A Will to win
Will Burleigh wrapped up the under-15 boys overall points title on the Niagara Junior Golf Tour in convincing fashion Monday at Beechwood.
The 14-year-old Grimsby resident carded a four over par 76 to win the event by four strokes. It was his fourth win of the season on the tour after previous victories at Rockway Vineyards, Sawmill and Willodell.
“I did pretty well. Everything really came together,” said the four handicapper at Sawmill.
He was thrilled to win the overall title and gave credit to all the help he had along the way.
“Right now, I am just thanking my parents, my coaches and my competitors for supporting me,” the Grade 10 student at Grimsby Secondary School said.
In his first year on the junior tour, he finished second overall in the under-13 division and last year he was third in the under-15 division.
“A real advantage for me is that I hit the ball really far and this year my putting and short game really came together.”
Burleigh averages 270-280 yards off the tee, which is quite impressive considering he weighs only 145 pounds.
“On my downswing, I generate 4.1 times my body weight.”
He credits his travel basketball exploits with the Grimsby Grizzlies for his distance off the tee.
“I think a lot of the power comes from jumping so much,” he said.
Basketball also helps in other ways.
“It’s like the routine you have on the foul line. It helps you take your time when you’re putting and you do your routine every time you take a shot.”
Golf ranks No. 1 over basketball in his sporting pursuits.
“I find that it is really calm and relaxing and I enjoy the social part of it.”
Burleigh is in his third year of competitive golf and he has made a lot of improvements.
“I have worked a lot on my short game and is has improved a lot,” he said. “Over the winter, I hit a lot of 10- and eight-foot putts on a rug and I did it every day.”
His motivation is simple.
“I want to be the best golfer that I can be,” he said. “My whole family is competitive and it comes off of that.”
He already knows the next step he needs to take in his game.
“I have to become more consistent and everything has to come together.”
Winning the overall points title will add fuel to his competitive fire.
“This really motivates me to take it to the next level.”
Following are the final points standings in the under-15 boys division of the Niagara Junior Golf Tour: Sawmill’s Will Burleigh 295; Sawmill’s Andrew Burciul 248; Sawmill’s Cole Thomson 244.67; Players Club Ottawa’s Angela Butera 217.17; Sawmill’s Blake Furtney 189.5; Lookout Point’s Kian Oelofse 174.5; Players Club Hamilton’s Jack Ilskens 162; Ottawa Players Club’s Aidan Smith 154; Players Club Ottawa’s Alec Linton 138.67; and, Players Club Ottawa’s Vincent Cuviello 128.5.
Following is the leaderboard in the under-15 boys division played on the par 72 Beechwood course Monday: Sawmill’s Will Burleigh 76; Sawmill’s Cole Thompson 81; Players Club Ottawa’s Aidan Smith 85; Sawmill’s Andrew Burciul 85; Lookout Point’s Kian Oelofse 88; Players Club Hamilton’s Jack Ilskens 89; St. Catharines Golf and Country Club’s Christopher Elliott 94; Sawmill’s Blake Furtney 94; Players Club Ottawa’s Angela Butera 94; Players Club Ottawa’s Alec Linton 97.
