Some 534 miles north of Raleigh, the Royal Canadian Golf Association owns a modest office responsible for hosting its national organization, Golf Canada. Inside that Oakville, Ontario office, a number of young golfers on their way to careers with the Pack gained something in common with 14 time major champion Tiger Woods – experience learning from Canadian Junior Golf Association National Coach Sean Foley, who also serves as Woods’ personal coach.   The building represents not only the impact the association’s initiative has had on growing the game within Canada.  The collegiate heights its alumni have reached within the U.S. demonstrate just how far Foley and Golf Canada have come. In his 39th season guiding the men’s golf team, coach Richard Sykes said he couldn’t possibly be more thankful for the RCGA’s increasing influence on the No. 19 Wolfpack.   “I think it’s the national team and the junior team more than anything else,” Sykes said. “Obviously, they’ve done a great job building Canadian golf and we’re not going to shut that door.”    For Sykes, the past several years have provided a bevy of talent from Southern Ontario. Beginning with the 2006 arrival of Brad Revell, Sykes’ first Canadian recruit since Bill Swartz came to Raleigh in the late 70s, the Wolfpack began rebuilding its connection with Canada. 2009 NCAA Champion Matt Hill (Brights Grove, ON) accompanied Revell making the journey south en route to a record setting career with State before turning professional.    With Hill’s success creating headlines north of the border, sophomore Mitchell Sutton (London, ON), Michigan State transfer Graham Baillargeon (Mississauga, ON), and true freshman Albin Choi (Toronto, ON) followed in the footsteps of Revell and Hill. Choi, the winner of this fall’s Wolfpack Intercollegiate and Duke’s Rod Myers Invitational, said the Canadian connection has had a domino effect.    “Brad and Matt, they were the first ones to get here and everyone kind of just followed along,” Choi said. “Mitch got here a year before me and then all of them being here definitely influenced me and my decision to come here. And it wasn’t just because they’re friends. I liked the school as well, obviously. I liked the coaches and everything about State. Them being here was just a bonus.”    Choi and his Canadian teammates said they not only owe much of their success to the development programs provided by Golf Canada, but they also credit the program with uniting before their careers with the Pack.   “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for everybody on the on the RCGA high performance staff,” Choi said. “I’d have to thank them as well because they supported me tremendously when things weren’t looking so good. We all grew up playing the same tournaments together. I would obviously see them on the putting green or on another hole, but I didn’t know them personally. Getting to know them here has been great so far.”    Because of Canada’s National Junior Team, led by Henry Brunton, Choi and other top Canadian amateurs have had the opportunity to participate in international competitions. Just days after leading N.C. State to a 2nd place finish in Durham, Choi went to Argentina to represent his country in the World Amateur Team Championships.    “Getting to play with some of the best players around the world is always a nice treat,” Choi said. “I’m 18. I don’t know if people would say that’s young or old, but I don’t think age really matters in golf. It’s about how good you are, your approach to the game, and going down there was definitely a great experience for me.”    Following closely behind Choi is 2008 Canadian Junior National Champion, Mitchell Sutton. Not surprisingly, the top finisher on the 2009 CN Future Links Junior Boy’s Order of Merit also credits much of his success to the RCGA development team.   “The RCGA and Henry Brunton’s national team program had a lot to do with meeting Albin (Choi),” Sutton said. “It’s definitely helped develop and open up some opportunities.”    With Sutton playing in all 12 of the Pack’s tournaments last season, he said spending time with Hill, the man who cemented State’s reputation as a breeding ground for top Canadian talent, has had a large impact on him. Hill has made one cut in five PGA Tour appearances as a pro.    “He’s had a good influence on me,” Sutton said. “Just coming down here and living with him last year, playing with him all the time and practicing. Just seeing what he does and how he works at it, it’s definitely helped. Just to see where you need to be.”   As Choi and Sutton lead State into the spring season, the Pack looks to keep its momentum going, starting with the Puerto Rico Classic in February.    “The strongest competition we play all year might be in the Puerto Rico event,” Sykes said. “We didn’t go last year and that was the first year we’ve missed in 20 years. We’re definitely ready to get back.”