Maple Leaf Team Canada Wins Inaugural
CAN-USA Junior Matches at ASU Karsten Golf Course
TSAWWASSEN, BC: Maple Leaf Team Canada will be defending its best-ball title in 2006 after recently out-playing their U.S. counterparts during the inaugural CAN-USA Junior Matches at ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Arizona this past weekend.CAN-USA Junior Matches at ASU Karsten Golf Course
Non-playing Maple Leaf Team Canada Captain, Dean Spriddle, reported that the tournament, held simultaneously during the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) ASU Junior Golf Classic, was an exceptional opportunity to learn more about golf and international competition.
"The FCWT is committed to helping juniors in their pursuit of earning a college scholarship through the challenge of competitive golf," says Spriddle, "and to work with them in presenting this experience to Canadian juniors is tremendous." Four players represented the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) and Canada after qualifying through top finishes at the MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course earlier this year.
In the Boys 13-15 division, Evan Cowan of Coaldale, Alberta and Matthew Hamilton of West Vancouver, B.C., won three strokes ahead of the U.S. team with a total score of 73 after Cowan birdied the 18th hole. Their competitors, Trent Sanders of Scottsdale, Arizona and Andrew Beck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, carded 76.
In the Boys 16-18 division, a closely fought game concluded in dramatic fashion with a great birdie on the final hole by Maple Leaf Team Canada player Darren Hupfer of Edmonton. Together with teammate Johnny Hall of Langdon, Ontario, the Canadians won the match with a total score of 68 - just one shot over the 69 posted by Jed Dirkesen of Coral Gables, Florida and Mike Garden of Scottsdale, Arizona.
While still playing admirably on the tough ASU Karsten Course, the sharpness of the American's individual performances surpassed the Canadians in every division in final results, although this didn't take away from the player's overall experience.
"The Team's success in capturing the Best Ball Matches was just part of the experience," Spriddle said. "They had the opportunity to see how they stack-up against some high level juniors in the United States. Also, to experience one of Golf Digest's "