An eventful year is being capped off with a trip to Aruba for Adam Cornelson.
But while Cornelson is thrilled to be making the trek to Aruba, it is more business than pleasure for the 29-year-old.
Cornelson was one 10 players — and five Canadians — from the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada selected for the inaugural Aruba Cup.
They will go head-to-head against a team of 10 players from the PGA Tour Latinoamerica in a President’s Cup-style event.
“We’ve got a tremendous team of guys who have proven themselves to be among the best up-and-coming players in the world, and I expect them to play some great golf in Aruba,” said Team Captain Stephen Ames in a press release announcing the team.
The competition days are Dec. 15 to 17 at the Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf in Aruba.
“It is great. There is such great competition on the Mackenzie Tour, so many guys that can win and play great golf,” Cornelson said earlier this month from Orlando. where he was preparing for the final stage of the Web.com Tour.
“So to be able to represent the Tour in this fashion, it is nice cherry on the end of a great summer.”
Back in June, Cornelson won the Bayview Place Island Saving Open tournament in Victoria. And he did so in record-setting fashion, establishing a new Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada record with a 20-under par.
“That was a great week of golf for my career and it kind of opened up a few doors for me,” he said.
“I have just tried to improve every day since then.”
The victory earned him Web.com Tour status for 2017.
He also had a second-place finish, two top-10 and five top-25 finishes while making 10 of 12 cuts this past year on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.
Cornelson, who grew up in Langley and still returns home throughout the year, uses Coquitlam’s Vancouver Golf Club as his home course. He spends most of the winter months in Scottsdale, Arizona.
After graduating from was then known as H.D. Stafford Secondary in 2005, Cornelson attended the University of New Orleans and played on the golf team. After graduating in 2010 with a business marketing degree, Cornelson turned to professional golf in 2011.
“Obviously taking the professional route in golf, there is definitely going to be trials and tribulations and ups and downs but you learn a lot about yourself,” Cornelson said.
“It is great, but obviously tough (but) you have to ride out the bad times and the good times will come too.”
Fortunately, I think things are starting to roll for me now so I am looking forward to what the future has ahead.”
Despite the up and down nature of trying to make it as a pro golfer, Cornelson has no regrets.
“Being able to go to a course every day and play a sport I love for a living. I love what I do,” he said.
Cornelson said his only regret would have been if he didn’t give pro golf a shot.
The main downside about his chosen career is the fact he is forced to spend time away from his friends and family.
“There is no getting around that; if you want to play touring golf, you have to travel,” he said.
