By Dunc Mills:

Over the quarter-century plus history of the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour, every once in a while, a young junior golfer shows such exceptional ability and promise that one just can’t help but wonder what level this particular player might achieve one day. Names that come to mind that jumped off the page to me before the age of 13 include the likes of Jaclyn Lee, Dale Vallely, Ethan Choi, Andrew Harrison, Annabelle Ackroyd, Wil Bateman and others.

Today’s stop on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour was in Ponoka, one of four remaining charter members of the Tour going back to our inaugural year in 1996. I saw 12-year-old Bennett Love of Red Deer before his round and renewed acquaintances as this was Love’s first McLennan Ross event of the summer.  He has been busy with other competition, but we have seen this red-headed leftie for the last three years on the Tour and he just keeps getting better.  Today, I commented to Bennett that he would get to enjoy playing the White tees at the beautifully conditioned Ponoka layout at about 5,600 yards, short for a player of his ability, but appropriate for the U13/U10 kids on hand overall.  I told Bennett that the host pro, Ryan Moore, holds the Ponoka Junior Open scoring record at 6-under par 66 and to just go out and enjoy himself and keep that target score in mind.

Ryan Moore & Bennett Love

A little over four hours later, Love was signing his card that featured five birdies, one eagle and a lone bogey, which added up to well,,,,, 66. Perhaps the happiest person on the premises was Ryan Moore himself, who enthusiastically congratulated Love on his outstanding round of golf and posed for pictures afterwards with the youngster.  I don’t care WHAT tees you play from, a 6-under 66 on a quality golf course like Ponoka at the age of 12 is a startling achievement.  Even more amazing is that this wasn’t Love’s lowest round in competition this year, coming on the heels of a 65 last month!  Yes, it’s one round and yes, it’s just a baby step in this kid’s burgeoning career, but it certainly helps make him a player to watch over the next few years in Alberta Junior Golf circles.

There were several other fine rounds turned in today. Daniel Boyle of Windermere, 17, posted a 1-under 71 to capture Low Gross honours in the boys’ U19 flight, two strokes clear of Jaden Patel of Inglewood GCC in Calgary.  In the boys’ U17 division, Kade McCowan of the Red Deer GCC posted a 1-over 73 to lead two of his clubmates as Red Deer GCC juniors swept the podium in this age group.  Michael Song was a shot back on 74, with Casey Silva in third place in the flight with a 75.

Scores were even better in the boys’ U15 flight as Jayden Popik of Belvedere and Charles Greaves of Banff Springs tied with even-par 72s. Kade Trefanenko of The Links at Spruce Grove finished third in the age group with a 75.

I don’t need to remind the readers who captured the boys’ U13/U10 flight. Enough said already!

Eight junior girls were on hand today, and former Red Deer resident Serin Girard dropped in to Ponoka during a visit to her grandparents, as Girard moved to Richmond, BC two years ago.  Serin’s 79 was best among the girls today, nipping Shylee Kostiuk of Glendale by a single shot.  Alessandra Sundquist of Willow Park was third overall with an 86.

The Tour shifts about 25 km south on the QEII on Thursday at the Jordan Brand Memorial Junior Open in Lacombe.  We have a big field of nearly 80 players set to compete in a 9 a.m. shotgun start to complete a busy 3-event week on the Tour.