A.J. Ewart understands that golf will not be a recreation that you would excellent, however it’s a recreation the place you would be taught and work exhausting to make continuous enhancements. Having that mindset has helped the gifted younger golfer obtain a powerful listing of accomplishments as an beginner – and now, he’s centered on translating that success onto the skilled ranks.
Reflecting on his journey in golf, the quickly to be 26-year-old is grateful to his father, Brad Ewart, for introducing him to the game throughout his early childhood years and instructing him the basics.
“My dad had me swinging the golf membership as quickly as I may stroll. He was a professional golfer and was additionally a golf teacher – so I assume you would say I used to be born into it. It’s at all times one thing I’ve been round,” the Golf Canada Nationwide Workforce member recalled.
“My earliest reminiscence was taking part in in a match on the age of 5 or 6 and I remembered that I actually loved taking part in outdoor.”
Younger A.J. discovered his ardour in golf and labored exhausting to higher his recreation.
“It’s like something you do, if you wish to get good at it, it’s important to give it a variety of time. However placing in that work was at all times one thing I loved. It didn’t appear to be work as a result of I at all times loved the method of getting higher,” he famous.
“Clearly, golf isn’t a recreation you would excellent however you wish to get nearly as good at it as attainable.”
Ewart would take pleasure in success as a junior golfer however says he first realized he would possibly be capable to play the game at a excessive degree after being chosen to Golf Canada’s beginner squad again in 2017.
“Golf Canada offers us with so many assets and instruments that we’re lucky to have.
I credit score Golf Canada for lots of my success,” he identified.
Ewart additionally credit his time at Barry College in Miami, Florida for an enormous a part of his improvement as a golfer. Throughout his time at Barry, the Canadian Nationwide Workforce member gained a college report 14 instances. And in 2022, he earned the Jack Nicklaus award because the primary golfer in NCAA Division II.
“Barry College has an excellent program and it labored for different guys so I went out for a go to and talked to the coach there and was grateful that I did – and I feel all the pieces occurs for a cause,” stated Ewart, who graduated with a significant in communications and a minor in sports activities administration.
“My collegiate coach instilled a powerful work ethic; and the nice and cozy climate meant we had been in a position to compete 12 months spherical,” he added about his time at Barry College.
“Successful a regional championship was cool. We by no means gained a nationwide championship however had a few good runs.”
One other notable accomplishment got here on the Canadian Males’s Beginner Championship in 2021 the place he recorded a runner up end to champion, Max Sekulic.
“It was positively a brilliant spot in my beginner profession. It’s at all times cool to compete to your nationwide title. I used to be competing in opposition to a few my good pals down the stretch so was a variety of enjoyable,” Ewart famous.
Somebody very aware of Ewart’s recreation is Workforce Canada Assistant Coach, Louis Melanson.
“A.J. is keen to be taught and works very exhausting. He’s additionally a really clever and mature younger man and applies that to his benefit on the golf course,” stated Melanson.
“A.J. gained’t out drive you however he’s very constant. He doesn’t give up. He’s good at adapting and discovering his personal means and does his finest to get the job completed. He performs an identical fashion to Nick Taylor.”
Melanson provides that the 5 foot 11 inch Ewart is a pupil of the sport and has the best angle and all the abilities to succeed as an expert. He notes that Ewart has already gained twice as an expert in 2024 – on the Sandpiper Open and on the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open.
“Successful final 12 months was large for A.J. because it gave him the arrogance that he may win as an expert. And now it’s nearly taking part in in additional tournaments, studying and gaining that have.”
Ewart additionally acknowledged the importance of his wins as an expert final 12 months.
“It meant quite a bit and it gave me confidence in understanding that after I play my finest golf, I’m simply nearly as good as anyone.”
With the objective of taking part in on the PGA Tour someday, the gifted younger golfer says it provides him added confidence to see the success of so many Canadian gamers who’ve gone by way of this system.
“Seeing so many Canadians having success on the PGA Tour proves that this system works,” stated Ewart.
“Clearly, we wish to be the place these guys are someday and it provides us motivation to proceed to work exhausting to get to that time.”