HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Nico Evangelista, of Manila, Philippines, has enrolled for the Fall Semester at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, located in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Evangelista, age 16, was selected among hundreds of other serious junior golfers to participate in this elite golf training program. He moved from his homeland thousands of miles away to pursue his dream of becoming a collegiate and professional golfer.

Nico will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Hank Haney, instructor to the #1 Player in the World. Haney is a former PGA Teacher of the Year and currently a PGA Top 100 Instructor. His students have won every major professional and amateur golf tournament. Over the years, a total of 2000 students have attended the Hank Haney IJGA, with the majority going on to play collegiate and professional golf. In 2009, 94% of students at the Hank Haney IJGA received a golf scholarship.

Nico grew up in Manila where golf was not very popular but the game has certainly grown over the years. His passion to excel in golf led him to apply and be accepted to the Hank Haney IJGA. He is the second student from the Philippines to enroll at the Hank Haney IJGA.

A typical day for Nico includes arriving at school by 7AM. From 7:30AM until 12:30PM, Nico attends classes at the Heritage Academy. The Heritage Academy offers College Preparatory and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. From 12:45PM until 5:30PM (or later), Nico trains with Hank Haney certified instructors in full swing, short game, putting, and course management. During this time, he also works with mental trainers to develop his game beyond the golf course. After a long day of classes and training on the golf course, Nico then heads to the IJGA Training Center several times a week to work with the full-time Fitness Director. Eventually, Nico returns to his housing campus to complete homework and get to bed before doing it all over again the next day. Needless to say, it takes a serious junior golf to pursue this golf regimen.

To follow Nico's progress and obtain more information about the Hank Haney IJGA, please visit www.ijga.com.

About Hank Haney IJGA:

Hank Haney IJGA, located in Hilton Head Island, SC, is the only golf academy in the world to combine training, competition, and academics for serious junior golfers. Hank Haney IJGA has students from 24 countries and 28 states. Hank Haney IJGA students have gone on to play collegiate golf at some of the top programs in the country including the University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and the University of Southern California.

For more information contact Mary Beth Lacy at:
email: mb@mblacy.com
phone: (760) 346-6942