The Goose Hummock Junior Open doesn’t disappoint!
Written by Duncan Mills
For several years now Head Professional Mike McEvay has put on one of the top junior tournaments on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour. This year’s production was no exception!
One of only two 36-hole events on the Tour, the Goose Hummock Junior Open has gained the ‘rep’ with the players as one of the ‘must play’ tournaments on their schedule. When you combine a fine golf course (albeit in somewhat wet and foggy conditions this year thanks to Mother Nature), with tremendous organization and great prizes, you have a winner on your hands for the betterment of junior golf.
Forty juniors from as far away as Calgary were on hand the last two days, and with the course very soggy in some places, we played “(mark) lift, clean and place” throughout the golf course to give the kids a fighting chance to score well. And did they score! Reid Casavant of Westlock bagged his third win of the summer with rounds of 72-68 for a 2-under par tab of 140, three shots clear of Cole Ruelling (73-70) of Lewis Estates and Broadmoor’s Jarrett Bossert (70-73). With over twenty single-digit handicappers in the field and receptive greens, the players could attack the flagsticks and birdies were almost as plentiful as the trademark geese roaming the fairways. Chase Bodoano (73-72) of Broadmoor, Rory Wutzke (69-76) of Camrose, and Ethan Reiter (76-69) of Sturgeon Valley tied for fourth on 145. Reiter’s round of 2-under par 69 today was his first competitive round in the 60s! Congratulations!
A unique feature of the Goose Hummock tournament is the Thursday evening Horse Race, that paired a couple of dozen two-player partnerships consisting of a high score and a low score based on Thursday’s results. The kids had a blast as Head Pro Mike McEvay controlled the fun and chaos, which ended up with the pairing of Mason Kucy of Camrose and Nathan Mochulski of The Quarry as the last pair standing. Great job to organize this and stay late with the kids, Mike!
Now that the calendar has rolled over into August, the Tour Championship at Wolf Creek on August 23 is looming nearer every day. New qualifiers today for the TC included Reiter, Theo Leakos (148) of the Derrick, and Matthew Mayowski (171) of Drayton Valley from the flight for boys born in 2005 and later. Wild Card spots went to Glendale’s Ethan Couch (151) who can now car pool with his younger brother Evan, who already has his ticket to Wolf Creek, and Blake Reimer (149) of Windermere. Our lone junior girl on hand for the tournament, Sydney Groom (98-104) of Glendale, also earned her way into the field. Great playing Sydney!
This week was a busy one, with four tournament days spread over the week at three different courses. Next week promises to be just as busy, with the re-scheduled Camrose event on Tuesday, the always-popular Edmonton Petroleum Club coming up on Wednesday, and the challenging Trestle Creek layout west of Edmonton near Entwistle on Thursday to complete the trifecta.
Two important notes about the Pete Club event on Wednesday! The club is closing entries on MONDAY night at 6 PM, so if you have plans to enter, please do so NOW! Also, the club is undergoing some major renovations to their practice area, and its driving range is currently out of commission, so do your stretching at home kids. But come early for the complimentary pre-round muffins and juice bar in the clubhouse!
