Garbutt and Wingnean win Jordan Brand Memorial Lacombe Junior Open
Written by Duncan Mills
Ryan Garbutt (C) , boys’ champion of the Jordan Brand Memorial Junior Open today in Lacombe. Head Professional Weston Gillett (L) present the trophy along with Bruce Brand (R) of Sherwood Park. The tournament is named in the memory of Bruce’s late son Jordan, a former junior member of the Lacombe GCC.
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At the first McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour event of the season two weeks ago in Innisfail, 13-year-oid Ryan Garbutt of Windermere GCC fired the day’s low gross score of 78, but it was achieved from a shorter set of tee markers for his age group than what was used by the two older age groups of boys. Sebastian Berube of Priddis Greens came in with a 79 that afternoon from the whites, so it was somewhat unsettled as to who really ‘won’ the Innisfail event.
Today, that matter was crystal clear as all the junior boys on hand in a sold-out field of 50 players competed from the same set of tees, set at slightly over 6,000 yards over the hilly fairways and small, slick greens at the Lacombe GCC. Very windy conditions made low scoring extremely difficult and Garbutt’s 79 was the only score of the day under 80. Spencer Florchuk of Ft. Saskatchewan was a single shot back at 80, with three players T3 on 81, including Danny Humbke and Seth Marriott of the host club, and Tyler Michaels of Broadmoor. Micheals was paired with Garbutt in the flight for boys born in 2006 and later. Garbutt becomes only one of a handful of players aged 13 and under who have won a McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour event outright in the Tour’s 25-year history.
Ryan Garbutt, Boys Champion of the Jordan Brand Memorial Lacombe Junior Open
Some of the other players who have achieved such early success include Andrew Harrison of Camrose, who won both the Alberta Amateur AND the Alberta Open Championship last year, and Wil Bateman of Blackhawk, who won a professional event this winter in Arizona and is one of the leading contenders for the 2020 Alberta Open Championship coming up later this month on The Links Course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort. Bateman remains the youngest winner in McLennan Ross Tour history after he won the Goose Hummock event, shooting a smooth 73 as an 11-year-old!
An added sideline is that young Tyler Michaels is the son of Oilers play-by-play broadcaster Jack Michaels, who can now freely chirp his colour man Bob Stauffer that “My 14-year-old can kick your butt” on the golf course.
The Lacombe event this morning was the fourth in a row this spring that sold out their available spots, as junior golf interest in Alberta is going through the roof. Adding to the excitement is that both the Olds event this Wednesday and next Monday’s tournament at RedTail Landing in Nisku have both already hung out the “Sold Out” sign. We also learned today that the tournament on July 28th at Collicutt Siding GC in Crossfield is also full! Check the Tour schedule on the Alberta Golf website at www.albertagolfjuniors.org for the events coming up the rest of the summer leading up to the 25th annual Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort.
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OVERALL TOP TEN:
1. Ryan GARBUTT Windermere 79
2. Spencer FLORCHUK Ft. Saskatchewan 80
T3. Danny HUMBKE Lacombe 81
T3. Seth MARRIOTT Lacombe 81
T3. Tyler MICHAELS Broadmoor 81
6. Mason KUCY Camrose 82
T7. Branden LAILEY The Winston 84
T7. Brady BRUNS Lacombe 84
T9. Nathan PIERS Edmonton CC 86
T9. Carson DEVLIN Windermere 86
T9. Saahir SHARMA Edmonton CC 86
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THESE ARE THE TOP 6 AND TIES IN EACH AGE GROUP, EARNING TITLEIST ORDER OF MERIT RANKING POINTS.
BOYS BORN IN 2001 – 2003
1. Spencer FLORCHUK Ft. Saskatchewan 80 Q
T2. Danny HUMBKE Lacombe 81 WC
T2. Seth MARRIOTT Lacombe 81 WC
4. Mason KUCY Camrose 82
4. Blake HAMMEL Ft. Saskatchewan 90
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BOYS BORN IN 2004-2005
T1. Branden LAILEY The Winston 84 PQ
T1. Brady BRUNS Lacombe 84 Q
3. Nathan PIERS Edmonton CC 86
4. Reid WILLIAMSON Olds 88
5. Josiah TONG Heritage Pointe 89
6. Colby SIMS Lacombe 90
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BOYS BORN IN 2006 & LATER
1. Ryan GARBUTT Windermere 79 PQ
1. Tyler MICHAELS Broadmoor 81 Q
T3. Carson DEVLIN Windermere 86
T3. Saahir SHARMA Edmonton CC 86
T5. Rylan Ramsey Lacombe 92
T5. Cole PHILLIPS Willow Park 92
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JUNIOR GIRLS
1. Alexa WINGNEAN The Derrick 81 Q
2. Kristine DIXON Lynx Ridge 88
3. Alyssa KANNGIESSER Lacombe 94
4. Brooklyn CAMPBELL Didsbury 95
5. Olivia LEUNG The Winston 101
6. Serin GIRARD River Bend 103
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UP NEXT ON TOUR:
Wednesday, July 15 Olds SOLD OUT!
Monday, July 20 RedTail Landing SOLD OUT!
Tuesday, July 21 Whitetail Crossing spots still available
Wednesday, July 22 Camrose spots still available
Tuesday, July 27 Collicutt Siding SOLD OUT!
Wednesday, July 28 Montgomery Glen spots still available
Thursday and Friday, July 29/30 Goose Hummock spots still available
