June 29-30, 2006
Picture Butte GC • Picture Butte, AB
FINAL MJT TEAM SPOT TO MEXICO WON IN SUDDEN DEATH PLAYOFF
PICTURE BUTTE, AB. – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s two-day stop in Picture Butte last week started out with Southern Alberta's reputation for wind holding true, with strong gusts up to about 70km/hr on Thursday June 29th when the players teed off. The condition of the Picture Butte Golf Club was fantastic, however, as it is set to hold the Canadian Senior Match Play Championship next week. The rough was long, the greens quick and true, and it was a perfect test for all the players heading into the provincial championships.
The MJT tournament was sponsored by 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union, and had qualifying spots for the final boy and girl team members on MJT Team Canada, the sole Canadian contingent in the 5th annual International Junior Golf Invitational in Cuernavaca, Mexico, August 14-18. The rest of the eight-player squad qualified at other MJT events across the country.
Eric Allard, 15, of Calgary won the Boys 14-16 division by blitzing the course on day two in the then perfect, hot conditions. “The highlight for me was shooting under par in a tournament for the first time,” said Allard after firing the low score of the day. He then waited to see if his 75-70 (145) was good enough for him to qualify for a team spot.
Craig Gibson, 17, from Brooks Golf Club, had an incredible start to the tournament and was seven under par after just 14 holes before stumbling on the remaining holes to shoot 70 (2-under par). In the Boys 17 and up division, he held a six shot lead over his next closest competitor going in to day two, where he was in the final group. He posted a final round of 75 to tie with clubhouse leader Allard, so the two went to the first hole for a sudden death playoff. Gerry Jensen, CEO of 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union was on hand to witness the playoff. "This is so very exciting for these boys - this is why we are involved with the MJT," he said.
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