TORONTO, Ontario (BVM) — It was a trip to the golf course at age 5 that first got Kevin Doran hooked on the sport.

“My grandfather, who lived in St. Bruno, Quebec (just outside of Montreal), thought it would be a special treat to take me golfing,” Doran said. “I don’t think he ever expected it to turn into a long-term interest for me. While I was playing that day for the very first time, another golfer came over to my grand dad and told him, ‘make sure that young boy continues to play golf because his drives are straight and long.’ Of course, my grandfather went home and told my parents!

“My father had already played golf before that, but he started to play more often as I trained and improved. My aunt and uncle are also avid golfers. You could say that golf has become the family’s sport.”

Throughout school, Doran – now 21 and a fourth-year student at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario — participated in baseball, hockey and golf. But at some point, he had to make a choice.

“I loved golf right from the beginning,” Doran said. “So, it wasn’t a hard decision to give up the other sports and focus my efforts on improving my game. I love the fact that golf is a game against yourself and the course. I also enjoy the formality of the rules, the dress code and all the golf-related etiquette. But ultimately, golf is a mental game. If you make a bad shot, you need to move on and stay focused.”

Doran started his training by attending summer golf camps while still in elementary school. He spent all his spare time during summers at the golf course, improving his swing and practicing his putts.

“I became a junior member at the Bradford Highlands Golf Club,” Doran said. “The pro gave me pointers when he had time. I also became sought after as someone to complete a foursome, so that gave me extra opportunities to play with older, more experienced golfers.”

During his time at Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newmarket, Ontario, Doran won the golf team’s MVP award each of his four years playing. As his game continued to improve, Doran was also selected to join Team York Golf.

In addition to the usual golf training, the Team York members also received coaching in diverse disciplines such as general fitness, nutrition and the psychology of the game. Doran was named Team York’s most valuable contributor for the 2014-15 season.

To increase Doran’s time golfing, he and his father, Craig, built a homemade, six-hole golf course behind their house in a fallow farmer’s field.

“I think the happiest person about the green was my mother Jane,” Kevin recalled. “It gave her a break from driving me 30 minutes each way to and from the golf course every day!”

Along the way, Kevin competed in various tournaments held by the Golf Association of Ontario and the Canadian Junior Golf Association. Kevin also qualified for the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship at Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina in July 2014. Each player in the event was required to have a caddy, and Kevin chose his father.

“I found it really cool having my dad carry my clubs,” Kevin said with a laugh. “Which teenager wouldn’t enjoy having his dad be his caddy?”

Other tournaments followed, including more U.S. Kids competitions in Ohio. At the 2015 Investors Group Junior Spring Classic (U19) at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ontario, Kevin got a hole-in-one. In 2016, Kevin had the opportunity to participate in the Ontario Summer Games held in Mississuaga, Ontario – a tournament in which he made another hole-in-one.

When it came time to select a college, Kevin knew he wanted to pursue a career in sports.

“Brock University is the only university in Canada that offers a sports management program — essentially a business degree with a focus on sports,” Kevin explained. “The program also allowed me to study outside of Canada for two terms.”

During the fall of 2019, Kevin took courses at Louisiana State University. He also attended Nottingham Trent University in England during this past winter.

“While I was at LSU, I volunteered with the Tigers and got to be on the field when the team entered the stadium,” Kevin said. “It was an unforgettable moment, especially since they became national champions that season.”

Kevin joined the Brock varsity golf team and went on to earn the team’s rookie of the year award for the 2017-18 season. Due to COVID-19, this year’s golf season has been canceled. However, Kevin has still found a way to stay involved with the sport he loves.

“I worked at two golf courses over the summer which allowed me to practice and play regularly,” Kevin said. “Now that I’m back in St. Catharines, I have a membership at a local golf course and play whenever I can fit it in between my coursework. But I definitely miss competing.”

Looking beyond his graduation next spring, Kevin is hoping to complete a master’s degree in his field, hopefully somewhere in the U.S.