CARLYLE - Zack Sharp is a talented athlete from Saskatchewan, and he is making headlines once again, this time for his selection to Team Canada for a golf long-drive competition.
Moving to Carlyle in 2006, Sharp was into sports at an early age, and he watched his dad David build golf clubs. This was a sport that he was interested in.
With a baseball scholarship in 2011, he decided to attend a university in Minneapolis and gain a bachelor’s degree in business. Education was very important to Sharp, and he wanted to get the best schooling that he could.
Sharp’s path has grown, and he is now going to South Carolina to be part of Team Canada for the World Amateur Long Drive Competition being held from Sept. 25-29.
Long drive golf is a sport centered around hitting a golf ball as far as possible, and is known for its intense competition and demands for strength, technique and mental focus.
Not only is he going, but he is the only one from Saskatchewan that is attending. Seventeen others are competing from across Canada.
It all started with qualifying rounds in Regina. He then went to Red Deer, Alta., where he played two to six-ball sets in a round-robin elimination.
The top eight players went on to the playoffs and he placed second in the region.
His record for a long drive is 411 yards.
“It is a tight-knit group of guys that is going,” said Sharp. “This is the world stage, and I am excited.”
With baseball and golf, some of the aspects are similar, said Sharp.
“Swing hard and fast,” he said.
The equipment is suited for the player, and physical training is important, as are aim and swinging.
Although Sharp is excited about going, along with it comes a great deal of expenses that he is trying to offset.
He is holding a raffle with 100 squares to be sold. When all are sold, he will hold the draw, and the lucky winner will receive a $1,000 backyard party package.
More than 50 per cent of the spots are sold, but time is ticking for him.
Reflecting on his journey, Sharp’s development from a baseball player to a long-drive golfer highlights his commitment to pursing athletic excellence in multiple disciplines.
Sharp’s background in baseball, where power and hand-eye coordination are crucial, has played a role in his transition to this sport.
As he prepares to compete on the global stage, his community, fans and family are excited to see how far his talents will take him in the world of long drive.
