Bishops Gate Golf Academy Training Pays Off for a Host of Students
The 2016-17 academic year at Bishops Gate Golf Academy( BGGA) has come to a close as students head off to start their collegiate golf careers or to play in summer tournaments for the underclassmen. As sad as the end of the year can be, it’ s a time to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of BGGA student-athletes.
Julian Perico was named the BGGA 2017 Player of the Year and it’ s not hard to see why. Perico had a lot of success in South America this spring and has made a name for himself.
“ Julian’ s results speak for themselves,”
said BGGA Director of Golf Kevin Smeltz.“ He defended the South American Junior, almost qualified for the Masters at the Latin American Amateur, won a professional event in Peru and qualified for a team even in Japan. It’ s incredible. He’ s a great kid and loves golf. He just loves to play and has a great attitude.”
It was a year BGGA saw many achievements. Eightythree students graced the campus to receive golf instruction from the best coaches in junior golf on world-class facilities.
From those 83 students came 27 wins, 54 top-3 finishes and 135 top 10s.
The results come from the personalized and periodized training model used at BGGA. The system allows students to effectively and efficiently maximize their time in order to achieve the highest level of success.
At BGGA it isn’ t all about lifting trophies. Improvements in a student’ s game are also celebrated.
Thirteen students saw more than a five-shot improvement in their scoring average.
“ It’ s not all about golf results,”
said BGGA Master Coach Jonathan Yarwood.
“ A lot of students have improved in their character, their academics or certain aspects of their game.”
While BGGA could celebrate the improvements of every student in attendance, here are some achievements this spring that stood out from the crowd.
April was a good month for Chun Yan Leong as he recorded a win and a second place on the IJGT. Leong defeated his roommate Christian Tupamahu in a playoff to take the title at the Island Showcase. His second-place finish came at The King Classic.
“ Chun Yan has a great stature for golf,” said Yarwood.“ To see him get into a playoff, shoot under par again versus shooting in the mid 80s when he came is a testament to what we’ re doing.
The difference in Christian Tupamahu’ s game was seen this spring. To come into Bishops Gate where his game was and to walk out with a second-place finish in a playoff at the IJGT Island Showcase is remarkable.
“ Christian was a 90s shooter when he came,” said Yarwood.“ He’ s really benefited from the different types of practice that make BGGA unique. To see him shoot 1 under par in a tournament to almost win it and lose in a playoff was absolutely incredible.”