Costa Rica’s Paul Chaplet tees off on the 3rd hole during Round 2 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2016, in Augusta, Georgia. / AFP PHOTO / Jim Watson

Richmond Hill, Ont. (August 4th, 2016) – At 17 years of age, Paul Chaplet has established an impressive resume for a player who only first started golfing less than a decade ago. In January, Paul won the 2nd annual Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC), earning a bid to play at arguably the most prestigious golf event in the world this past April, the 2016 Masters.

Paul was born in San Jose, Costa Rica, a region of the world that is not usually recognized for golf, making his rise to the top of the junior golf scene all the more significant. It was in July 2009, when Paul was first introduced to the game at 10 years of age. “My mother decided to take my sister and I to the golf course and I received my first golf lesson then”, he recalled.

What makes Paul’s rise into the golf world so remarkable, is not only how quickly he ascended to the top of the junior field, but his dedication to the other aspects of the game others may tend to overlook. “Not only is it important to practice a lot but also do your homework”, he says. “Make stats about your golf game. Pay attention to average putts per round, driving accuracy, greens in regulation, scrambling and percentages, to get a clear idea of where you need to improve.”

Paul has also competed in Canada, participating in the Canadian International Junior Challenge (CIJC) in previous years. He will once more take part in the 2016 CIJC at the Wildfire Golf Club in Lakefield, Ontario this September. Until his win at the LAAC, Paul’s first found major success was at the U.S Kids Golf Teen World Championship last year. Currently, he is the 2nd youngest player to participate in the Masters behind Guan Tianlang of China, who was 14 years old when he played the Masters in 2013.

Paul has found success by keeping his strategy simple. As he puts it, “Play the game, don’t try shots that are out of reach and stay calm.” It was this strategy that propelled him to victory in the LAAC. “I never expected to win. It was not until the last 9 holes that I realized I had a really good chance. From there on, I let the joy and pleasure of playing the game take over.”

Although his dream of playing at Augusta in April did not go as he envisioned it would. He posted rounds of 83-82 and missed the chance to play on the weekend. This experience at the Masters proved to humble the young golfer. “I felt on top of the world at the Masters, but I am still just a junior and the road is long”, he says. Nevertheless, Paul is not letting his performance at the Masters affect him moving forward. “I try not to look into the future, I believe that makes you lose time in the present” he notes. “I focus on what I can do with every 24 hours each day has.”

About Canadian Junior Golf Association
The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is a “registered Canadian amateur athletic association” (RCAAA) not-for-profit registered federally with Revenue Canada. The CJGA is dedicated to providing Canada’s junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf.
Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf.
For more information, please visit www.cjga.com
Its National Partner, Freedom 55 Financial, which provides financial security advice and planning for Canadians, generously supports the Canadian Junior Golf Association.

For Additional Information:
Melissa Foong
CJGA Communications Assistant
1.877.508.1069
melissa.foong@cjga.com