Golf Canada’s second junior golf championship of 2017 is set to take place from May 26-28 as the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship gets underway at Brockville Country Club in Brockville, Ont.
With support from Golf Ontario, the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship is the second of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on May 25 before the tournament gets underway with round one on May 26.
Founded in 1914, Brockville Country Club will be hosting its first ever Future Links Championship. Just three years removed from celebrating its 100th year, the course features various elevation changes and tricky greens located at the end of tree-lined fairways.
“Golf Canada is very pleased to present the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura championship in Brockville,” said Akash Patel, the Tournament Director. “The six regional Championships are fantastic events for Canada’s premier junior golfers to showcase their skills. We look forward for this strong field of juniors attempting to navigate the tricky course at Brockville Country Club.”
The field will consist of 87 junior golfers in the Junior Boys Division with the top six earning exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.
The Junior Girls Division will consist of 33 golfers with the top six (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.
Prior to the championship on Thursday, May 25, Golf Canada and Special Olympics Canada will hold the second of two regional competitions in support of Special Olympics golf. The first event was held at Chilliwack Golf Club before the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship. A field of 18 local athletes will compete over nine holes. Following the event, PGA of Canada professionals will conduct a clinic for Special Olympics coaches and athletes with a focus on improving skills and leadership within the sport.
Four additional Future Links, driven by Acura Championships will span the country this summer.
June 1-4 – Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec – Sherbrooke, Que. – Club de golf Milby.
July 3-6 – Future Links, driven by Acura Prairie – Estevan, Sask. – TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.
July 10-13 – Future Links, driven by Acura Western – Fernie, B.C. – Fernie Golf & Country Club.
July 17-20 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Church Point, N.S. – Clare Golf & County Club.
The 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship took place on May 12-14. Full results can be found here.
Additional information regarding the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, including participants, start times and up-to-date results can be found here.
NOTABLES
Isabella Portokalis of London, Ont.
The 15-year-old comes in as the event’s defending champion. She would go on to place T11 at the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Through eight events in 2016, she was ranked No. 8 in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit.
Jeevan Sihota of Victoria, B.C.
The 13-year-old is coming off a victory at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, where he was the youngest golfer in the field. His victory placed him seventh in the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura junior boys Order of Merit. He finished in T8 at his only other counting event this year: the CJGA Humber College PGM Western Championship.
Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont.
Team Canada Development Squad member who is ranked No. 1 in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit. In the Pacific Championship earlier in May, Chun finished T7, one shot back of qualifying for the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The 16-year-old won both the 2016 Golf Quebec Junior Spring Open and the 2016 Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship. She is coming off a win at the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, in Stouffville on May 20-22.
Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont.
The Team Canada Development Squad member finished 11th at this event last year, but had already qualified for the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship (solo second) after she finished second at the 2016 Pacific Championship. She currently sits in 10th in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit.
Tyler Nagano of Toronto, Ont.
At the same event in 2016, the 18-year-old finished two strokes back of the leader and placed in solo-second, his best finish of the year.
Sarah Cushing of Brockville, Ont.
The 17-year-old will be playing on her home course at Brockville Country Club. Her highest finish in 2016 was a solo third at the CJGA Golfweek Canadian Jr Invitational.
Remi Chartier of Beaconsfield, Que.
The 16-year-old finished third, one stroke back of Nagano, at the same event last season, to qualify for the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which he finished T30. In May, he finished in solo-second at the CJGA Quebec Junior Open.
Kelvin Lim of Thornhill, Ont.
The 15-year-old finished in seventh in the 2016 Future Links, driven by Acura junior boys Order of Merit. He is coming off a win at the Investors Group Junior Boys’ Spring Classic at Wooden Sticks Golf Club on May 20-22 and a T7 finish at the AJGA Rome Junior Classic on April 23.
FAST FACTS
In 2017, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations.
Top six finishers in the Boys Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
Top six finishers (including ties) in the Girls Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.
Defending champion Isabella Portokalis started her final 2016 round three shots back before rallying to earn her victory.
Brandon Lacasse won the junior boys tournament in 2016, his final year of eligibility into the event.
Friday’s pairings.
More information on the event can be found here.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Established in 1914.
The clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in 1937 and rebuilt the following year.