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Local teen golf champion signs on with Niagara University

Thorold teen golf wonder Ben Hebert has accepted a Division 1 golf scholarship at Niagara University; ‘I look forward to the challenge’

All of the hard work has finally paid off.

Thorold teen golf wonder Ben Hebert has accepted a Division 1 golf scholarship at Niagara University. 

“I saw an opportunity and decided after much research that this was the best place for me,” Hebert tells ThoroldToday. “I’m happy about it. It’s going to be interesting to see the balance between academics and golf. I look forward to the challenge.”

On Thursday afternoon, a little signing ceremony was held at Denis Morris High School in St. Catharines, where Hebert is currently finishing up his high school degree.

Both his parents proudly looked on as Hebert signed on the dotted line.

“About two, three months ago the coach at Niagara University reached out,” explained his father Fraser Hebert. “We went to go do a visit and he got to play with the team and about a week ago they formally offered him a scholarship to attend.”

The golf scholarship is the latest achievement for Hebert, who won big at last summer's Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour.

Even though Hebert will be attending university just across the border, his mother Laurie Hebert is not yet ready to see him go.

“It’s going to be hard,” she tells ThoroldToday. “I already started crying a little bit but it’ll be okay. He gets to spread his wings a little bit but he’s still close enough that if we need to see him he’s not too far away.”

The golf coach at Denis Morris, Albert Venneri, was also present at the signing.

“Ben is a great athlete when it comes to golf,” he told ThoroldToday. “He’s a good student. He’s very competitive but he’s very respectful as well which is nice to see. He works hard. He’s a good kid.”

Before going off to university in the fall, Hebert still has a packed golf season in front of him this summer. 

“I feel confident,” he says. “I will have my [personal golf] coach Travis Glass with me. He’s always there to help and support me. We’ll be doing great no matter what.”

And then it's off to university where he will once again have to prove himself on the green.

"I’m more excited than nervous," says Hebert. "Golf has taught me to make sure it’s just one shot at a time and one step at at time."


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Bernard Lansbergen

About the Author: Bernard Lansbergen

Bernard was born and raised in Belgium but moved to Canada in 2012 and has lived in Niagara since 2020. Bernard loves telling people’s stories and wants to get to know those that make Thorold into the great place it is
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