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

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