Local golfer swinging for gold on global stage
Spearing aims for spot on Canadian team for Special Olympics world championship
Sutton Creek head pro Cory LaJeunesse sat down one day with his student, Kyle Spearing, and asked about his goals in golf.
“Out of left field he says ‘I want to go to the Special Olympics World Games,’ ” recalls LaJeunesse. “So I asked how you get there and he didn’t know.”
They spent the past few years finding out together — complete with Spearing becoming North American champion in his division a week ago in Seattle.
The next World Games are slated for Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.
A good showing at this weekend’s Ontario Summer Games and another at next year’s Canadian nationals in Nova Scotia would go a long way to putting Spearing on the Canadian team for Abu Dhabi.
“I know I can get there and I want to try my best to get there,” the 25-year-old Amherstburg resident said. “I think it would be amazing and fun.”
LaJeunesse had never worked with a special needs athlete before Kyle’s dad, Brian Spearing, asked about lessons.
Kyle had golfed with friends at Oxley Beach when he was younger and fell in love with the game.
“All he wanted to do was golf, so we signed him up for lessons,” Brian said. “It’s given him a little confidence, being on his own and doing things with his coach. They’ve got a good relationship.”
LaJeunesse now serves as Spearing ’s caddy in competitions.
“It’s so fulfilling,” LaJeunesse said. “He’ll crack you up on the golf course.”
When Spearing gets frustrated with his game — as most golfers do at some point — and threatens to quit, LaJeunesse will play right into it.
“That’s perfect,” he tells Spearing. “I’ll cancel all our plans.”
That typically brings the conversation about quitting to an abrupt end.
Spearing and LaJeunesse spent the Canada Day weekend in Seattle for the Special Olympics North American Championships.
Spearing won his division, getting better each day of the 54-hole tournament in posting rounds of 103, 99 and a final-day 91 to take the gold medal.
“I’ve never seen him play like that,” LaJeunesse said of Spearing’s fine closing round.
Since he first started working with Spearing six years ago, LaJeunesse said all aspects of his student’s game have improved.
“He consistently hits the ball better and his short game has really improved,” LaJeunesse said. “When we first started, we focused more on learning how to play the game but now it’s all short game.”
Almost every year, Sutton Creek holds a Golf for Kyle fundraiser tournament that helps offset travel costs for the dynamic duo.
They had enough left over from last year’s event to cover their trip to Seattle and to Mississauga this weekend.
I know I can get there and I want to try my best to get there. I think it would be amazing and fun.