Oliver Cardoso picked up his first golf club at the age of five. Thirteen years later Cardoso is the recipient of the prestigious Mizuno All-Canadian Award, given by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA). He is also entering his first year at the Queen’s School of Business.
So how did all this happen?
“When I was five my dad started me off chipping and, for the first couple years, I only used five and seven irons because I was so small,” Cardoso said in and interview with the . “My dad is an avid golfer so he spent many hours teaching me technique and rules of the sport.”
Cardoso began golfing around Montreal when he was seven. After a few years of practice on the range he entered his first tournament at age 13, playing at the Montebello Golf Club. His first victory came soon after that at the Islesmere Golf club.
Cardoso said his father played a major role in instilling a love of the sport.
“My dad obviously is a huge influence in golf, as he is the one that taught me the basics and helped me get where I am. More importantly, it was my early exposure to golf that allowed me to develop a passion for the sport. I find it very relaxing, as well as the fact that I have friends who also play, making it more enjoyable.”
He said the tight relationship he has with his dad is a big factor for his accomplishments, but more importantly, his father was always very supportive of him.
Not surprisingly, his favourite golfer is Tiger Woods.
Of course, Cardoso’s life isn’t only about golf.
His activities outside his main sport were a large part of why he was chosen for the CGJA award. His athletic abilities are not restricted to golf; he also plays a lot of soccer, volleyball and basketball. He also has an arts side to him, having played piano for many years as a child.
In high school he was the president of the Maroon and White club, which represented the school in events.
Cardoso is no slouch in the classroom either, graduating from high school last spring with 97.1 per cent average, as well as scoring in the 99th percentile on the SATs.
He said he has now started a new chapter here at Queen’s. He is living on West Campus and, while he admits that going to class is “a bit of a hike”, he said he is enjoying himself at Jean Royce Hall. More importantly, he is enjoying school.
He said he likes how the business program is very “applicable and makes it easier to get into the job market.” He said that after he finishes his degree at Queen’s he hopes to do his MBA at either Harvard or the Wharton School of business at the University of Pennsylvania.
He added that he loves the tight-knit community here at Queen’s.
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