GIBBONS, Alta. – Clear skies and ideal conditions set the stage for the first round of the 2015 CN Future Links Western Championship at Goose Hummock Golf Course in Gibbons, Alta. Andrew Harrison opened at even par to top a crowded leaderboard in the Junior Boys division while Kehler Koss sits two strokes ahead of second place to lead the Junior Girls.
Harrison of Camrose, Alta., is carrying momentum from his recent victory at the 2015 Alberta Junior Championship. The 16-year-old matched three bogeys with a trio of birdies to finish at even-par 71. Several competitors are within striking distance with 10 players shooting 4-over par or better.
One shot back is Ponoka, Alta., product Jared Nicolls who bounced back from a double bogey on hole 15 with a birdie on 16 and two subsequent pars. Also shooting 72 was Calgary native Ryan Rody, whose round was highlighted by a front nine score of 2-under par.
Edmonton’s Jason Martens, who finished runner-up at the Alberta Junior Championship, opened the tournament with a 2-over par 73 and is T4. Sharing fourth is Brendan MacDougall of Calgary who capitalized on an even-par back nine to sit two shots back of the lead.
Three Calgary natives finished the day at the top of the Junior Girls division. Leading the way was Kehler Koss who opened the 54-hole competition with a 6-over par 77 performance. The 16-year-old notched two birdies and holds a two shot advantage heading into the second day of the tournament.
In second with a score of 79 is Kenna Hughes who is looking to improve upon her third-place finish at the 2014 edition of this event held at Birchbank Golf Club in Trail, B.C. Rounding out the top three is Sharmaine Rapisura, who sits five strokes back of the leader after opening with an 82.
The top six finishers in both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls divisions at the CN Future Links Western Championship will receive exemptions into their respective national championships. The 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will take place August 2-6 at Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., while the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be contested at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., from August 3-7. The CN Future Links Junior Girls Western champion will also receive an exemption into a 2016 Canadian Women’s Tour event of her choice.
The second round will see the junior girls tee off at 7:30 a.m. MDT before the junior boys take to the course at 8:40 a.m.
For complete scoring and additional information from the 2015 CN Future Links Western Championship, click here.