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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
April 26-27, 2003
Swan-e-set Bay Resort & CC, Pitt Meadows, BC
April 28, 2003
WESTERN CANADA JUNIOR TOUR AWARDS SPOTS TO JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pitt Meadows, B.C. ? The Western Canada Junior Golf Tour has awarded five B.C. golfers berths in a prestigious international junior tournament following their impressive showings at last weekend?s Alcan Junior at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club.
The tournament, the third in the Tour?s Alcan Spring Qualifying Series, was a qualifier among golfers aged 11-14 for the Callaway Golf Junior World Championships, to be held July 15-18 in San Diego, California.
Among the golfers to be heading to California are 12-year-olds Richard Lee of Vancouver and Jonnie Motomochi of White Rock, two of North America?s top juniors. Last year they both finished in the top 10 in the Junior World Championships as well as second and first respectively in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, Virginia, USA.
Lee won the Boys 13-and-under division at the Swan-e-set event with scores of 71-74, while Motomochi finished second, posting rounds of 72-77. Placing third was Steven Lee of Port Coquitlam, who shot 79-74.
Darren Wallace of Langley, who shot a sizzling second-day 69 to finish at 143 and in first place in the Boys 14-16 division, also earned a berth in the San Diego tournament, as did his sister Jessica Wallace and Dominique Pytlewski of North Vancouver.
?This is a high-profile international tournament and we?re happy to be able to give these young golfers a chance to take part,? said Murray Poje, executive director of the Tour and a Canadian PGA professional.
Placing second in the Boys 14-16 division was Richmond?s Nicolas Gagne, with scores of 76-73, while Mitchell Lock of Mission shot 78-73 to take third.
The Swan-e-set event was also highlighted by a three-way playoff in the Boys 17-and-up division. Brook Scott of Port Coquitlam won the division on the fourth extra hole, defeating Burnaby?s Jimmy Kung and Cedric Erzinger of Penticton. Scott had posted scores of 76-69 in the two-day event, finishing alongside Kung and Erzinger with a 155 finish. A stroke back, at 156, were Ryan Baik of Burnaby and Paul Hickey of Langley.
The Girls division was won by Anna Kim of Vancouver, who posted rounds of 79-77 for a 156 tally. Seattle?s Christy Yun shot 81-82 to finish second, while Marli Mikulecky of Osoyoos had scores of 84-82 to take third spot.
The tournament, which played under ideal spring conditions, included a full field of 96 competitors.
?The course played long but at least the weather really co-operated,? said Poje, ?plus the bear which made an appearance both days did not seem to deter players!?
Sundog Closet-to-the-pin Skills Competition winners were Jonnie Motomochi, Kyle Dodman, Darren Wallace, Steve Oh, Kevin Stinson, Jay Hawk, Christy Yun and Laurenne Picard.
The non-profit Western Canada Junior Golf Tour is presented by Boston Pizza and hosts tournaments for boys and girls aged 10 to 23 in four age divisions. The Tour is building on its success in the four Western provinces by expanding into Ontario this summer under the Nationwide Junior Golf Tour banner.
The next local event is the Alcan Junior at Mayfair Lakes GC in Richmond, May 3-4. For more information please call 1-877-859-GOLF.