BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Roddy McLeod?s ability runs in the family. His 86-year-old grandfather, Rod, is a talented golfer. Roddy?s dad,
Paul, is also a great player.
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Roddy McLeod, 16, is one of the top juvenile golfers in the north. |
They passed their knowledge to Roddy at a young age. Now 16, he is one of the top juvenile golfers in the north.
?I started playing golf when I was nine,? said young McLeod. ?In all my time I?ve never had a lesson and been self taught, so I guess it comes natural.?
?When I first started playing, the game came to me quickly,? said McLeod. ?Ever since I first started I?ve
gradually gotten better and better.?
McLeod has been on a tear all summer on the Northern Ontario Pepsi Junior Tour. On July 9, he captured first place at the Cedar Green event. He hoisted first place at the Clearview tournament earlier this month.
In addition to the two big wins, McLeod has one second-place, one third-place and one fourth-place finish on the Pepsi tour so far.
He has placed no worse than fourth in five of seven Pepsi events this summer.
?My goal at the start of the summer was to win one Pepsi tour event and have solid showings at the other events,? said McLeod. ?In my mind I?ve had a very successful year so far.?
McLeod?s tremendous success has earned him extra attention.
?I get a lot more respect from other golfers and people at other golf courses now,? said McLeod. ?It makes me feel pretty good about myself.?
To be in the position where he is today, McLeod has had the privilege of having an extremely profound grasp of the game.
He also has the proper motivation to succeed.
?I draw inspiration from my grandfather,? said McLeod. ?He?s 86 and he still golfs and shoots under his age. It?s very inspiring.?
McLeod knows what makes him stand out from the majority of other young golfers.
?I make a lot of par putts, which are critical,? said McLeod. ?Keeping par makes the difference between a good
round of golf and a bad round.?
McLeod also credits his strong iron play as a crucial cog in his talented engine and his calm attitude towards the game.
?I?m relaxed out there,? said McLeod ?I like to joke around, be loose and have a good time out on the course.?
Even though he?s only 16, McLeod knows how he wants his future to shape up.
?I want to have a good finish on the Pepsi tour and from there, I hope to land a golf scholarship, so I can go to college or university.?
McLeod will be entering Grade 11 this fall at Confederation High School. When he?s not at the golf course, which is usually all summer, McLeod can be found ripping around on snow machines in the winter.
