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Junior golf: Youth wins out at Redstone

14-year-old Braden McKay of Rossland-Trail Country Club nabs his first junior title.
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Braden McKay

A young but very deserving golfer won the most recent stop on the West Kootenay Zone 1 junior circuit as it hit Redstone Resort in Rossland on Saturday.

Twenty-eight juniors teed off, but it was 14-year-old Braden McKay of Rossland-Trail Country Club (RTCC) who came in with the low score of 80 on the day.

Despite near perfect conditions, the scores were all fairly high.  McKay played consistent golf throughout and finished the front nine with the lowest score of any player. He managed to keep his ball in play and his 3-over par back nine was still good enough to hold on and win. It was McKay’s first ever overall Junior Circuit win.

Braden’s brother Tyler made a charge, birdying six holes in a row at one point, but three double bogies and a triple would seal his fate.

Tyler managed to take third spot shooting an 83, one stroke back of MacKenzie Field of Chirstina Lake who shot an 82 for the win in the 17-18-year-old division.

The tournament also proved to be a qualifying match to see who won the right to tee off at the B.C. Summer Games in Surrey in July.

Four U16 players are eligible to qualify, provided they have not played in the Summer Games tournament before.

In the qualifying round Carson Arcuri (Granite Point), Ryan Fullerton (RTCC), Trevor Browell (Champion Lake), and Shawn Ellard (Kaslo) all earned spots.  Shawn actually defeated Aiden Browell in a playoff to earn the fourth spot.

Alex Rugg and Garrett Underwood both shot 85 good enough for a tie for second behind Field.  Tyler McKay was first in the 15-16 year division, Fullerton placed second with an 89 and Trevor Browell third.

In the 14- and-under division, Arcuri took first shooting an 84, Jackson Konkin (RTCC) was second with a very solid 88 and Aiden Browell placed third.

In the net division Ellard was first overall in the 15-18 category and Jeff Ashton from Castlegar was first in the 14 and under division.

Aiden Browell from Champion Lake and Ryan Page from RTCC both won closest to the pin, and Jeff Ashton and David Launier won long drives in their respective divisions.

Next up is the Johnny Bucyk championship at the Creston Golf Course, a 72-hole event with a 36-hole qualifier on Saturday, where 60 per cent of the field will make the cut for Sunday’s round.

The Johnny Bucyk championship in Creston will be separate from the Junior Circuit but will run the same weekend as the Creston junior circuit event.



Jim Bailey

About the Author: Jim Bailey

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