Brockville/Uxbridge, ON – On May 18th to 20th, Brockville Country Club and Wooden Sticks Golf Club will host the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championships. The Championships are open to boys and girls who are 18 and younger, and have qualified in previous tournaments.
Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship
Over the long weekend, Brockville Country Club will be hosting the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship. The Brockville Country Club was founded in 1914, and with considerable elevation changes, many narrow fairways, and challenging par 3’s, the 18-hole course can be deceptively challenging.
“It’s an old course with lots of twists and doglegs,” said Doug Wark, Director of Sport Operations at Brockville. “It’s a course golfers have to understand due to the importance of positioning. It’ll be exciting to see how the players adapt.”
Last year, Matthew Anderson of Credit Valley Golf & Country Club took home the gold medal, shooting -2 (214), while Cameron Kellett of St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, Laurent Desmarchais of Vallée du Richelieu, and Brendan Dunphy of Whitevale Golf Club finished in a three-way tie for 2nd with a total score of -1 (215).
With Anderson moving on past the junior ranks, the top spot is up for grabs. Dunphy will be returning in the 2019 tournament, looking to turn his previous second place finish into a championship run.
Another notable golfer playing over the long weekend is Michael Ikejiani from Barrie Country Club. Ikejiani is coming off a hot start to the season, winning the Junior Boys division of the Ontario Champion of Champions Tournament on May 14th. Ikejiani led the charge, shooting -3 (68), which was the most commanding lead in the entire tournament. It is safe to assume he is hoping to continue his success at the Junior Spring Classic.
Players will be facing off on the difficult course for a chance to win the WD Randolph Millage Trophy. The top 3 Ontario boys will get exempt into the Ontario Junior Boys Championship, and the low Ontario boy will get a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The Canadian Junior Boys Championship is set to take place on August 12th-15th, and will be held by Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in Hartland, New Brunswick.
Tee times are set for 12:00pm, with split tees starting at the first, and tenth hole.
Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship
While the U19 boys are out in Brockville, the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship will be held at Wooden Sticks Golf Course in Uxbridge. Wooden Sticks has brought together some of the most recognizable golf landscapes from the PGA and sculpted them into the scenery of the local area to produce 18 holes that will challenge all competitors. With golf holes inspired by Augusta, St. Andrews, Pine Valley, Carnoustie, TPC Sawgrass, and Oakmont, it is surely a course that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“We’ve hosted this event over the past couple of years for the boys, so we are excited to host the girls this year,” said Steve Wilson, Head Golf Professional at Wooden Sticks. “There’s so much talent in this tournament, it’s without a doubt going to be an exciting weekend.”
Last year, the Girls Spring Classic was a tight race. Emily Zhu from National Pines Golf Club, finished in first with a score of +8 (224). Zhu was closely trailed by Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin from Granite Golf Club who finished +9 (225), and then Taylor Kehoe from West Haven Golf & Country Club who finished +11 (227).
With both Zhu and Kehoe not returning to the tournament, McLaughlin is the only medal winner from last year returning this season, giving her a good opportunity to claim the top spot.
The girls will be facing off at Wooden Sticks for a chance to win the WD Randolph Millage Trophy.
Tee times are also set for 12:00pm, with all players starting at the first hole.
To read more about both the boys and girls results last year, CLICK HERE
About the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championships
The Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championship is contested annually over the Victoria Day long weekend and features many of Ontario’s best male and female junior golfers. The field of competitors gained entry to the competition through a qualifying process earlier in the season.
The three day tournament will challenge the focus, stamina, and skills of all the participating golfers. We wish all attending both Brockville and Uxbridge good luck, and we’ll see you on the course!
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 95,000 individual members and 400 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @thegolfontario for live updates on the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championship and other tournaments this season.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
