The McLennan Ross Sun Junior Tour

Country Hills

Playoff, terrific scores, superb golf course...who could ask for more?

John MacKinnon of Willow Park and Cameron Hill of the host Country Hills GCC were the two luckiest players on site today as 70 juniors from across Alberta dropped in for a friendly game of golf in the second annual Country Hills Junior Open.  These two young men got to play one extra hole of golf on what was easily the best conditioned course on the Tour to date this year. Country Hills had held their Club Championship over the August long weekend and they had the course in absolutely fantastic condition with pristine fairways and lightning fast greens the order of the day.

MacKinnon and Hill had both shot 1-over par 72s today, one shot ahead of Travis Chorly of Jasper Park, Andrew Cook of Pinebrook and Kevin Wong of Lynx Ridge with two more players tied for 6th with 74s as the kids were really enjoyed the perfect scoring conditions this morning. In the playoff on the Ridge Course's uphill 306-yard par-4 18th, Hill leaked his booming drive only two yards out of bounds, opening the door for MacKinnon to make a routine par-4 for his first Tour win of the season.  Hill, who broke 70 in competition for the first time last week to capture the Carstairs Junior Open, continues his solid play on Tour over the last couple of weeks.

John MacKinnon of Willow Park (L) lags his birdie putt close on the first hole of his sudden victory playoff with Cameron Hill of Country Hills.

New qualifiers for the Tour Championship today included both MacKinnon and Wong, along with Dylan Brown of Sturgeon Valley GC in St. Albert (79) from the flight for junior boys born in 1996 and later and Wild Card qualifiers Keiron Hagerty and Austin Cruickshank both of whom fired 74 and both of whom play out of Country Hills.

The 10 junior girls on hand today put on probably the best collective performance out of a junior girls' field on Tour this summer, as 7 of the 10 compeitors shot 82 or better, led by Glencoe's Reagan Wilson at 76. Wilson was one lonely shot better than Megan Paul of Canyon Meadows and Abbey Gill of the Derrick.  Wilson and Gill both punched their ticket to the Tour Championship today with their efforts.

Two players who had to leave early today left unclaimed $25 Pro Shop gift certificates from hole prizes. Kaleb Langford and Pierce Hawker,,,this means you!  Call the Country Hills Pro Shop to make arrangements to pick up your certificates.

Full kudos to everyone at Country Hills who did such an amazing job with the tournament today. Junior Chair Adrienne Hill and her army of volunteers....General Manager Brent Syme....Hear Professional Brett Burgeson,,,,Tournament Professional Director Brent MacKay,,,the Course Superintendant and his staff ,,,,this event just had the look and feel of a 'major' junior tournament and the McLennan Ross Sun Junior Golf Tour could not be more thankful to everyone involved for their support of this outstanding  event.  If you are one of the dozen of so juniors who left things too late and tried to get into the event at the last minute on Tuesday, well you sure missed the boat on this one, kids!

Q = Qualified for Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort on August 30th.

WC = Wild Card Qualifier for Tour Championship.

  Part of the gallery watching the playoff on the 18th hole of the Ridge Course at Country Hills GCC today.

PQ = Player had previously qualified for Tour Championship.

* = Won tournament on first hole of a sudden victory playoff.