Sports

Olson ouisianding as amateur in pro golf

by Mare Davis
The Review

Four years ago, Sidney's Rob
Olson picked up a golf club for the
first time and “started hitting the
ball around.”

Since then, at the age of 19, he
became the first-ever amateur to
win the Peace Portal Open golf
tournament in White Rock, about
two weeks ago.

Beating a field of 180 amateurs
and 45 professionals in the 36-hole
event, Olson sums up his impres-
sive feat with characteristic mod-
esty.

“Tt was a shock to beat all the
pros. So winning the event was
kind of nice,” he said.

Since first competing about two-

and-a-half years ago, Olson has
developed a reputation as an up-
and-coming young prospect.

Among his golfing achieve-
ments last year, the Parkland
Secondary graduate won the Vic-
toria City Junior title and placed
third in the provincial Junior
championships.

That very successful season on
the Junior golf circuit also earned
him the award of best junior golfer
in British Columbia.

The Royal Canadian Golf Asso-
ciation’s 1989 Junior Achiever
Award was presented to him last
November.

Olson attributes his success to —

hard work and a determination to
become the youngest golfer on the
Professional Golf Association’s
Canadian Tour next year

To achieve the high goals he
spends about six hours a day
practicing his swing and his putts
at Glen Meadows Golf and Coun-
try Club.

“T got the bug to play golf four
years ago. And as soon as I got my
membership at 16, I was here from
moming until night. I just loved
it.”

Yet, he admits not causing a few
ted faces among the professionals
at the Peace Portal Open by show-
ing a willingness to practice as
often as possible. The results are in
the numbers.

On the opening day of the Peace
Portal he shot a two-over 74, then
tured in a hot three-under 69 to

take the championship title.
“T think I’m pretty coordinated

in sports. It just comes naturally. . . -

also like to play aggressively and
I don’t hold back. I take chances.”

Natural sporting ability and
gutsy determination also helped
make Olson the top league scorer
in the Vancouver Island Junior
Hockey League League last year.

Playing for the Peninsula Junior
B Eagles, he notched the second-
place regular season title with 50
goals and 65 assists, helping his
team win the league title.

But he gave up a promising
career as a hockey player to con-
centrate on golf, prefering to “go it
alone” — relying on no one but
himself.

“When I play, I view it as just

me against the golf course. It’s
more challenging that way.”

Now his sights are firmly set on
the challenge of qualifying for the
Canadian Tour, when the fall qual-
ifier comes up in Ontario in late
September.

“My goal for the first couple of

years is to just make the cut,” he
says on the prospect of earning a
tour card.

Glen Meadows golf shop
employee Dean Chan says Olson
has made great strides as a compe-
titive golfer in the last couple of
year and says he continues to show
great potential.

“T think if he sticks with it, he
can go really far and become a top
Canadian golfer,” he said.

DRIVING THE BALL straight down the midale of ie faiwoy,

Glen Meadows golfer Rob Olson practices his swing in
preparation for his next big tournament.

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