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Robert Ratcliffe coaching Canada at Youth Olympic Games

Crown Isle junior golf academy stalwart will be in Nanjing, China from Aug. 16-28

Golf Canada has announced the names of the athletes set to represent Canada in the Youth Olympic Games, taking place in Nanjing, China from Aug. 16-28.

Representing Canadian golf will be Team Canada Development Squad member Tony Gil, 16, of Vaughan, Ont. and Maddie Szeryk, 17, of Allen, Tex.

Gil and Szeryk will be accompanied to Nanjing by Robert Ratcliffe, lead coach with Team Canada’s Development Squad. Ratcliffe has international playing and coaching experience and has worked with Golf Canada’s National Team program since 2007.

Ratcliffe runs a junior golf academy at Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay and is a three-time winner of PGA of BC's coach of the year award.

 

The inclusion of golf in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games marks the first time the sport has been included in this particular event, and the first time golf has been included in an Olympic event since 1904 when George Lyon brought the gold medal home to Canada. Golf will return to the Summer Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.