The McLennan Ross Sun Junior Tour

Whitecourt

Killer B's sighted in Whitecourt!

Branton Tessier of Whitecourt toppled in a 15-footer for birdie on the second extra hole of a sudden death playoff today to defeat Brendan Kearney of Fort McMurray to earn his first McLennan Ross Sun Junior Golf Tour win, and on his home course, no less!  Swirling winds made the already challenging Whitecourt layout even more dangerous than ever today, as the gusty breezes sent scores soaring for 50 juniors from across northern Alberta.

Tessier and Kearney had tied for low gross today with matching 77s, two shots clear of Demetres Giannitsos of Edson and Barrett Belland of Glendale.  As testament to the difficulty of today's conditions, consider than Belland won the 2009 Whitecourt Junior Open with a 3-under par 69, only two shots ahead of his clubmate Tyler Saunders, who a year later skied to an 89!   Tessier, Belland and Giannitsos all earned their spot in the Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort with their efforts today and will be joined in the field by Dakota Smith whose 85 bested the flight for junior boys born in 1996 and later, and Wild Card qualifier Evan Johnson of Whitecourt (80).

Branton Tessier (L) of Whitecourt and Brennan Kearney of Ft. McMurray show the best of junior golf in their playoff at Whitecourt.  Good camaraderie, great sportsmanship and top notch competition.

On the first hole of sudden death, the players returned to the par-5 18th, and both players were on the green in regulation. Kearney, who had qualified on Monday for the 2010 Frank Lindsay Alberta Junior Boys' Championship, lagged his 40-foot birdie effort to tap-in range and waited for Tessier to knock in his 4-footer for birdie and the win.  But the putt slid by and the two players returned to the 18th tee for a second attempt to decide a winner.  Kearney was in a greenside bunker in two, but could not get up and down for birdie, and this time Tessier made no mistake by knocking down his 15-footer on the last roll.  Some of the crowd of player and parents watching the playoff are shown below in front of the fabulous new clubhouse under construction at the Whitecourt GCC.

Only two junior girls were on hand today and Westlock's Erin Wiese shot 90 to punch her ticket to Wolf Creek.  The other junior girl on hand today, Hailey Turcotte is perhaps 10 or 11 years old, and may have led the field today in fun along with her two fellow competitors, two boys also about 10, in the last pairing of the day.  These kids had a blast, learned some rules, and more than  kept up the pace of play.  Good on you kids!

Next event on Tour is this Thursday in Barrhead, always one of the best conditioned courses on the Tour.  They are  holding entries open until Noon on Wednesday, so if you haven't yet entered, get on the phone to them NOW!

OVERALL TOP TEN

1.  Branton TESSIER                         Whitecourt                           77 *

P2.  Brennan KEARNEY                   Fort McMurray GCC            77

T3. Demetres GIANNITSOS            Edson                                   79

T3. Barrett BELLAND                        Glendale                              79

T5. Evan JOHNSON                         Whitecourt                            80

T5. Blake ROBERTS                        Broadmoor                           80

7. Mitchell MacKinnon                      Whitecourt                            81

T8. Cambell MacKay                          Whitecourt                          82

T8. Mitchell MARTELL                      Whitecourt                            82

10. Carlin SPINK                               Whitecourt                            83

JUNIOR BOYS BORN IN 1991,92,93

1.  Brennan KEARNEY                     Fort McMurray GCC            77 Q

2. Demetres GIANNITSOS              Edson                                    79 WC

T3. Evan JOHNSON                         Whitecourt                             80 WC

T3. Blake ROBERTS                        Broadmoor                           80 PQ

5. Carlin SPINK                                Whitecourt                             83

JUNIOR BOYS BORN IN 1994/95

1. Branton TESSIER                    Whitecourt                            77 Q

2. Barrett BELLAND                     Glendale                               79 WC

3. Mitchell MacKinnon                 Whitecourt                             81

T4. Cambell MacKay                   Whitecourt                             82

T4. Mitchell MARTELL                 Whitecourt                             83

JUNIOR BOYS BORN IN 1996 and LATER

1. Dakota SMITH                    Unattached                             85 Q

2. Braydon TURCOTTE         Unattached                             87

3. Chad McCARTNEY            Edson                                      96

4. Justin BERGETTE             Stony Plain                              99

5. Zach NUTTALL                   Glendale                                100

JUNIOR GIRLS

1. Erin WIESE                      Westlock                                 90 Q

2. Hailey TURCOTTE         Unattached                            128

* = Won tournament on 2nd hold of sudden-victory playoff.

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

WC = Wild Card qualifier for Tour Championship.

PQ  = Player had previously qualified for Tour Championship