By Dunc Mills:

Annnnnnnnnnnddd they’re off and running!

The McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour lifted the curtain on its 2023 season this morning at the Barrhead Golf Club, with 60 juniors on hand from as far away as Ft. McMurray and Grande Prairie.  Early morning showers cleared up as many of the competitors were experiencing their first-ever junior golf tournament as the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour began its 28th season.

After all the scorecards were handed in, Evan Goplin of The Derrick Golf and Winter Club emerged as the Boys U17 winner and overall Low Gross Champion on the strength of a solid 1-under par 72.  Goplin pounded the four par-5s into submission at the beautifully conditioned Barrhead layout, birdieing all four of them to offset three bogies for his second Tour win.

Evan Goplin

Goplin needed every birdie,  as his 71 was only a single shot clear of three players.  Connor Wenig of Camrose and Sturgeon Valley’s Ben Sinclair each fired even-par 72s and were joined at the score by the Boys U15 winner, Jayden Popik of the Belvedere GCC. Luke Bock of Devon GC and Turner Gartly of Stony Plain tied for Low Gross in the Boys U13 age group with scores of 91, but Bock earned the first-place prize money after a comparison of scorecards tie-breaker.   In the Boys U19 division, Jensen Dawes of Drayton Valley fired a fine 2-over 74 to capture the division and also won the unofficial “Snazziest Shirt of the Day” award!  Looking good out there today, kids!

Jayden Popik

Jensen Dawes

Only two junior girls were on hand today, but examination of some entry lists for upcoming Tour events shows that we will be continuing to have strong numbers  of entries for junior girls.  Nicole Rohr of Camrose fired a steady 85 for Low Gross honours.

Nicole Rohr

Special thanks to the entire contingent of fifteen players, parents, and Head Professional Chris McKenzie of the Miskanaw Golf Club in Ft. McMurray.  Chris has a booming junior golf program on his hands in Fort Mac, as the Tour will be returning to Ft McMurray this year for the first time since the early 2000s.  What an outstanding show of support for junior golf to have that many youngsters make the five-hour trip to Barrhead!

Miles Marshall, Boys U17 Low Net

Gavin Braithwaite, Boys U15 Low Net

William Steed , Boys U19 Low Net

The Tour continues later this week on Thursday, July 6th at Henderson Lake Golf Club in Lethbridge, with tournaments coming up next week at McKenzie Meadows in Calgary  (July 10), at the Grande Prairie GCC, also on July 10, Camrose on July 12 and Whitetail Crossing GC in Mundare on July 13th. Check the Tour website at www.albertagolfjuniors.org for entry information about these upcoming events and those later in the summer at great golf courses throughout Alberta.