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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 18-19, 2003
Niakwa GC, Winnipeg, MB
NIAKWA PROVES STERN TEST FOR MANITOBA PGA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
WINNIPEG ?The Western Canada Junior Golf Tour hosted the inaugural Manitoba PGA Junior Championship presented by Mazda at Niakwa Golf Club in Winnipeg this past Monday and Tuesday, co-sponsored by local financial services firm, Bieber Securities.
The well-conditioned private golf club proved a stern test for the juniors in this Championship, which is one of the six WCJGT events supported by the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association. All division winners received trophies, Callaway Great Big Bertha II drivers and shared $1,500 in RESP monies.
Nathan Wazney from Dugald made a birdie putt on the second playoff hole to win the Boys 14-16 division title over Jesse Skelton from St. Francois-Xavier, after both had tied for first with total scores of 151. Wazney attributed his win to ?keeping it down the middle? and his clutch putting. ?Life is good,? he said.
In third place behind Skelton was Micky Gilbart from Ignace, Ontario, who shot 80-79 for a 159 total.
The Boys 17 and up division was won by Winnipeg?s Michael Iannone, who shot back-to-back rounds of 77 for a 154 total score. ?Even when things were not going my way I tried to stay positive and fight through it,? said Iannone. ?I drove the ball pretty straight and made putts when I needed to.?
Lucas Skelton from St. Francois ? Xavier (81-75=156) and Morgan Campbell from Winnipeg (76-80=156) tied for second place behind Iannone in this division.
Young Riley Unger from Plum Coulee took his second division title on the Tour this season for the Boys 13 and under with scores of 81-78 (159). Unger, who won the WCJGT?s Saskatchewan PGA Junior Championship in Deer Valley this past May, felt the keys to his victory were keeping the ball on the fairway and his putting.
Dugald?s Lucas Wazney shot 88-83 (171) to finish second in the Boys 13 and under division, while Derek East and Burke Wiebe, both from Winnipeg, tied for third with a 173 total score.
Faye Zachedniak from Roblin, who won the Girls title over Lexie McMahon from Roland, commented on her win in the heat. ?It feels great that it?s over because of the hot temperatures but it will be something that I?ll always remember.?
Winners in the Sundog Closest-to-the-pin Competition were Lucas Wazney, Tim Penner from Steinbach, Ontario, and Joey Ringaert from Winnipeg.
The non-profit Western Canada Junior Golf Tour is presented by Boston Pizza and hosts events for boys and girls aged 10 to 23 in four age divisions. The Tour is building on its success in Western Canada by expanding into Ontario under the Nationwide Junior Golf Tour banner.
The 2003 season winds up with the Boston Pizza Tour Championship at Redtail Landing Golf Club in Edmonton, September 13-14. For more information, please call 1-877-859-GOLF or visit www.wcjgt.com.