Leduc, Alta. – Sarah Armstrong and Charlie Gillespie have won the NextGen Western Championship at Leduc Golf Club in Leduc, Alta.
The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the third tournament in the NextGen Championship series and featured a starting field of 156 players (105 boys, 51 girls). After 36 holes, the field was cut to the low 47 boys and 23 girls, including ties.
In the Junior Girls Division, Sarah Armstrong of Medicine Hat, Alta. fired a 1-over 72 on Sunday to finish the tournament at 10-over par to secure the championship. Armstrong was three-shots back heading into the final round and finished one shot clear of Jenny Guo of West Vancouver, B.C.
“I’m very happy. This has been a great week. I’m very much looking forward to playing in the Canadian Junior and hopefully the Women’s Amateur out in B.C. It will be a great trip,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong recorded rounds of 72-79-72-223, to win the tournament and claim her spot in the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. In addition, joining Armstrong at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be Guo of West Vancouver B.C who finished as runner up at 11-over par and Aastha Savadatti of Calgary, Alta. who placed third at 13-over.
In the Junior Boys Division, Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. finished the tournament strong, with a 7-under 64 on Sunday to secure the victory and finished six shots clear of Josiah Tong of Heritage Pointe, Alta. to book his place in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Gillespie grabbed the lead on the opening round and held on, finishing 11-under par for the tournament with firing rounds of 68-70-64-202.
“Winning out here is huge, this is the biggest title I’ve won so I’m very excited about that. I played in my first Canadian Junior last year, so very excited to play again this year and hopefully to play a bit better,” said Gillespie.
Tong finished 5-under to finish in second and secure his spot also in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Joining Gillespie and Tong is Michael Song of Red Deer Alta. who finished third at 3-over.
The top eight players, plus ties in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.
NextGen Western Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Girls Championship
| Pos. | Player | Residence | Score |
| 1 | Sarah Armstrong | Medicine Hat, Alta. | +10 |
| T2 | Jenny Guo | West Vancouver, B.C. | +11 |
| T3 | Aastha Savadatti | Calgary, Alta. | +13 |
| T3 | Tessa Ion | Calgary, Alta. | +13 |
| T3 | Karrisa Yuehan Zhao | West Vancouver, B.C. | +13 |
| 6 | Sydney Bisgrove | Calgary, Alta. | +15 |
| 7 | Kali Yeske | Calgary, Alta. | +16 |
| T8 | Charlotte Tam | Burnaby B.C | +20 |
| T8 | Olivia Johnson | Calgary, Alta. | +20 |
In the Junior Boys division, the top eight players earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys championship, August 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.
NextGen Western Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Boys Championship
| Pos. | Player | Residence | Score |
| 1 | Charlie Gillespie | Calgary, Alta. | -11 |
| 2 | Josiah Tong | Heritage Pointe, Alta. | -5 |
| T3 | Michael Song | Red Deer, Alta. | +3 |
| T3 | Brett Jones | Calgary, Alta. | +3 |
| T5 | Max Osten | Delta, B.C. | +4 |
| T5 | Tobias Buffam | Calgary, Alta. | +4 |
| T5 | Ryan Gillis | Calgary, Alta. | +4 |
| T5 | Tate Bruggeman | Edmonton, Alta | +4 |
About the NextGen Championships
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May-July, six championships will take place across Canada where the regions best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen championships provide junior golfers an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.