By Dunc Mills:

Montgomery Glen GC has been a fixture on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour since 1997 and is always a ‘must play’ for junior golfers from across the province.  Head Professional John Wilson and his team always have presented an outstanding experience for the competitors:  a golf course in superb condition, great prizes, the classiest permanent trophy for the overall Low Gross score and  post-round dining for the kids that is second to none.

It might seem unusual to talk about the food before we mention a score, but the buffet was outstanding.  Roast chicken, rice pilaf, fresh vegetables, Caesar salad, pickles and desserts. What a wonderful and nutritious change for the kids!  Congratulations to the head chef and his crew at Montgomery Glen!

Golf was played, too!  After the heavy rains in the Edmonton area all day Wednesday, we were worried the course might be in soggy shape, but the rains had dodged Wetaskiwin and the course was in great shape. Brady Weiss of Stony Plain earned his first Tour win of the season, with a fine 1-over 73, edging Knox Kehler of Edson and Jayden Popik of Belvedere by a single shot.  Kehler bested the boys U13 flight while Popik’s score was tops in the U15 division.  Jayden has had a great week on Tour with a T1 overall finish at Goose Hummock, T2 in Olds on Wednesday and his T2 overall score at Montgomery Glen.

Brady Weiss

Weiss’s effort led the way in the U17 division, and he earned the right to get his name on the gorgeous permanent trophy the club displays for the Overall Low Gross Champion.  Ryan Badger of the Edmonton Pete Club and Sturgeon Valley’s Ben Sinclair finished T2 in the U17 age group, but Badger got the top prize money on a comparison of scorecards tie-breaker. And that was no small matter, as the prize money awarded to the players throughout all age groups was outstanding.  Ryan Zhang of Windermere GCC led the way in the boys’ U19 age group with a 75.

Ryan Zhang

We had a nice field of nine junior girls on hand today.  Nicole Rohr of Camrose snagged another Tour win with an 80, six shots clear of Cherry Wang of The Hamptons in Calgary.  Lexi Blair of the HIghlands was in solo third on 87.

Nicole Rohr

The Tour swings south next week with the feature event being the sold-out Canmore Junior Open coming up on Monday, July 31.  Canmore always leads the Tour in scenery, as well as having a ‘major’ feel to their overall tournament.  How can you NOT enjoy a golf experience in the heart of the Rockies!  Other Tour events next week include Carstairs on Tuesday and Nanton next Thursday.  For entry information about other McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour events coming up in August, please visit the Tour website at www.albertagolfjuniors.org