Talent for golf opens doors for student

Cadmus Delorme knows that he eventually wants to become a pro golfer.

But the 28-year-old from Saskatchewan’s Cowessess First Nation is not exactly sure which path he will take to get there.

Delorme made a name for himself this past summer, faring rather well in numerous amateur  events throughout Saskatchewan. He also represented the province at a pair of national tournaments staged in Ontario in August.

Delorme, a third-year business student at Regina’s First Nations University of Canada (FNUC), said he’s not quite sure if he will finish off his school year at FNUC. That’s because he’s been offered a partial athletic scholarship to join the men’s golf team at  Bemidji State University in Minnesota.

The Bemidji State club competes in the NCAA’s Division II ranks. Delorme was offered the opportunity to head to Bemidji State starting with this fall semester. But he opted to return to FNUC.

“I’m a First Nations person and I’m rediscovering my past and my identity as a First Nations person,” said Delorme, who is Cree. “(Attending FNUC) allows me to strengthen that part of me.” Delorme added the Bemidji State coach is still trying to convince him to head to the U.S. school. And he just might take him up on the offer in the new year.

“You never know,” he said. “January is a possibility but it’s not for sure.”

Delorme is weighing the pros and cons of how beneficial it will be to his golf game if he does indeed go to the American university. Going to Bemidji State would require him to juggle his academics with his golf, while at FNUC he is strictly concentrating on his schooling.

“That’s my Number 1 priority,” he said. “As soon as the fall semester started, I put the clubs away.”

Delorme is somewhat surprised at how well he had fared in the sport thus far, considering he is from Saskatchewan.

“We only golf six months of the year,” he said. “The other six months it’s like minus 40.” Delorme was introduced to golf at about the age of eight as there is an 18-hole championship course - the Last Oak Golf and Country Club - on the Cowessess First Nation.

“I always golfed but I never took it seriously until I got older,” he said.

Delorme said he started to take the sport more seriously when he discovered he had a knack for it.

“When I got into high school, I realized I was a bit better than the people around me,” he said. Delorme has been living in Regina since the age of 18. But he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Whenever he competes in a tournament,  he makes a point of it to tell people that he is from the Cowessess First Nation.

“I make sure they announce that every time I tee off,” he said. “That makes me feel so proud.” Delorme certainly has the support of his family and friends who still live on the First Nation. Since he is still an amateur, playing the sport can be rather costly.

“You spend money but you can’t win any money,” he said of his amateur status.

Delorme estimates it cost about $9,000 to compete in various tournaments this past summer. He is rather grateful to those who helped him out financially.

“One guy gave me $500 and told me I know you’ll use this in the right way,” he said. The majority of the tournaments Delorme took part in this year were in Saskatchewan. But he also qualified for the national men’s amateur tournament held in mid-August in London, Ont.

He played two rounds at the tourney but did not make the cut to advance to the final two rounds. Later that month Delorme competed in the national men’s mid-amateur tournament in Ottawa. He placed seventh in that event.

While the national amateur tournament did not have any age restrictions, the mid-amateur one featured players 25 and over. Each province also had to be represented by at least two golfers who are over 35. Delorme credits numerous mentors he has had over the years for the passion he now has for golf.

“They taught me how much you can fall in love with a sport you can never conquer,” he said. “I will golf for as long as I can. With the sport you strive for perfection but in reality you can never get there.” Delorme believes he has the potential to eventually play on the world’s best circuit, the PGA Tour.

“That is where I see myself,” he said.