Kyle Wicks Ready to Take on the World in Scotland
Chatham golfer Kyle Wicks
After dominating the local golf scene, Chatham’s Kyle Wicks will be taking his game overseas later this month to the Euro Junior Golf Cup in Scotland.
Wicks, who attended John McGregor Secondary School, won the Euro Cup Qualifier in Paris, Ontario last month to assure his spot in Scotland. Currently competing on the Jamieson Junior Golf Tour, Wicks has spent the last month focus and working on his game getting ready for his shot on the world stage,
“I’m preparing myself like I do for every golf tournament I’m playing in, I just play as much as possible and practice my game and focus on what I need to improve on the most,” said Wicks.
While in Scotland, Wicks, who is a former Kent High School and Ontario Junior Golf champion, will be playing against some of the top junior golfers from across the globe. The young golfer however, is staying calm and composed facing this next step in his golf career, “My main focus while competing in this prestigious event is just remain calm throughout all the golf, and just enjoy myself and most of all just have fun with it. It’s a chance of a life time, so I’m just going to enjoy myself to the fullest, and play the sport I love.”
The Euro Cup format places Wicks as a member of Team Canada. According to Wicks, the opportunity to travel and represent his country are a dream come true, “Going to Scotland has been a life time dream for me and knowing I’m going over there to represent my country and to play golf, it’s just an incredible feeling that’s hard to explain.”
Locally, Wicks also works as a member of the grounds crew at the Links of Kent in Chatham. This coming weekend, Wicks will be hosting a fundraiser golf tournament to help cover his expenses for the trip. Tournament registration is $65 for non-members and $40 for members, which includes 18-holes with a cart, lunch sandwich, steak dinner, and prizes, all starting with an 8am shotgun start.
After succeeding locally, and experiencing the support of the local golf community, Wicks realizes that many people across Chatham-Kent and Canada will be anxiously waiting for his, and Team Canada’s results at the 2011 Euro Junior Golf Cup. Wicks doesn’t plan to just attend this tournament however, he feels his game is ready, and his team will be ready to compete and win,
“I feel as if I’m playing my game and hitting the ball well and playing to my potential, I feel that I have the game to compete against any one of the juniors that will be there,” says Wicks. “All those juniors competing in this event, all played some good golf to be there and obviously have game. As for our team, I only know one of the players so I’m awaiting to meet them all. All three teams will be really strong and I’m looking forward to playing golf with them all.”
Calm and composed, Wicks is ready to take on the world. The 2011 Euro Junior Golf Cup takes place July 27 through July 29 in Fife, Scotland.