The McLennan Ross Sun Junior Tour

Henderson Lake

Warm sunny skies and a virtually windless Saturday ( YES, this WAS in Lethbridge!) gave way to an overcast, breezy day on Sunday at the Henderson Lake Junior Open, this weekend's stop on Tour.  Defending Champion Matt Whittaker of the host club turned in a fine 1-over par 71 on Saturday and slept on a 5-shot overnight lead over 3 players, but when the final round got underway, Matt was struggling much of the day and by the time the players got part way through the back nine, Evan Cowan of Land O'Lakes GC in nearby Coaldale had pulled ahead.

Whittaker (shown above teeing off on Saturday),  looked like he would close the gap to 1 stroke when he rolled in a 20-foot birdie on #16, but Cowan made a clutch 10-foot par putt on top of Matt to maintain a 2-shot margin which he took to the house.  Tanner Laidlaw of the Lethbridge CC and Barrett Belland of Glendale in Edmonton tied for 3rd at 151.  Those four players, along with 13-year old Matthew Codd of Red Deer qualified for the season-ending Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort on August 31.  Codd topped the flight for junior boys born in 1995 and later with steady rounds of 81-82.

Players get their scorecards from Starter Doug Gillett prior to the start of their Saturday round.

Three junior girls were entered in the tournament, and the host club's Gina Kowalchuk took top honors with rounds of 93-86, which also earned her a spot on the field at Wolf Creek.

The day's most exciting shot was a 162-yard 5-iron by 13-year old Aspen Pitre of Lethbridge that found the bottom of the cup on hole #4 for the 14th ace in Tour history.  Congratulations, Aspen!

The Tour is quiet the remainder of this week as the kids wind up final exams at school, but picks up again next week with three events. The Tour stops on Monday, June 29 at the much-improved Indian Lakes GC at Enoch, just west of the Edmonton city limits. Whitecourt Golf and Country Club hosts their Junior Open the following day on June 30 and the always immaculately conditioned Barrhead GC showcases their course on Thursday, July 2.  All events have entry spots available and will all be excellent tuneups for players entering the following week's Alberta Junior Boys Qualifying.  Phone the clubs today and get your name entered!

OVERALL TOP TEN:

1. Evan COWAN                                  Land O'Lakes               76-71     147

2. Matt WHITTAKER                          Henderson Lake            71-78     149

T3. Tanner LAIDLAW                         Lethbridge CC               76-75     151

T3. Barrett BELLAND                         Glendale                        77-74     151

T5. Mac KEATS                                  Bearspaw                      80-74     154

T5. Mac PENNER                               Lethbridge CC                77-77    154

7. Andrew RICHTOT                           Henderson Lake             78-77     155

8. Jason FRITZ                                    Henderson Lake             76-80     156

9. Tyler DICK                                     Bearspaw                        79-79     158

10. Jeff SCHWARTZ                          Henderson Lake               77-82      159

JUNIOR BOYS BORN IN 1990/91/92

1. Evan COWAN                               Land O'Lakes                   76-71     147  Q

2. Matt WHITTAKER                       Henderson Lake                71-78     149  WC

3. Tanner LAIDLAW                         Lethbridge CC                   76-75    151   WC

4. Mac KEATS                                  Bearspaw                          80-74     154

5. Andrew RICHTOT                        Henderson Lake                 78-77      155

6. Tyler DICK                                  Bearspaw                            79-79      158  

JUNIOR BOYS BORN IN 1993/94

1. Barrett BELLAND                        Glendale                            77-74     151   Q

2. Mac PENNER                              Lethbridge CC                    77-77     154

3. Jason FRITZ                                Henderson Lake                  76-80     156

4. Ryan O'DONNELL                       Lethbridge CC                    84-80     164

5. Cameron HILL                             Country Hills                       83-82     165

6. John McKIERNAN                       Calgary Elks                        83-83     166

JUNIOR BOYS BORN IN 1995 and LATER

1. Matthew CODD                          Red Deer GCC                    81-82     163

2. Nolan MASTEL                          Medicine Hat GCC              84-83      167

3. Brian LEE                                   Paradise Canyon                 79-91      170

4. Lachlin SPRIDDLE                     Lethbridge CC                     88-89      177

5. Carter LEWIS                             Calgary                               97-90      187

6. Matt STAPLES                           Lethbridge CC                     98-92      190

JUNIOR GIRLS

1. Gina KOWALCHUK                Henderson Lake                    93-86        179

2. Erin BARTOSHYK                  Lethbridge CC                       91-94        185

3. Jamison SMEATON                 Henderson Lake                     107-98      205

Q = Qualified for Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort on August 31

WC = Wild Card qualifier for Tour Championship.