Sixteen-year-old Spencer Shropshire has had an amazing year of golf, winning six tournaments and being named the Maple Junior Tour (MJT) Player of the Year.
His most recent win came last month at the MJT Juvenile National Championships in Orlando, Fla. He shot 68, 71 and 73 in his respective rounds at the Orange Lake Golf Resort.
Back at home in Ramara Township, still with a suntan, Shropshire has been selected for Team Ontario and is back to Florida this month for training with the team of 17 boys and girls under the age of 19.
He’s competed in 14 tournaments this year with one more to go, the World Junior Challenge, Dec. 27 to 30 in Tarpin Springs, Fla.
Then he’ll be staying in Florida to kick off 2025 competing in the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Tournament starting Jan. 3.
“He got invited to the Junior Orange Bowl because he won the Canadian Juvenile,” said Spencer’s mother, Amie Shropshire.
He is likely going to be the only Canadian competing, she added.
“I think it’s going to be fun,” said the Grade 11 student at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School.
Many big-name players, including Tiger Woods, have won this tournament in the past, he said.
The location is the Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, near Miami.
“This is his Christmas present — staying at the Biltmore Hotel,” said his mom.
The family has had a place in Fort Myers for years, so that has allowed Spencer to play in the winter and means the family doesn’t have to stay in hotels often.
Spencer has been so busy with tournaments, he was only home for three days in August. His mother took him to one tournament, his dad, Ryan, took him to a second, and his grandmother took him to a third.
He won the Canadian Juvenile (U17) Boys Championship that was held Aug. 13 to 16 at the Innisfail Golf Club in Alberta. The tournament involved four rounds of golf, one each day for four days. Spencer flew in early to play two practice rounds.
“It was a good tournament. I shot 66 the first two rounds, which was really good. Then I shot 72 and 75, which was a little disappointing, but I can’t complain,” he said.
His favourite tournament of the year was the American Junior Golf Association Tournament in Harbor Springs, Mich., July 1 to 4.
“It was my first American win and it was funny that a Canadian won on July 4. I was just playing very mediocre and then all of a sudden I was playing well,” he said.
He shot 67, 73, 68.
Now standing five-foot-eight and weighing 145 pounds, Spencer has started going to a gym for cardio and weight training. He carries 14 clubs in a bag over his shoulder and walks all the tournaments. Rounds typically start at 7:15 a.m. When it’s over, he likes to shower and rest in his room.
He loves the game and has given up other sports to focus on golf.
“It’s fun. I’ve always liked the challenge. You can never really get too good. As soon as you think that, you have a bad day,” he said.
“You always reach to get better. There is never a spot where you are as good as you can be, which is why I like it.”
Golf is also a mental game. Spencer said he has an even-keeled temperament.
“I’m not nervous. I just go play.”
Coaches from American universities and colleges are watching Spencer, said Amie. At least one coach has told her Spencer has the skill, but they are also looking at how he responds when having a bad day and how he interacts with his parents and others.
“They want to see the total package,” Amie said.
Spencer said he wants to go to an American university or college, golf and make it through a degree program.
“I want to take it step by step and see what happens. If I’m good enough, maybe try to go pro. If not, try something else,” he said.
His favourite golfer is Jordan Speith.
“He’s very humble, which is why I like him, and he gives back through his family foundation,” he said.
Shropshire can be followed on Instagram @spencer_shropshire.
