Rossland golfer Xander Bankes claimed top prize at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Ford Series event at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna on Tuesday.
An intense storm and extreme danger from lightning strikes washed out play on Monday and compelled junior golfers to battle for division titles, international exemptions, and a team interclub victory in a shortened 18-hole event on Tuesday.
The 11-year-old Bankes, who played on the Zone 1 West Kootenay Jr. Tour this summer, came through with a solid 77 to win the MJT Peewee Boys title by three strokes over Aidyn Huchinson, 12, of St. Albert, Alta.
“The key for me was hitting all the fairways – I feel really good and now I want to do even better,” Bankes said afterwards.
Scores of 81 had both Junwoo Nam, 12, of Abbotsford, BC, and Ryan Vest, 10, of Vernon, tied for third.
In Juvenile Boys, Castlegar’s Eli Overennay, 16, finished third after shooting a 1-over 73 on the picturesque course. The Zone 1 champion also won the long-drive competition, and came in just two shots behind Brandon Chai of Coldstream, and a single stroke behind runner-up Andy Jang of Langley.
Derek Graham of Kelowna carded a 4-under 68 to win the Jr. Boys event for ages 18-19, while Matt Hopley captured the Bantam Boys with a 68, Rhianna Jones of Westbank won girls 15-19, while Emma Yang claimed the U15 girls title.