CARSTAIRS - A Grade 12 student from Carstairs has signed to play golf at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Abi Hartzler, who lives in Carstairs but attends Edge School for Athletes in Calgary, signed the letter of commitment on Jan. 11.
Hartzler said she's looking forward to attending the school, which competes against United States schools in sports as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
"I'm really excited," said Hartzler. "There are a lot of different opportunities out there for golf. I could have gone to a lot of different places in the States but it worked out I got the email a little later from the Simon Fraser coach. It just kind of clicked after my phone interview with the coach. He happens to be from Red Deer so we have a connection there."
Hartzler was impressed by the university when she took her official tour of the school in December.
"It worked out that I was able to go to a really prestigious academic school and pursue high level golf," she said. "It's also cool because they're Canada's only NCAA school. That was one of my goals."
Hartzler said she has competed in some golf tournaments in Vancouver and the area.
"I have a little bit of family there," she said. "I've competed in a couple of golf tournament there over the years so I'm somewhat familiar with it. It's a lot different golfing there than in Alberta but it's something to get used to. It's nice to be able to stay in Canada. Family is important to me and being close to home is important. It all kind of fit together."
Hartzler went to Hugh Sutherland School (HSS) until Grade 10 when she decided to attend Edge School for its golf program.
She still lives in Carstairs and commutes to the school every day during the week.
This is only the fourth year of competitive golf for Hartzler, who calls the Carstairs Community Golf Club her home course. In the summers she works in the pro shop there and teaches with the junior program.
"I did a lot of other sports but this one just kind of stuck," she said. "I was a figure skater for 13 years and a soccer player for two. I've always enjoyed the competitive aspects that are often involved with sports and I thrive on the hard work and dedication it takes to improve."
Hartzler helped propel her HSS golf team to the 1A/2A Provincial Golf Championships in 2016. She was named HSS athlete of the year in 2015-16.
She also performed on Team Alberta in 2017 in the Junior Ryder Cup championships against Team Montana, which Alberta won.
"That was super fun," she said. "I played two years ago and it was one of the coolest experiences. We were in Medicine Hat and we ended up winning. This summer I was invited again but couldn't make it. I travelled to the Graham Delaet Cup in Saskatoon. He was on the PGA tour and he hosts junior players from throughout Canada. I got to meet juniors from all across Canada and it was all paid for. It was really awesome."
Hartzler enjoys the competitiveness and mental focus of golf.
"Golf is something where you're constantly learning and being challenged," she said. "For a sport, I've never got to a point where I'm not learning or getting better. Sometimes you get frustrated but then you get to a point where you see results and that's really cool."
Hartzler already plans on majoring in communications with a minor in business while at SFU.
