Alberta Golf (Innisfail) – By Dunc Mills

The Innisfail Junior Open is one of four charter members of the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour presented by Crowe MacKay that remain on the schedule as we enter the Tour’s 27th season. Director of Golf Jim Boomer and Head Professional Mat MacDonald really ‘get it’ when it comes to their desire to promote and nurture junior golf.  The club organized a wonderful tournament today for 56 teams of dads, moms, grandparents, and other family members partnered with enthusiastic young competitors eager to test their own golf games on one of the more difficult courses on the Tour.

The juniors played their own ball in competition for prizes and trophies in a separate Junior Open, but also partnered with their adult partners in a two-person net better ball format for team prizes.  When all the scorecards had been tabulated, we needed a sudden death playoff to decide the overall boys champion. Fourteen-year-old Brady Weiss of Cougar Creek GC defeated 16-year-old Jaden Patel of Woodside GC with a solid par-4 on the first hole of overtime.  It was the slender Weiss’ first Tour win, but we suspect it won’t be his last.

The overall organization and presentation of today’s tournament was simply outstanding.  In addition to showcasing a beautiful golf course in superb condition, the host organizers supplied grilled hot dogs at the turn, a fabulous post-tournament meal of barbecued chicken and ribs, and incredible prizes.  This was Junior Golf at its finest.

FULL RESULTS HERE

In summary, the flight winners today were:

Boys U10 – Niko Tran – 102  (Very impressive considering this youngster is all of 8 years old!)

Boys U13 – Harrison Kiziak – 82

Boys U15 – Brady Weiss – 80 (Overall Low Gross winner in sudden victory playoff)

Boys U17- Jaden Patel – 80 (Overall Runner-up)

Boys U19 – Tyler Plum – 84

Girls U13 – Morgan McInnis – 93

Girls U15 – Coryn Tardif and Nicole Rohr – tied for 1st with 98

Girls U 17 – Olivia Leung – 94

Girls U 19 – Zoe Banack – 84  (Overall Low Gross Girls Champion)

Full results from today’s tournament included some great prizes for the two-person teams contesting a better-ball format.  Full results are on the website but the major winners were:

Low Gross – Team event – Brady and Blaine Weiss – 4-under par 68.

Low Net – Team event – Chloe and Brady Brooks – 11-under par 61.

Next stop on the Tour is the Olds Junior Open Wednesday morning with what will be the biggest field of the season to date with almost 100 players.  The Jordan Brand Memorial Junior Open in Lacombe completes a busy Tour week on Thursday.