ZALLI LEAVING ON A HIGH NOTE
After schooling junior boys field, 18-year-old will focus on university
Christian Zalli’s run as a junior golfer in British Columbia is nearing an end.
It will come to its inevitable close with Zalli having captured this year’s provincial Junior Boys Championship last week at Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club. He fired a final round of three-over par, 75, to hang on for the win.
“This is my last summer of junior golf, so I’m glad to have gotten something by the end,” he said following his two-shot victory over Keaton Gudz of Victoria and younger brother Ilirian Zalli.
When September rolls around — it will be here before you know it, as is the case every summer — Zalli will attend the University of British Columbia. He’ll devote his time there entirely to his studies, choosing not to continue playing competitively on a college team.
A good rule of thumb is to never say “never,” but Zalli seemed adamant that his decision probably won’t be reversed when he enters his second year of university. That doesn’t mean he’s done with golf. The path at this stage in his life is filled with options and opportunities, and he can see a future in the sport — just not on a collegiate or professional playing level.
“It took a while to make that decision,” said the 18-year-old Zalli. “I don’t think I’m good enough to become a pro. And if you go to university (to play golf ), it’s usually on the path to becoming a pro. That doesn’t seem like the direction I want to be going in. So I’m just going to school in the fall.
“I don’t think I will be playing. I’m actually trying to do my fouryear degree in three years and then see what goes on from there. Maybe I’ll do something else at school. I want to work in the golf industry.”
Among the possibilities? Zalli said he could go to law school and could work as a player agent. Or, perhaps he’ll catch on in the business or communications departments with one of the professional tours.
“I would love to do something like that,” he said. “There’s still some time. I’m a pretty good student. I’m a pretty studious person, so I don’t mind learning. I don’t mind finding out some new information and better equipping myself for the world.”
As the weeks tick by, it’s important to note that Zalli’s junior career isn’t quite done yet. He plans on playing at the B.C. Amateur Championship, which gets underway Tuesday at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey. He then plans on playing at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, beginning July 31 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, Ont.
Joining Zalli on the leaderboard last week in Squamish was younger brother Ilirian.
It came right down to the wire between them in the final round, until Ilirian made double bogey on the 18th hole, finishing the tournament two shots back on what was a windy, eventful and nerve-racking final round for the leaders.
If you’re searching for a sibling rivalry storyline, you may want to look elsewhere. When it comes to golf, the two are almost inseparable. That held true in Squamish, right up to the 72nd hole.
“Basically, all of the golf we do, we do it together. We practise together, we play together. Whatever tournaments are played, we basically play them together. If one of us goes, the other goes, too,” said Christian Zalli.
“It was a lot of fun, especially (Friday) because we were quite close at some points. It was just a blast to play with him. As I was telling some people, we’re teammates. At the end of the day, that’s how we look at it. We’re there to help each other and we’re there to lift each other up.”
This tournament may have ended in disappointing fashion for Ilirian. Christian, however, is quick to talk up his 15-year-old brother, especially after hanging tough against difficult competition and with a golf course that was quick on the greens from the sunny and dry conditions, and challenging with the wind swirling around Howe Sound on the final day.
“He was really playing well. He made some mistakes. It was a lot of work,” said the elder Zalli brother. “It’s just — it’s golf. You make some, you miss some and you can’t control everything.”
This experience should benefit Ilirian in the weeks and years to come. Rest assured, we haven’t heard the last of him, his brother believes, especially with the B.C. Amateur and Canadian Junior championships still to come.
“We might not even be at the beginning yet,” said Zalli of his brother’s rise. “He’s a very capable player and he will have more chances to win. I hope I’ll put myself in good position, as well. We’ve still got some more golf left to go.”
He was really playing well. He made some mistakes. It was a lot of work. It’s just — it’s golf. You make some, you miss some and you can’t control everything.