Canadian phenom golf’s top amateur

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This article was published 30/05/2009 (6286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NO one has dominated U.S. college golf like Matt Hill — and the Canadian isn’t done yet.

Hill earned a two-shot victory at the NCAA Division I men’s golf championship Thursday, punctuating a sensational college season that saw him win a Division I-record eight tournaments. The North Carolina State sophomore will likely be listed as the top amateur golfer in the world when the new rankings are released next week.

Having conquered the college ranks in just his second season with the Wolfpack, it wouldn’t have been a big surprise to see the 20-year-old relinquish his amateur status, leave school and turn pro.

The native of Bright’s Grove, Ont., wants no part of that — he loves school too much.

"Absolutely," Hill said Friday in a conference call. "I’ve excelled a lot in college my past two years already, and I feel like I can continue to get better and keep winning tournaments.

"I don’t quite feel like I’m ready to be pro right now. I feel like playing amateur golf and college golf will help me get that much better."

Hill, currently ranked seventh in the world among amateurs, said he dreamed of playing collegiately since he first picked up a club as a nine-year-old. His older brother, Graham, went to Eastern Michigan, and played a key role in directing Matt to the NCAA.

"My brother’s always been my biggest competition growing up," said Hill. "Just having that has made both of us that much better at the game, and at other things as well. He’s been really supportive of me. Having that makes it really special."

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Hill isn’t the only golfing phenom to emerge from Bright’s Grove. Top-ranked Canadian golfer Mike Weir is also from there, and Hill said he feels a strong connection with the 2003 Masters champion.

"I haven’t talked to him since last year at Augusta, I still feel like I’m connected to him," said Hill. "I feel like we have a little bit of a relationship, and hopefully I’ll get to talk with him in the future."

— The Associated Press