INNISFAIL – Joe Kelly is enjoying much success in his young golf career.
The 15-year-old golfer from Innisfail has been playing the sport since he was a young boy and is now competing in some of Canada’s top junior golf tournaments.
One of those is the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour. Kelly recently finished in first place in the juvenile boys' category of the MJT Alberta Series, held in Red Deer in June.
"I've played in about 10 tournaments this year but my favourite tour to play in is probably MJT. It's a circuit run all around Canada and I really enjoy it," said Kelly.
Another important event this summer is the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour. Kelly recently qualified for the championship tournament at Wolf Creek Golf Resort near Ponoka on Aug. 23.
It’s an event that he is well acquainted with, having competed in the championship tournament twice before.
"I've played in it since I was 12," said Kelly, noting how he qualified for the championship tournament. “I played in a regular McLennan Ross Tour event in Olds and I shot a 74 there and qualified.
"I've had a pretty good year so far and I've played the course (at Wolf Creek) more, so I think I could probably win (the championship)," he added. "The experience will help for sure, but I'll be more nervous this year than I have been before."
The McLennan Ross Tour, now in its 24th year, is open to young golfers between the ages of 10 and 18. Twenty-five tournaments are hosted across the province each summer and there's been stops so far in Calgary, Lethbridge, Carstairs, Edmonton, Olds and Innisfail.
Kelly noted some factors that contributed to his success in his qualifying tournament in Olds in early July.
"I didn't have a very good start to the day, I started bogey-bogey, I was two over par through two (rounds). I just stuck with it and I knew birdies would come and they did," said Kelly. " I was pleased with my score.”
Kelly said he's had great support in his golf career from family, friends and the Innisfail community.
"The Innisfail Golf Club helps a lot too. It's such a nice facility there and they treat me really well. I practise there all the time," he said, noting Chris Herkel's and Jim Boomer’s support. "They've all really helped me get to where I am today."
One of the biggest tournaments Kelly competed in this year was the Alberta Junior Championship, where he tied for 31st place out of 145 golfers at Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River in early July.
"I played in it last year but I didn't make the (top 70) cut. I missed it by two shots last year," he said, noting his top four scores of 77, 73, 77 and 78 landed him in the top 70 golfers in standings. "This year I made it by 10 shots.”
In addition, Kelly qualified to be one of six golfers for Team Alberta at the Alberta/Montana Ryder Cup in Lethbridge in August.
“I want to do as well as I can at every tournament and hopefully it leads to a scholarship so I can go (study) in the States,” Kelly concluded.
