Josiah Tong '23 Recruiting Profile

*** 3 PING DRIVERHEADS CRACKED WITHIN 5 MONTHS*** 

Latest Update

T3 World Championships Junior Tour Under Armour age 15-18.  72-71(-1) in 100 Fahrenheit heat.  Named to Under Armour World Team.

T1 Golf Alberta U19 Provincial Championships (lost in playoff).  Named to InterProvincial Team for Golf Canada Junior Championships and Juvenile Championships

From Innisbrook to Golf Canada Pine Hills.  Ping 400 cracked December 27,2021 @ Innisbrook, FL.  Ping 425 LST cracked May 19,2022 @ Heritage Pointe, Canada. Ping 425 LST Demo head cracked June 1,2022 @ Pine Hills, Canada..  I’m driving greens 400 yards downwind.

About Me

I am a determined and hardworking athlete who has demonstrated resilience and drive throughout my tenure as a young athlete. I have competed nationally and internationally for both Badminton and Golf through which I have demonstrated my ability to overcome adversity and have success when faced with challenges. Even through tough times in my career, I have maintained a positive outlook which has helped me keep my composure throughout my tournaments.

Though golf is often thought of as an individual sport, I really do enjoy the team aspect of the game and what it has to offer. Being in a team environment gives me opportunities to learn from others while also supporting them and getting to celebrate our successes together. I realize that post-secondary golf is as much about the individual as it is the team and being a good teammate can be as important as playing well. I am looking for Division 1 opportunity to contribute to with a supportive coaching environment that can help me further both my golf game and mental strength. I am prepared to enroll and move to a university in the US on an Academic Scholarship as well as an Athletic Scholarship if available.

Although I have had success in Badminton, I have become very passionate about golf and its daily impact on my life. I have found that my character comes from being driven while on or off the course, and that drive has allowed me to succeed both athletically and academically. Academics plays a vital role in college, and my first commitment is to maintaining my grades as I realize that my academics are essential to supporting my passion for golf.

I appreciate the time you have taken to review my resume and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards,
Josiah Tong

Pertinent Athletic History

National/International-Level Badminton |2018-2021|

For 3 years I played badminton at both the national and international level. I started playing in Grade 6 and from that time achieved provincial and national success, reaching #1 in Canada for Boys Doubles U15, #3 in Canada Boys Singles U15 and #2 in Canada for Mixed Doubles U17. My tenure in badminton, whose competitions have now ended, helped me to develop both the physical and mental strength required for competing at high levels of golf. I continue to condition, train, and utilize my High Performance experience in Badminton, to support my High Performance in Golf.
Competitive Golf (MJT, CJGA, Alberta Golf, HJGT) |2020- Present|

I began competing golf when Covid began in April of 2020. I ranked #1 on the Alberta Golf Titleist OOM Overall in my first year of playing. I ranked #4 in Canada MJT national OOM in my second year (2021). I achieved #1(T1) in Canada MJT national OOM in my third season (2022). I have competed in several high-level golf tournaments, including the ‘22 Junior Tour World Championships (T3 (15-18)- named to All World Junior Tour Team), ‘22 Junior Boys Championship and Alberta Interprovincial Team (Placing 3rd in Canada for Team Championships, as a contributing member), 21’ and 22’ HJGT Tournament of Champions, First Tee Miami Publix Doral, CJGA World Challenge, MJT Nationals, CJGA Canadian Junior U19 Nationals(6th), the 21’ and 22’ Alberta Mens Open, 22’ Alberta Amateur Men’s Open and the 21’Alberta Men’s Match Play Championship (quarter finalist).

This season I won 3 tournaments to become the 21-22 ASAA Individual Boys (Grades 10 -12 all schools Alberta) Provincial Champion, 22’ MJT Banff Springs Juvenile Champion (T3 overall), 22’ MJT Carstairs Overall and Juvenile Champion (field of 63) I achieved T-2 ATB Future Stars amongst 18 top junior national level invites (including Div. I and Div. II recruits), finished 2nd overall junior at IMG Qualifier CJGA Coloniale, finished 2nd at MJT Paradise Canyon Juvenile (T6 overall), 2nd MJT McKenzie Meadows, 2022 MJT competition stroke average this season is 70.8, and a significant improvement from 73.08 in 2021.

Personal Statement

Competing at the collegiate level, especially in golf, has been a dream of mine since I first stepped onto a course. Seeing the likes of Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth tearing up the golf world has emboldened me and made my resolve stronger to pursue golf. Spending time outdoors, and especially with friends on the golf course is something I always look forward to, as it allows me to improve my game while doing something I enjoy. I am always driven to be on the course, either practicing or playing, not because I have to but rather because I enjoy what golf has to offer and I believe that going to collegiate level golf will expand my knowledge about golf as well as be an awesome experience.

            Furthermore, I will be an asset to any team that I join because I am able to manage my time well and stay on course. Keeping grades up is an important aspect of any collegiate sport, and I manage to do that now while playing two sports at a National and International level. My work ethic along with my friendly nature makes me easy to work with while also being driven to be the best I can be. Being adaptable is also important, especially with changing times, and as a Canadian who deals with a flurry of different weather conditions, I can adapt to almost anything that is thrown my way. Adaptability, work ethic, and demeanor are my strong suits when it comes to being an athlete, student, and person

            Finally, my goal as an athlete at the collegiate level is to make an impact on the people I meet and the sports I play. I think it is important for me to make these impacts not only to meet new people, but to leave a legacy on something I have worked hard on. An often-overlooked aspect of collegiate sports is the legacy that people leave behind, and very few people can say that they had that type of impact on their school. I do not want to just be a person at the university, I want to be a leader, a role model, a peer.

2020 (2 tournament wins) and 2021 (8 tournament wins) Highlights:

#1 ranking Golf Alberta 2020 OOM (state/province)

#4 ranking MJT National Juvenile 2021 OOM (Canada)

Champion 2020 Golf Alberta McLennan Ross Jr Tour Mundare/Whitetail U15,tied 1st overall low gross

Champion 2020 Heritage Pointe Club Championships Black Flight Champion University of Florida HJGT College Prep Jan 2021 Bantam

Champion 2021 MJT Carstairs Juvenile (field of 31)

Champion 2021 Golf Alberta McLennan Ross Junior Tour Canmore, Overall Low Gross (field of 90)

Champion 2021 Golf Alberta McLennan Ross Junior Tour Goose Hummock, Overall Low Gross

Champion 2021 MJT Meadowlands Sylvan Lake (field of 37 Juvenile) Juvenile, and overall Low Gross Champion (field of 75)

Champion 2021 Golf Alberta U17 McLennan Ross Junior Tour Championship

Champion 2021 CISAA Individual/Leader 1st Place Team Div 1/Div 2 CISAA

Champion 2021 HJGT Jansen Beach Age 15-18 Overall Low Junior

2nd HJGT Orange County National Holiday Classic

6th CJGA Canadian U19 Junior National Championships, at (Legends) Niagara Falls (field of 50)

Quarterfinalist ‘21 Alberta Men Match Play Championships, 3rd best qualifying score (3rd seed field 32)

Awards:
 - Recipient of the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation Scholarship ($1500 per annum), 2x recipient

2022 Highlights:

#1 (T1) ranking MJT National Juvenile 2022 OOM (Canada), 70.8 stroke average (2nd lowest Juvenile in Canada as at Aug 10)

T3 (Bronze) representing Canada at Junior Tour Under Armour World Championships Ages 15-18
• Named member to All World Junior Tour Team powered by Under Armour

Champion 2022 MJT Banff Springs Juvenile (field of 38) and T3 overall (field of 71)

Champion, Provincial 2021-2022 ASAA Golf Provincial Championship. 1st overall (field of 96) Champion 2022 MJT Carstairs Overall Champion (field of 63), Juvenile Champion (field of 30)

2nd, T-1 (Lost playoff) Golf Alberta U19 Provincial Championships (field of 94)
• Named to 2022 Alberta Interprovincial Team at 22’ Canadian Boys Junior Championships
• 3rd (bronze) Alberta Interprovincial Team (contributing Member)

2nd 2022 MJT Future Stars Invitational ATB Classic PGA Canada Tour (T2 overall) (field of 18 top national invites)

2nd 2022 CJGA Coloniale, IMG Qualifier. 2nd overall.

2nd 2022 MJT Paradise Canyon Juvenile (field of 30) T6 overall (field of 72)

2nd 2022 MJT McKenzie Meadows Juvenile (field of 43)

Qualified:
• 2022 Junior Tour World Championships. Reunion, Nicklaus, Orlando FL July 22-24
• 2022 MJT Future Stars presented by ATB Classic PGA of Canada. (T2) Jun 10-12
• 2022 PGA Alberta Junior Masters (6th U18, 7th Overall (field of 33 top AB Juniors)) May 12,13
• 2022 Alberta Men’s Open at Sundre, AB Jun 21-23
• 2022 Alberta Men’s Amateur Open at the Ranche GCC, Edmonton, AB Jun 28-30
• 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Rivershore, Kamloops BC, Aug 7-10
• 2022 MJT National Championships, Orlando, Florida Nov 10-13

Awards:
- 2022 Onwards: Recipient of the Golf Alberta High Performance Development Program,
including coaching subsidies and increased support in both athletics and equipment.
- Recipient of the George T. Hanna Trophy (2022 ASAA Provincials)
- Recipient Alberta InterProvincial Team (Funding, Equipment and Uniform)
- Recipient Junior Tour All World Team Powered by UnderArmour

Badminton Honours

Achieved #1 in Canada BDU15 

Achieved #3 in Canada BSU15

Achieved #4 in Canada XDU15

Achieved #13 in Canada BDU19 2020 (played up)

Achieved #2 in Canada XDU17 2021

Achieved #7 in Canada BSU17 2021

Achieved #10 in Canada XDU19 2021

Competed in 3 Canadian Junior Nationals and 2 Canadian Senior Nationals

Started to compete golf during COVID, first season 2020 (as badminton season cancelled).  Currently competing in second season of golf.

Drive distance average 325++ yards, Alberta Altitude

Coaches Notes:  Canadian golf season is 6 months long.  Canadians golf in rain, sleet, slow, and/or 50+ mph winds.  Canadians wear Parkas/winter jackets, rain gear, equipment etc. designed for the daily conditions.  You are receiving a warrior athlete, who golfs and competes in all conditions, and the toughest golf courses Canada has to offer.  You are also receiving a national level fitness athlete.  Josiah has competed 5 seasons Badminton at the national level.  Typical training is 7,000 to 7,200 yards off the tips.  Average 1.5 hours daily badminton/fitness training.  2021 tournament golf season - 26+ tournaments June to September, consistently on Leaderboard.  The Tongs are  Founder Members at Heritage Pointe, and has membership access to all Windmill Golf Courses (see golf courses Josiah regularly trains @ www.windmillgolf.com) .

Josiah is coached by Paul Horton at Golf Channel Academy at Heritage Pointe.  Paul Horton is 2017 Canadian Golf Coach of the Year, and two time National Teacher of the Year.  In 2016, Top 50 Elite Junior Coaches in America.  See all info of Josiah's training at Golf Channel Academy Heritage Pointe @ www.paulhortongolf.com .