Athlete of the Week - Jack Simpson
Five years ago, Jack Simpson would never have predicted that he would be attending the University of Iowa on a golf scholarship. The Aurora resident and Beacon Hill Golf Club member had an incredible 2015 season and is a rising star in the Canadian junior golf world.
Jack has been golfing since he was two-years-old. During summer months he would cottage just outside of Burlington and play with his father and family members at a nearby golf course. While Jack enjoyed golf, he didn’t take it seriously until nearly a decade later when he decided to commit to the sport like never before in Grade 7.
It’s been a rapid transformation that has seen him shave strokes off his game. “When I first started playing tournaments I would shoot in the high 90’s, now I shoot under par.” Interestingly, Jack doesn’t recall why he decided to commit more effort and time into golf. “I know I wanted to try to play in a tournament, and despite a terrible first year I stuck with it and had a great second season, so I’m still here today.”
Jack credits many different factors to lowering his handicap. He plays at least one round a day when the weather cooperates (and has the calluses to prove it), but he has also hired a coach in Henry Brunton. “He’s been a big part of my development. I’m part of a high-performance golf group and once a week we work together on specific parts of my game.”
Coach Brunton recently started a camp in Arizona, which Jack will be attending this January. The academic flexibility that CDS offers its elite athletes has helped Jack to balance his studies while training at such a high level. “I will have a tutor there that CDS will work along with, which will help me keep up with classwork considering all of the training and tournaments I’m competing in.”
The hard work Jack has invested has already helped him achieve some incredible accomplishments. He made the cut at the U.S. Junior Amateur Open last summer, the highest level tournament in the world for his age. He also won the highly-rated CN Railway Future Links Golf Canada event in Ontario this year with a 35 yard hole-out for an eagle in the first playoff hole.
These two noteworthy achievements, accompanied with other tournament wins have propelled him to a spot on Canada’s Under-19 team. It’s an exciting time for Jack, who has seen his golf calendar fill with some amazing opportunities. Next season, he will represent Canada at tournaments in Arizona, Texas, and Peru for the South-American Amateur Championship. The tournaments are a mix of stroke and match play competitions.
Jack is committed to golf off the course as well. In the off-season, he works with strength and conditioning trainer, Dr. Nick Martichenko. “My coach really helps me get loose and work on my balance, stability and strength. He also golfed in college, so he understands the key components of a golfer’s body.”
Jack experienced another first this year by representing CDS at CISAA tournaments in the spring. His busy schedule only allowed him to make so many events or practices, but he fondly remembers his win at St. Andrews Valley Golf Club in Aurora. “Golfing at CDS is a lot of fun; I got some great early tournament experience in the season and shot 2 under, bogey-free round to win it.”
Although he admittedly didn’t get much time to train or practice with Co-coach Jim Petropoulos, Jack valued and appreciated his role. “JP is awesome; he’s a great coach who knows the sport well.”
Unfortunately due to his other golf commitments in 2016, Jack won’t be able to play on the CDS team this year. He has recently committed to the University of Iowa after some big offers from other NCAA schools. It was a tough choice, but he ultimately made the decision based on a few key factors, “It was a great scholarship offer from a top-25 ranked school. The school always qualifies for the regional tournament, and the business program is one of the top-20 in the country.”
We wish Jack all the best on Team Canada and at the University of Iowa next fall.
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
