter at Cymbob's indoor golf course in Yorkton as well as work with his swing coach.
Going to Phoenix this weekend Johnson will have the knowledge he can play with people much older than him. After winning junior/senior districts with a score of 75, he finished 10th at SHSAA provincials for Sacred Heart's golf team this fall as the only grade nine participant giving him one top ten finish in the province's top high school tournament in just his first year of eligibility.
Johnson credits his family and coaches in helping him with providing the time to train and work on his game throughout the year and giving him the opportunity to go to this national tournament.
