A generation ready to breakthrough and shine was put on display Monday as Golf Canada unveiled its 17 athletes selected to represent Canada on national amateur and development teams this year.

Among the group named were Victoria golfers Naomi Ko of Olympic View and Noland Thoroughgood of Royal Colwood.

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“These are our top amateurs from across the country ready to transition into pro golf,” said Jeff Thompson, chief sport officer for Golf Canada.

Some are already there. Named to the Team Canada mix was the Young Pros squad of Albin Choi, Jared du Toit, Stuart Macdonald, Taylor Pendrith, Brittany Marchand, Anne-Catherine Tanguay, Augusta James and Jennifer Ha.

“We’ve never had more Canadians contending on leaderboards, both pro and amateur, around the world,” said Thompson.

Golf Canada’s national training centre is based on Bear Mountain, along with national training centres for Tennis Canada and Cycling Canada mountain biking. It is part of a slew of national training centres based in Greater Victoria, including those for Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, Triathlon Canada, Field Hockey Canada, Swimming Canada, Athletics Canada and Surf Canada.

Canadian sport clearly believes centralization works.

“Our country has huge footprint, so we have to bring out the best athletes to be with the best athletes. We believe that produces results,” said Thompson.

“Our mantra is to produce champions by design, not by chance.”

Like the other national training centres, funding comes from a variety of sources, including Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committe.

“Why do we spend so much money on so few players?” said Thompson.

“Because it produces champions, which in turn inspires a nation of young people to play our sport. We believe in the importance of producing champions. I call it the Brooke Henderson effect. So many more Canadian girls across the country are playing golf because of [LPGA player] Brooke.”

Thoroughgood and Ko get to be part of this in their own backyard.

“It’s huge for me to show all the top young Canadian players the Island where I live,” said Ko, an NCAA Div. 1 North Carolina State Wolfpack player, who had top-three finishes in 2017 in the women’s Canadian Amateur, B.C. Amateur and Porter Cup.

Thoroughgood gets to be part of the Canadian team without leaving the Island.

“Centralizing is not as big a transition for me because I get to sleep in my own bed in my own home,” he said.

“This is such a skilled group of players to be around and it really pushes my game to another level.”

Named to the Team Canada amateur squad are Ko, Maddie Szeryk, Jaclyn Lee, Grace St-Germain, Hugo Bernard, Josh Whalen, Joey Savoie and Chris Crisologo. Selected to the national development squad are Thoroughgood, Johnny Travale, Christopher Vandette, Peyton Callen, Thomas Critch, Celeste Dao, Monet Chun, Ellie Szeryk and Alyssa DiMarcantonio.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com