Dedication, Passion for Sports, Helps Class of 2025 Graduate Turn Internship to Full-Time Position
Sport business graduate Brendan Lampron started his career two months into his internship with Hurricane Junior Golf Tournament.
A propensity for hard work propelled recent Saint Leo University graduate Brendan Lampron from intern to full-time employee for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, based in Kissimmee, FL.
Lampron graduated in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in sport business from the Tapia College of Business. He is from Dade City, FL, attended ninth grade at Pasco High School, and graduated from Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey, FL.
“My internship was not for the weak,” Lampron said. “I found my internship after working closely with Phil Hatlem [sport business instructor], searching and trying to find the best fit for what I was trying to do. This eventually led to me choosing Hurricane, and I was able to develop my character and grow as a professional and an individual.”
Hurricane Junior Golf Tour was founded by Saint Leo alumnus Mario Conte ’06. Now the executive director and founder, Conte started the HJGT in 2007 because of his passion for junior golf and turned it into the largest junior tour in the country. The tour hosts events for aspiring young golfers, who are looking to play on the collegiate level and perhaps professionally, too. HJGT started with 25 events in the first year, and now holds hundreds of events throughout the country.
Lampron became a tournament operations intern for Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and quickly showed his prowess for sport business. “About two weeks in, the director of operations and I were already discussing the hiring process because they liked my work ethic,” Lampron said. His willingness to help and do anything he was asked to do as well as presenting good results helped him earn the full-time job as tournament director.
“They started me early running my own tournaments and managing interns myself to test and see if I would be a good fit,” Lampron said. “This eventually led to my now full-time position with the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.”
“Brendan's dedication, work ethic, and passion for the sports industry were evident throughout his time with HJGT, and we couldn’t be more excited to see him take the next step in his career,” a press release from the tour stated. “His journey is a testament to the incredible opportunities that the HJGT internship provides for aspiring sports professionals.”
With tournaments throughout the United States, Lampron will be busy. “I’m very excited to get to meet new people and explore more of the beautiful country we live in while getting to be a part of something big,” he said. “Not only do I love golf, but I can’t wait to see these young stars in action and taking their next steps as well.”
Lampron gives a hat tip to his instructors and faculty members. “They were always there to have my back when I needed it,” he said. “Saint Leo has shaped my life into being a more outgoing person and having a fun life while also teaching me to be professional. I could never ask for more. I especially want to shout out Dr. Hatlem for pushing me to do my best in everything and encouraging me when I wasn't so sure of myself.”