Handy Sports Rag

Junior golfers heading to Sundre

By Barry Williams  
April 25, 2003

     Junior golfers from across the province will be heading to Sundre on Saturday, May 24, to participate in the first event of the McLennan-Ross Sun Junior Tour.

     A full contingent of 144 golfers is expected to contest for the tournament championship.

    According to Sundre Golf Club, Director of Golf, Bob Forshner, several area golfers will take part in the popular event.

    "In  past tournaments, we have always had a strong registration from the Sundre Golf Club and other clubs within this area and I expect the same this year," said Forshner.

    "Since this is the first tournament of the year for these golfers, they are eager to get out on the course," Forshner added.

    Besides getting out to play a round of golf, the McLennan-Ross Sun Junior Tour provides the younger duffer with the opportunity of playing in an organized tournament against different competitors and developing the fundamentals of the game.

    "Our main focus of these tournaments is the development of Junior golf within the province," said Dunc Mills, Executive Director of the McLennan-Ross Sun Junior Golf Tour.

     And through the years, the Tour has attracted  elite Junior golfers interested in obtaining golf scholarships, or working as a professional golfer as well as those wanting to play the game as fun and enjoyment.

     "There is no doubt the tournament has attracted the upper echelon of Junior golfers in the province who have participated  in the Alberta Junior Men's Provincial tournament  or the  Canadian Junior Men's Championship ," Mills said.

     Noteable names on the Canadian Junior Men's Golf Team, which participated at the2002 World Junior Golf Championship in Japan were Sundre's Ryan Swelin and Lethbridge's Ryan LaValley, both of whom played several years on the McLennan-Ross Sun Junior Tour.

     "Every Junior golfer entering our tournaments has an equal opportunity of participating, it doesn't matter if they're the best golfer or just learning the game," Mills added.

     Besides participating in the tournaments, the golfers are exposed to rules and conduct of the game and it gives them a better understanding of the game, noted Mills.

   "Playing in a tournament is different from playing a round of golf with your friends and these kids learn all the aspects of tournament play," indicated Mills.

    With 27 tournaments scheduled throughout the province, the golfers can enter a tournament close to home or travel to any of the events.

    Each tournament qualifies two female and five male golfers for the Tour Championship held at the Wolf Creek Golf Resort in August.

    Except for Husky Oil, all major sponsors; Calgary Sun, McLennan-Ross, Parcom Marketing, Koch Ford Mercury, IGA and Dairyland are back with the tour this year, which has added ATB Financial as one of the sponsors.

   "We have had excellent participation from corporate sponsors and the golf clubs hosting the tournaments," concluded Mills.

    After Sundre, the golfers will journey to the Connaught Golf and Country Club for the next tour stop on Saturday May, 31.