Bryan DeCorso is undoubtedly one of the finest golfers to emanate from the Royal City.
As a youngster, he could be found sneaking in rounds at the family golf course, Victoria Park East. In 1989, he won the Ontario Junior Golf Championship and went on to finish second at the Canadian Junior Championship that same year. In 1994, he came in second at the Canadian Amateur Championship and was named to the Canadian team that finished 10th at the World Amateur Championships.
DeCorso earned a scholarship to Kent State University where he helped his team win three straight Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles, earning an All-America honourable mention from the Golf Coaches Association of America. In 1995, when he was team captain, he was named Kent State’s Male Athlete of the Year, MAC Player of the Year and MAC Sportsman of the Year, as well as being honoured as a GCAAAII-America Scholar.
DeCorso turned professional in 1995. In 1996, he won the Morningstar Classic on the Canadian Tour and was named Canadian Tour Rookie of the Year. In 1998, he came second at the Telus Edmonton Open. He continued to play and hone his game on PGA Tours’ Canada Tour, South American Tour and a variety of mini-tours for the next 10 years.
DeCorso’s career changed direction in December 2007 when he earned fully exempt status on the PGA Tours’ Nationwide/Web.com Tour via their annual qualifying tournament. The spring of 2008 he started to play some of his best golf. With a 10th place finish in Australia and fourth place finish at the Henrico County Open his confidence was given the boost needed for what was going to happen next. The Nationwide Tours’ South Georgia Classic in Valdosta Georgia was the week following the Henrico County Open. He continued his strong play with opening rounds of 68-69-68. Entering Sunday’s final round he had a slim one-stroke lead but roared to a four stroke victory with a final round 69.
DeCorso played full-time on the PGA Tours’ Nationwide/Web.com Tour from 2008-2013 and would be invited to play in five PGA Tour Canadian Opens in his career.
Inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame – on May 16, 2018
