The McLennan Ross Sun Junior Tour

Henderson Lake

Tournament results description...

In the fourteen years that the Henderson Lake Junior Open has been a part of the McLennan Ross Sun Junior Tour, we cannot recall a better weekend of perfect weather!  Two glorious days of warm sunshine and light winds were ideal for the 48 junior golfers on hand from across Alberta at the Henderson Lake layout in Lethbridge.  The course was in excellent condition as they had not suffered the flood damage that many other southern Alberta courses have had to go through with the heave recent rains.

Matt Whittaker tees off on Saturday under the watchful eye of Starter Doug Gillett.

Jason Fritz of nearby Picture Butte earned his first Tour win with steady rounds of 71-73 to cruise to a 5-shot win over the host club's Matt Whittaker and Cam McCormack of Bearspaw GCC in Calgary.  Jay Hollingsworth of Henderson Lake finished in fourth spot at 151, and topped the flight for junior boys born in 1994/95. These four players all earned spots in the season ending Tour Championship that will be held at Wolf Creek Golf Resort on August 30th. The final Tour Championship qualifying spot today went to Theo Olver of Three Hills, who won the flight for boys born in 1996 and later by 11 shots with rounds of 78-83 (161).

A strong field of eight junior girls was on hand this weekend and Mieke Heyns of Lethbridge CC blew away the girls' division with rounds of 81-79 (160), good for a 13-shot win over Gena Kowalchuk of Henderson Lake, the 2009 Alberta Golf Girls' Bantam Champion.  Both Kowalchuk and Heyns earned spots for Wolf Creek with their play this weeekend.

Heyns is a relative newcomer to junior golf.  Although she is 17, she has been playing golf for less than two years and already boasts a 4.1 handicap factor!  Her family moved to Edmonton about ten years ago from South Africa, and she had been focusing her athletics on tennis until two years ago, when she switched to golf.  They have recently moved to Lethbridge so she can be nearer her golf coach, Dean Spriddle, who is also the Golf Canada womens' team coach. Dean might have to make room on the national team soon for his 14-year old daughter Devon, who fired a career-low 82 Sunday on route to a third place finish in the girls' flight!  ( Can you even HAVE a 'career' at age 14?  Just wondering... )

It was an exciting weekend at Henderson Lake as the dragon boat races were going all weekend on adjacent Henderson Lake.  The color and noise and excitment of the races proved to be an intersting diversion for the players, especially those lucky enough to be playing the ninth hole as the dragon boat racers roared by on the lake!

The Tour really kicks into gear next week with events at Pine Hills in Rocky Mountain House (July 5), Whitecourt (July6) and Barrhead (July 8).  All are excellent golf courses and a great way to get some excellent competition prior to Alberta Golf provincial championships coming up in mid-July.  Check the Schedule for course phone numbers and entry information.

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

WC = Wild Card Qualifier for Tour Championship.

Overall Top Ten:

Junior Boys Born 1991, 1992 AND 1993

Junior Boys Born 1994 AND 1995

Junior Boys Born 1996 and Later

Junior Girls