Mitchel Hampson photo: OCAA

Reed On The Greens December 6, 2022
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioSports.com

The Fanshawe Falcons golf program receives very little attention, other than in this publication, and that’s unfortunate – especially given their success in recent years. In fact, the Falcons men’s squad boasts one of London’s most humble superstars in Mitchel Hampson who, even within the local golf community, remains relatively unknown.

Hampson, nicknamed “The Hammer” by his teammates, captured the CCAA individual silver medal while helping the Falcons win team bronze – the school’s first national team medal. Hampson also led wire-to-wire to win the OCAA individual gold medal, while the Falcons also captured the Ontario championship – their first provincial title since 1992.

Hampson, who turns 20 on Christmas Day, had a historic rookie season with the Falcons in 2021. Miraculously returning to golf after a debilitating back injury, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound-plus big hitter won national bronze – Fanshawe’s first-ever national individual golf medal. Behind Hampson’s fourth-place finish at the 2021 OCAAs, the Falcons captured Ontario silver.

Initially eyeing a scholarship with a Division I U.S. college program, Hampson said he’ll return to Fanshawe in 2023 in order to study Business – and to again join coach Colin Robertson’s golf team.

Mitchel Hampson (fourth from right) and the Fanshawe Falcons celebrate national bronze. Photo: Falcons Athletics.

“I need that national gold medal – hopefully it will come soon,” said Hampson, laughing, but deadly serious about helping the Falcons win the CCAA championship in 2023.

“Eventually, it would still be nice to go to America,” said the South African golfer, “and I thought I would have received some offers from America after winning a decent amount of medals over two years. But it didn’t happen.”

You can read about Hampson’s golf journey from South Africa to Canada here in this Oct. 2021 story published at LondonOntarioSports.com.

Long Journey For Young Golfer

Hampson suffered a serious back injury in 2020 and didn’t know whether he would be able to golf again. He was living at home in Scottburgh, on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and preparing to explore golf scholarship offers from U.S. colleges when he suffered a stress fracture in his back.

Last year, he moved with his parents, Gareth and Julieann, and his sister, Cassidy, to Mitchell, Ontario, this year to live with Julieann’s parents. He then “researched Fanshawe, and was impressed with what they had to offer. I liked the course they had to offer (Golf and Club Management Program), their gym and fitness facility, and the fact they had an indoor simulator where I can swing all year.”

His back? In 2020, Hampson tried to play through back pain, but couldn’t. After numerous tests, MRIs, CT scans and injections – “I was on every drug short of morphine” he quipped – it was finally discovered that he had suffered a stress fracture.

“My back was great this season,” Hampson said. “I didn’t focus on it at all this year. No treatment. I was nervous about it possibly coming back. But it didn’t and that is really, really cool.”

Where’s Robertson?

Robertson, who was named CCAA golf coach of the year in 2018, must be thrilled with Hampson’s performance this year, and with the fact his star golfer will return in 2023. Unfortunately, he would not make himself available for an interview with LondonOntarioSports.com unless we emailed him questions in advance. We declined and he did not call before deadline.

The Falcons coach keeps his cards close to his chest – it says here he often comes off as arrogant. And there are obviously hard feelings after we published this 2021 story about the free fall of the Falcons women’s golf squad – read it here.

The Falcons, led by coach Colin Robertson (far right) celebrate their OCAA gold medal victory. Photo: OCAA.

There have been rumblings about lack of recruiting efforts by the college, and even about Robertson pondering whether or not to leave his post as golf coach when recruiting funds, allegedly, dried up during the pandemic.

Robertson wasn’t available to comment, but one thing is for sure: the Falcons women’s squad has a long way to go in order to be competitive in the OCAA ranks. Sure, at least Fanshawe was able to field a women’s team again this season. But check the individual scores and finishes – after this season, and you’ll see that they would be happy with numbers resembling a high-grade Fahrenheit fever.

Hampson, who owns natural leadership skills, expressed disappointment with the women’s finishes this season. “It was unfortunate. I don’t know what happened there. But I kidded with Colin and said, you should do some recruiting so we can be ranked No. 1.”

Members Proud

The members at Hampson’s home club, Mitchell Golf and Country Club, have a lot to be proud of in their back-to-back men’s club champion (Hampson posted a 63 to win again this year).

Following up on his 2021 CCAA bronze medal, The Hammer captured his second national college golf medal – silver – at Deer Creek Golf Club in Ajax. Behind the Falcons sophomore, Fanshawe won its first national golf team medal, capturing bronze behind tournament winner Humber Hawks, and silver medal-winning Boomerang d’André-Laurendeau of Montreal.

Mitchel Hampson

Led by tournament winner Hampson and runner-up Ben Landers of Fanshawe, the Falcons men’s golf squad grabbed gold at the Niagara College-hosted OCAA Championships at the Battlefield course at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls. Hampson led wire-to-wire at Niagara with identical rounds of 70-70-70–210 (6-under). Landers recorded the low round of the tournament with a 6-under 66 and finished three strokes behind Hampson with scores of 74-73-76–213 (3-under).

Hampson said he is extremely proud of his teammates for their Ontario and Canadian finishes.

“The entire (CCAA) tournament was cool. The boys weren’t playing their best – we didn’t play to the best of our abilities – but it gave us so much confidence for next year.”

As for the silent Robertson, he would be an even better asset to the Falcons athletic program if he were to shore up his public and media relations skills. He did have this to say, though, in 2021 about Hampson.

“Mitch – the Hammer – is a natural leader both on and off the course. He has a big future ahead of him, no matter what he chooses to pursue. He’s a champion with a sharp mind and a heart of gold, and has been a blessing to the Fanshawe varsity golf team.”

The Falcons will always play second banana to the Western Mustangs. But Robertson should be extremely proud of the golf program he has put together at Fanshawe, despite the fact he has a long way to go in rebuilding the women’s team.

But as we saw just a few short years ago, even just one solid recruit can turn the program around.

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Jeffrey Reed is one of Canada’s veteran golf journalists with roots dating back to 1980. He’s a three time writing award winner with the Golf Journalists Association of Canada, and a three-time author. His latest book, The Canadian Senior’s Golf Association, Celebrating 100 Years of Seniors Golf 1918-2018, is housed at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum library. Contact him at jeff@londonontariosports.com.