Killarney Guide

Cala Korman making a name across Canada

BY KIM LANGEN

The exciting world of competitive golf opened wide and welcoming this year for a promising young golfer.

Cala Korman, 17, has been making a name for herself nationally as she continues to enter into top ranking competitions, making loads of great friends, and even collecting some outstanding ‘swag’ at closing event parties.

“It feels awesome,” said Korman, who enters Grade 12 this fall at Killarney School. “It’s just really fun travelling everywhere and playing golf at a young age. The best thing this summer was probably going to the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championships in Ontario, and entering in the Juniors. I travelled with a golf friend, and I made the cut. I made top 70 in ties – that’s called making the cut. It was the nicest course I ever played, and it was just a really fun experience.”

It was an earlier life experience that first led a younger Korman into pursuing competitive golf, she said. 

“In 2016 I played in the Manitoba Summer Games in Steinbach,” said Korman. “I was just 10 years old, and that’s what made me really like golf. I made some really great friends. They were five years older, and made the difference in me staying in golf. I just loved it.”

Another attraction within the golf world is the exciting prospect of ‘swag,’ the heaps of promotional gifts that are presented to competitors at the end of events.

“I love closing events,” said Korman. “And every national event is a big deal. They get everyone together, and you see all the colours of the provinces and the flags. And we trade our swag with all the other competitors – we get pants, bags, shirts, hoodies, jackets and backpacks. Every province has their own brandings and colours. My favourite is my black Manitoba backpack. And my Yukon jacket. I traded my yellow Manitoba jacket for it, and I love it. Yukon is so cool.”

If Korman could have her way, she would rather be playing hard than spending time at a desk, she said.

“I really like visual art,” she said. “I’m a good student, and I work hard, but I’m not a big fan of being in the classroom. I always enjoy gym class more.”

And she hopes to make golf an even bigger part of her life.

“My end goal is to be in the LPGA tour,” said Korman. “But it’s going to be a long road to get there. I will probably go to university and play college golf, maybe study marketing or business. I’d like to go down south, in the U.S., for university, so I can golf all year. Golf tournaments are done now, and this winter I will be looking at schools.”

Her parents, Rick and Terell Korman, are also terrific supporters, she added.

“They are really proud,” said Korman. “They enjoy watching me compete in golf. They are awesome to have, as parents, and as supporters.”

CALA KORMAN ON TOUR – Killarney’s Cala Korman, 17, has been touring and excelling this summer in golf championships all across Canada. Here she is with a beautiful line-up of provincial flags at the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls. Congratulations Cala!