Shropshire holds lead in both the Junior and Juvenile divisions following windy conditions on Thursday
Innisfail, Alta. – Spencer Shropshire battled the wind and the field on Thursday to shoot an even par 72 to sit at 12-under, good for a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.
“The wind was a huge factor, it was essentially a different golf course today,” said Shropshire following his round on Thursday.
The 16-year-old from Ramara, Ont. got off to a strong start with two birdies on the front nine and a string of pars. After bogeying no. 10, he recorded three straight birdies to stretch his lead to five shots through 13. He ran into some trouble on no. 14 where he carded a double bogey and then responded with three more pars before dropping a stroke on 18 to finish with a 72.
“I played the front really well, just played conservative and birdies came when they came and, on the back, just hit a couple bad shots and a couple bad breaks and just didn’t finish how I wanted but still happy with a two-shot lead going into tomorrow,” said Shropshire.
While he admitted that leading a tournament is something new for him, having now held the lead on consecutive days has certainly helped him feel more comfortable heading into the final round.
There are a trio of golfers behind Shropshire at 10-under, including Team Canada NextGen member, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. On Wednesday, Ibit was part of Team Ontario’s Inter-Provincial Team championship win for the second year in a row. After firing an even par round on Wednesday, Ibit responded with a 5-under 67 where he carded five birdies and closed with an eagle on no. 18 for the second straight day to jump up the leaderboard.
Tied for second with Ibit are Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. and Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C., who both shot rounds of 2-under 70 on Thursday.
Some prefer to know what the competitors are doing as you get down the stretch, while others do not. Shropshire embraces playing with those that are in contention, “I think it makes it easier when you play with guys that are in contention, when they’re close to you, it makes you play solidly the whole round.”
He says the game plan he set out for the week won’t change tomorrow regardless of his position on the leaderboard.
“I want to put as many wedges in my hands as possible and I need to be better on the par fives, I haven’t played them well, so I need to be better on the par fives,” he added.
Team Canada NextGen member Matthew Javier of Toronto, Ont. and Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alberta round out the top five, both at 7-under. Low round of the day belonged to Manav Bharani of Brampton, Ont. who fired a 6-under 66 to move into a tie for 12th at 2-under.
In addition to being atop the Junior division, Shropshire also leads the Juvenile division by two shots over Lew with a trio of golfers tied for third at 3-under including defending champion, Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C.
The Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over four rounds. The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
In Friday’s final round, Shropshire will be playing in a group with Ibit and Lew they will tee off at 10:00 a.m. MDT. For Friday’s final round groupings and tee times, please click here.
For the leaderboard following the third round of play at the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.