INNISFAIL – The official kickoff event is over and 156 young golfers from across Canada hit the links Tuesday in Innisfail to compete for national glory.
On Monday night in the event centre at the Innisfail Golf Club officials with Golf Canada and the local organizing committee hosted its Player Reception and Media Night for the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship tourney from Aug. 12 to 16.
The national tournament is the first one ever hosted by the Innisfail Golf Club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024.
Town of Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay and Earl Dreeshen, the local MP for the riding of Red Deer-Mountain View, were also on hand to welcome the young golfers, who range in age from 13 to 18-years-old.
The eager competitors came to the kick-off after having a practice round on the Innisfail golf course, considered one of the best and most challenging in Alberta.
“Almost all the kids headed onto a practice round as they flew in on the weekend from Quebec, Toronto and from the Maritimes, and from Newfoundland,” said Brett Kelly, the host committee chair for the national tournament. “It's like a five or a six-hour round, right? They’re kind of trying to survey everything on the course.”
That was yesterday and today begins the serious business for the young golfers with the first of four rounds of golf that will wrap up Friday.
After two rounds there will be the big cut to about half of the competitors.
“They will cut down to low 70 and ties for the final two rounds on Thursday and Friday,” said Kelly.
And after four full rounds that will end on Friday the tourney will salute the new national junior boys champion on Spruce #9 green, located in front of the clubhouse.
“I feel great. We are underway. My entire committee is full of all stars, and we're well prepared for the tournament. The course is in fantastic condition,” said Kelly, who is extra proud as his 16-year-old son Sean earned the right to compete in his first national championship. “My oldest son Joe competed in the Canadian men's amateur last year in Ontario, and then Sean, or Fonz as we call him, is competing in the national championship here at his home course.
“It’s beyond my expectations of what I thought it would be like to be a dad, so it’s really cool.”
Sean, meanwhile, earned his ticket to the national junior boys championship about 11 months ago after winning a junior club championship through a playoff.
“I feel really excited. Obviously the nerves are there, but obviously the excitement just kind of overpowers it. “I’ve been practicing all year for this,” said Sean. “I'm going to try and play conservative. I'm going to aim at conservative targets with aggressive swings.”
Other Alberta players in the championship include Ben Sinclair and Russel Quinn from St. Albert and Chase Strang from Airdrie, along with numerous players from Calgary, Edmonton and other locales in the province.
