GATINEAU, Que. – Blair Bursey conquered hot and windy conditions to claim the early lead in the 112^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The Gander, N.L., native managed the feat at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, Ont., and holds a three-stroke advantage heading into his second round to be played at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que.

“It was a good round, but I started off a little shaky,” reflected Bursey. “Once I felt my way into it, things just came fairly easily. Not often does a round like that come around, so it was pretty special. To finish with an eagle was a great way to go out. I hit two of my best shots of the day on that last hole. It was a good way to start the tournament, but that’s all it is right now: a solid start. With three more days to go, hopefully there’s more solid golf coming up.”

The 19-year-old notched a pair of birdies for a 2-under front nine performance. He went on to tally four more birdies on the day before adding an eagle on the par-5 No. 18 for a bogey-free, 8-under 64 showing.

Bursey now heads to The Royal Ottawa Golf Club for his second round – a course which boasts two of the biggest moments in Canadian golf in its storied legacy. The roots of Golf Canada – the sport’s national governing body – were firmly planted at this historic venue in 1895 before it played host to the inaugural Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship later that year.

“I had one practice round there and I absolutely loved the golf course,” said the Utah Valley University junior when asked about the shift to the second co-host. “It’s traditional and I just love it. It’s an honour to be here. I think Golf Canada having the Men’s Amateur here is such a pleasure for all the players. I’m definitely excited to head over there tomorrow.”

Of the 16 players currently within the Top-10, 15 played their opening rounds at Eagle Creek alongside Bursey. Despite the challenge ahead, he remains confident and focused.

“I was just trying to hit good quality golf shots. I wasn’t expecting to shoot a low-60s round, I wasn’t setting a number. I was just going about my business and it just happened to fall in today. I don’t expect it to be like that every day, but if I can put the ball in the right position, keep a good outlook and continue to execute, good things will come my way. My best stuff today showed through, if I can just continue to do the best I can, that’ll be good enough by the end of the week.”

Holding shares of second are Winnipeg’s Marco Trstenjak, Napanee, Ont., native Josh Whalen and Andy Zhang from China, who resides in Winter Garden, Fla. The trio sit three strokes off the lead and will join Bursey at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Team Newfoundland and Labrador finished with a team total of 4-under 140 to open the two-day inter-provincial team competition for the prestigious Willingdon Cup. The team of Bursey and St. John’s, N.L. natives Chuck Conley and Nathan Peters will look to dethrone Team British Columbia to secure its first team title. Teams Alberta and Ontario trail the Maritime province by two strokes.

Competitors will complete their second rounds having played both host clubs. The field will be reduced to the low-70 and ties for the two final rounds to be contested at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

In addition to capturing the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

KANATA — This year will go down as the year of Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos in the Ontario Senior Men’s division. Kertsos began the season by winning the Senior Men’s Champion of Champions and on Aug. 6th he added the 2016 Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship to his list of accomplishments.

Kertsos, 60-years-old from the York Downs Golf & Country Club, mastered The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata, along with the elements, as he capped off his week at two-under (71-72-71-214). Kertsos headed into the final round with a two-shot lead thanks to consistent play in the opening two rounds. He continued to be steady during the final round carding a bogey-free, four-under front nine. He went to the turn with a six-shot lead and would not be denied the title. He finished the back nine three-over to card a final round of one-under (71). In addition, Kertsos also claimed the 60+ Division title.

Afterwards, Kertsos talked about the win and how special this season has been.

“This one feels great! It has been a special season,” said Kertsos. “I’ve played well these last three days, I hit the ball really well. If I had putted well, then who knows what I could have shot. I didn’t know how I would feel today, if I would be nervous or calm, but I turned out to be pretty calm and just focused on not making any mistakes. I think I only made one during the entire round.”

Claiming the silver medal was local favorite, Ottawa’s Randy Blondin. Blondin, who is not only a member at the host club of The Marshes, but lives just off the 16^th hole, started the day two-shots back in second place.  He played a consistent round and finished the day one-over (73). That brought his tournament total to two-over (71-74-73-218).

Rounding out the podium, with the bronze, was Toronto’s Robert Gibson. Gibson, from the Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club, entered the day with a share of third. He would finish the day two-over (74) bringing him to four-over (72-74-74-220) for the championship.

In the 70+ Division, Collingwood’s Brian Jeffery took home the title. Jeffery, from Batteaux Creek Golf Club, held the lead in the division after the first two rounds and capped off the tournament with a five-over (77) during the final round to complete the event at 13-over (80-72-77-229).

In addition to the championships, the top 34 players earned a quota spot for the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Sept. 6-9, at Grand Niagara Golf Club. The top three also earn the right to represent Ontario in the team competition at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship.

In total, 137 players began the competition. For complete tournament information visit the tournament site.

GATINEAU, Que. – Joshua Goheen battled windy conditions to card a 1-over 71 at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club to claim medallist honours at the qualifying event for the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. A total of seven players, including six Canadians, finished 3-over or better to earn their places at next week’s national championship to be contested at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., and Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, Ont., from August 8-11.

Goheen led the field with a 3-birdie performance. The Campbell University Camel feels ready for the challenge of competing against a strong field.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” said the Greely, Ont., native. “The last week or so, I haven’t played too much, but I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to do pretty well this week.”

The 21-year-old will be playing in his second Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in as many years, but is especially looking forward to the 2016 edition of the world’s third oldest amateur championship.

“I’m excited and honoured. I’ve also got a couple of teammates coming up to play this week, so I’m happy to be in the field with them. I’m excited to play in front of a home crowd, too.”

Martin Carré of Gatineau, Que., finished runner-up in the competition with a 72 which included a trio of birdies on the back nine. James Colin Davis of Montréal, Ontarians Robert Ellis of St. Catharines and Evan Littlefield from Thunder Bay, as well as Sam Stilwell of Sterling, Va., finished with shares of third at 3-over to earn their places in the championship. Additional information from the qualifying competition can be found here.

Two days of practice rounds are slated for August 6 and 7 before competitors take to both courses on August 8 and 9 for the tournament’s opening 36 holes. The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the two final rounds to be contested at The Royal Ottawa.

An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition with three-member teams vying for the prized Willingdon Cup.

In addition to claiming the title of 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – Gusting winds tempered blistering heat at the Links at Penn Hills as Victoria native Naomi Ko shot a final-round 72 to capture the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship title.

The 18-year-old entered the final round of play in a tie for first at 5-under with Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C. – only one stroke ahead of Mississauga, Ont., native Chloe Currie. Back-to-back birdies on holes 2 and 3 followed by a third on No.5 pushed the Team Canada National Squad member into an early 8-under lead.

“I got off to a really good start on the front nine,” said Ko. “The wind wasn’t really in effect but as I got to the back nine it really started picking up. I really had to adjust and learn from yesterday’s mistakes. I was striking the ball well and I think that was one of the key things today. Putting on the back nine not so good but it got the job done.”

The North Carolina State University sophomore collected three bogeys through the final stretch en route to a 5-under 283 tournament total. Ko has come close to taking the national title in previous years, but fell short in 2014 with a fourth-place finish at Thornhill Golf & Country Club in Thornhill, Ont. She was awarded second-runner-up honours in 2015 when the event was hosted by Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask. This victory comes as a relief to Ko who was competing in her last Junior event before she becomes ineligible on the 18-and-under junior circuit.

“Knowing that it was my last Canadian junior I really wanted to win it. I tried to keep myself grounded and play it one shot at a time. I was walking up the last couple of holes and I kind of felt sick. I felt a little bit nauseous and took a deep breath and took advantage on the 18th. I had a good approach shot and knew I just had to get it in or two put, so it was a little less pressure.”

In addition to her 2016 Canadian Junior Girls title, Ko has received an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship hosted at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., from July 25 to 28.

An impressive 73-71-68 week helped Currie slide into second place ahead of Parsons following a final round 75. The 16-year-old Development Squad member fell into a 5-over hole after carding three bogeys and double bogey through Nos. 5 to 12. Back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16 kept Currie in line for runner-up honours. Her 1-under 287 performance also solidified her victory in the 16-and-under Juvenile division.

Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C., stayed even through the day to earn her place in second on the Juvenile leaderboard with a 2-over 290 final showing.

Parsons recorded six bogeys through her final round to capture third in the overall Junior standings at even-par.

The 17-year-old found victory earlier in the week after capturing the inter-provincial team competition title for British Columbia alongside Development Squad members Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Hannah Lee (Surrey). The trio finished the 36-hole competition with a 2-over 290 showing.

Additional information regarding the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship can be found here.

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – Intermittent rain dotted the day at the Links at Penn Hills as the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship completed its third round. Mary Parsons crafted a 2-under 70 showing to join Naomi Ko atop the leaderboard.

Parsons started slow, recording a double-bogey on the 6th hole and a bogey on No. 8. A third on the par-4 10th hole moved the Delta, B.C., native to 2-over with eight holes remaining.

“I felt that I did get off to a little shaky start on the front nine,” said Parsons. “Definitely when the weather started clearing up, I felt like I could play to my advantage, and on the back nine, I started sinking more putts and swinging easier.”

The 2016 CN Future Links Pacific champion rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 12th hole, before stringing another three together on holes 14 to 16 to sit alongside second-round leader Naomi Ko at 5-under 211. The 17-year-old is hoping to improve upon a T14 result from the 2015 national championship at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., but knows victory will not come easily in such a skilled field.

“Naomi played steady the whole day, and Chloe [Currie] played great, too. I think tomorrow, I’m just going to keep playing to my advantage, playing steady like I always do and hitting more greens.”

Ko, a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, collected two birdies on the day, but finished with a 73.

“My ball striking wasn’t as great as yesterday, but with golf every day, it’s different, so I tried to hang in there,” said the native of Victoria. “I think it’s actually kind of nice to share the lead going into the last round. It gives me something to fight for tomorrow. It’ll be a good competition.”

Development Squad member Chloe Currie carded four birdies across a bogey-free round to take hold of third in the overall competition. The Mississauga, Ont., native’s round of 68 extended her advantage atop the 16-and-under Juvenile division. She sits four strokes ahead of Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., resident Céleste Dao.

Dao finished with a seven-birdie, 5-under performance for the day’s low round. The 15-year-old moved into second-place in the Juvenile division and took hold of fourth in the Junior standings.

The British Columbian trio consisting of Parsons and Development Squad members Tiffany Kong of Vancouver and Hannah Lee from Surrey finished 2-over 290 to claim victory in the inter-provincial team competition which was played over the first 36 holes.

The 2016 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship hosted at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., from July 25 to 28.

The final round of competition will see the first group tee off from No. 1 at 7:30 a.m. ADT.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Any memories of inclement weather during the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship were all but forgotten thanks to clear skies and brilliant sunshine during the final round at Clovelly. Sam Meek took advantage of the conditions to earn a come-from-behind victory and claim the national junior title.

With the victory, Meek becomes the prestigious championship’s 78^th winner. The history of the competition and the significance of the victory were not lost upon the champion.

“This win means the world,” said the native of Peterborough, Ont. “This is what I’ve strived to accomplish my entire junior golf career. To have my name on the same trophy as some of those winners is incredible. This is the top of junior golf in Canada, so just to be a part of that is an amazing feeling.”

The 17-year-old entered the final round with a share of third, trailing dual-citizen Thomas Critch of Cedar Park, Texas, by three shots. Meek tallied two birdies on the day for a 1-under 71 showing.

“I’ve been hitting it really well all week, so I had a lot of trust in myself there,” he explained when asked about the keys to the win. “Basically just staying patient. I started the day pretty far back. I was three shots behind Thomas. He struggled a bit off the bat, so I was able to get something going there. I believe I made the turn two shots over him, so just staying steady on the back nine was the key from there.”

“Coming in, I feel like I have a lot of experience,” added the champion. “This is my third Canadian Junior now, so I was able to kind of build off what I’ve learned from people who have won this in the past and see what they did to be successful. It just kind of came down to thinking back to all the hard work I’ve put into it and just trying to stay in the moment and not get too far ahead of myself.”

In addition to claiming the Silver Cup as Canadian Junior Boys champion, Meek has earned an exemption into the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be contested at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Eagle Creek Golf Club from August 8-11.

“I feel like I have a lot of confidence in my game,” said the Southern Illinois University commit, when asked about the challenge ahead. “The Canadian Amateur is a big tournament, so it’ll be a lot of fun to play against those guys. I don’t have a lot of opportunities to play against them, so I’m just testing my game against the best amateurs in the country, it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Thomas Critch, whose familial ties to the host city garnered him a strong following throughout the competition, finished 1-under 287 to capture runner-up honours in the Junior division. The 16-year-old’s performance earned him the title of 2016 Canadian Juvenile Boys champion. The winner of the 16-and-under Juvenile division held the 54-hole lead before shooting a final-round 76.

A pair of 16-year-olds finished 1-over 289 to claim third in the overall competition and second in the Juvenile division. Peyton Callens of Langton, Ont., registered a 68 on the day to climb the leaderboard. He adds the result to a season which has included the Ontario Junior Boys’ title and a victory at the CN Future Links Prairie Championship. Duncan, B.C., native and reigning CN Future Links Quebec champion Callum Davison collected two birdies en route to a 76.

Alberta claimed the inter-provincial team title which was played concurrently over the championship’s first 36 holes. Calgary’s Brendan MacDougall, Chandler McDowell of Springbrook and Matt Bean from Canmore finished 2-under 286 for a nine-stroke victory.

The 2017 edition of the competition will be contested at Cataraqui Golf & Country in Kingston, Ont., from July 31 to August 3.

Additional information on the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship can be found here.

GATINEAU, Que. – History abounds at the 112^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. A number of significant milestones surround this year’s edition of the world’s third oldest amateur golf competition to be co-hosted by The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., and Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, Ont., from August 8-11.

The championship returns to The Royal Ottawa Golf Club – the inaugural tournament’s host venue – in celebration of the club’s 125^th year. Eagle Creek will co-host this historic competition as part of its festivities surrounding its 25^th anniversary. The 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will also mark the first time the event has been staged in two provinces.

“This year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is going to be special,” noted Tournament Director Adam Helmer. “The beginnings of Canadian golf have their roots at The Royal Ottawa – both this prestigious tournament and Golf Canada itself. Every year, this competition offers players the opportunity to add their names to the story of golf in Canada.”

In 2015, Billy Kennerly shot a final-round 2-under 70 to claim a six-stroke victory at Weston Golf & Country Club. The Alpharetta, Ga., native added the victory to an already impressive amateur career before turning professional earlier this year.

A full field of competitors from seven countries will compete for the Earl Grey Trophy and the title of Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, including Travis Smyth of Shellharbour, Australia. The 21-year-old, who is No. 62 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, claimed a runner-up result at the 2016 Australian Amateur Championship and a T4 at the 2016 Players Amateur. Also in the field is No. 76 Kristoffer Ventura of Rygge, Norway, who is coming off a 5^th-place finish at the 2016 European Men’s Team Championship.

Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., native Hugo Bernard and Elmira, Ont., product Garrett Rank earned shares of second last year and translated that result into success in 2016. Bernard was named to Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, then claimed medallist honours at the 2016 NCAA Division II Championship before capturing this year’s Alexander of Tunis. Rank went on to defend his Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title before competing in the 2016 RBC Canadian Open and then securing medallist honours to earn entry into this year’s U.S. Amateur.

Joining Bernard will be teammate Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., who is hoping to build upon a season which has included a T9 at the RBC Canadian Open to earn the Gary Cowan Medal as low amateur and a T4 at the Porter Cup. Eric Banks of Truro, N.S., Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald and Blair Hamilton from Burlington, Ont., will complete the Amateur Squad contingent.

The five members of the National Team Development Squad will also be in contention. Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont., captured the CN Future Links Pacific title in his final year of eligibility on the junior circuit. He will be joined by teammates Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson of Aurora, Ont., Québec City’s Charles-Éric Bélanger, A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., and Calgarian Alexander Smith.

An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition with three-member teams vying for the Willingdon Cup. Team British Columbia comprised of National Team members Macdonald and du Toit, alongside Kevin Kwon of Maple Ridge, B.C., claimed a three-stroke victory in 2015.

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Qualifier will be played at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club on August 5. A minimum of five spots into the tournament will be awarded. Additional information can be found here.

Two days of practice rounds are slated for August 6 and 7 before competitors take to both courses on August 8 and 9 for the championship’s opening 36 holes. The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the two final rounds to be contested at The Royal Ottawa.

In addition to claiming the title of 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – The second round of the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship saw hard greens soften under a dewy morning at the Links at Penn Hills. Victoria’s Naomi Ko carded a 5-under 67 en route to extending a three-stroke advantage.

The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member carded a bogey-free second round to extend her streak of holes without a blemish to 31. She took quick possession of the lead following back-to-back birdies on holes 3 and 4 before adding another on the par-3 No. 8. A 2-under 34 across the back nine moved Ko to 6-under through 36 holes.

“The weather was nice and the greens were holding up better today, everything was pretty solid,” said Ko. “My ball-striking was pretty good and I hit a lot of greens which helps. There were a couple of putts that slipped a bit, but I’ll take a 5-under any day.”

Ko is competing in her fifth and final national 18-and-under championship before she loses eligibility in six days. The North Carolina State University sophomore posted a fourth-place finish at this competition in 2014 when it was hosted at Thornhill Golf & Country Club in Thornhill, Ont., and a second-runner-up result last year at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask.

“I’m excited and kind of sad at the same time that it’s my last Canadian Juniors, but I’m just going to try to do my best and hopefully the results will show. I kind of have to get my head out of the scores and focus on my game. Experience helps a lot and being with Team Canada really helps to support me in this kind of environment.”

A six-birdie day propelled Delta, B.C., native Mary Parsons into second-place at 3-under. The 2016 CN Future Links Pacific champion matched Ko’s 67 after draining three consecutive birdies across holes 2 to 4 and then equaling the feat on holes 16 to 18.

Team Canada Development Squad member Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., shot 1-under on the day to finish in a tie for third with Maple Ridge, B.C., resident and fellow 16-year-old Cecile Kwon. Currie carded three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th hole en route to her 71. The pair lead the 16-and-under Juvenile division at even-par, while first-round leader Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C., carded a 75 and is one stroke back.

Parsons, Vancouver’s Tiffany Kong and Hannah Lee of Surrey combined to deliver British Columbia its second inter-provincial team title in as many years. The trio finished the day 3-under to emerge victorious with a team total of 2-over 290 – seven strokes clear of their first-round co-leaders from Team Ontario.

The 2016 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship hosted at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., from July 25 to 28.

A total of 70 players finished 172-or-better to advance to the final two rounds of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The third round will see the first group tee off from No. 1 at 7:30 a.m. ADT.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here.

JOHN’S, N.L. – Early morning clouds separated and beams of sunshine broke through in much the same way that third-round action unfolded at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Thomas Critch, who began the day with a share of 7^th, carded a 5-under 67 to sit atop the leaderboard at Clovelly.

Critch – a dual citizen who resides in Cedar Park, Texas – collected seven birdies on the day, including five across a bogey-free back nine, highlighted by a 45-foot putt on No. 14. He would go on to birdie his final two holes to claim sole possession of the lead at 5-under 211.

“I had it going at the beginning,” recounted the 16-year-old. “I was 2-under through four and then I had a couple of slip-ups on six and eight. I made a really good par putt on hole nine that got me going. I just had it going on the back nine. I was putting really well.”

The University of Arkansas commit garnered a strong following throughout the day that was more than eager to lend their support to a hometown boy.

“My grandpa used to be a member here [at Clovelly]. I used to come here every summer and play a couple of rounds. So playing in this and knowing that my whole family is going to be out here watching is really special to me.”

“When I found out the tournament was going to be in St. John’s, I really wanted to play in it very badly,” Critch added. “Just to be in the hunt to win is really cool and if I can win, that’d be great. I bet my family would be really proud of me.”

Heading into the final round, Critch stressed the need for focus and self-confidence.

“I just have to take it one shot at a time and not get too carried away if I’m ahead by a lot or behind by a lot. You can make a lot of birdies, so you’ve just got to stay patient. I just have to know that I can make a lot of birdies like I did today.”

Trailing Critch in both the Junior and Juvenile divisions is Duncan, B.C., native Callum Davison. The 2016 CN Future Links Quebec champion carded a 72 with a trio of birdies on the day to sit two strokes off the lead. 18-hole leader Sam Meek of Peterborough, Ont., and 36-hole leader Brendan MacDougall from Calgary hold shares of third at 2-under. Fellow Calgarian Max Murchison is two shots back of Davison in the 16-and-under Juvenile division.

Alberta claimed the inter-provincial team title which was played concurrently over the championship’s first two rounds. The trio of Calgary’s Brendan MacDougall, Chandler McDowell of Springbrook and Matt Bean from Canmore finished 2-under 286 for a nine-stroke victory.

In addition to the title of Canadian Junior Boys champion, the winner will receive an exemption into the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be co-hosted by The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Eagle Creek Golf Club from August 8 to 11.

The third day of competition will begin with groups teeing off Nos. 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m. NST. Additional information from the tournament can be found here.

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – Dry heat and harsh winds made for unpredictable conditions at the Links at Penn Hills as the opening round of the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship got underway. Alisha Lau persevered through a blustery back nine and sits alone atop the leaderboard at 2-under 70.

The Richmond, B.C., native tallied four birdies on the front nine to make the turn at 3-under. The 16-year-old added another birdie on the par-4 10th hole, but bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 cut into her advantage.

“I felt pretty good. I got off to a hot start, so that helped boost my confidence,” said Lau. “The front nine was pretty calm because the trees shielded it from the wind, and then on the back nine it really started picking up. I’m playing pretty conservatively and trying to find my happy medium. I don’t hit it too long either, so I can use the bounce from the fairway to really help me.”

Lau’s best finish at this competition was a T20 in 2014 at Thornhill Golf & Country Club in Thornhill, Ont. In the second round of last year’s championship at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., she was forced to withdraw due to a bout of food poisoning.

“I took a lot of time off in the winter, so this year I’m just trying to play my game. I haven’t been putting too many expectations on myself. My score today is giving me a little bit of confidence for the next three days, but they’re going to be a long three days still. It’s going to be a grind.”

Victoria’s Naomi Ko leads all Team Canada members in the field at 1-under 71. The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member carded four birdies on the day to join Lau as the only players to finish below-par.

Fellow Victoria native Akari Hayashi recovered from a 4-over front nine with a five-birdie performance through her final seven holes to finish the day in third at even-par. The 13-year-old holds a three-stroke lead over Development Squad member Tiffany Kong in the Juvenile division.

Team Ontario and Team British Columbia lead the inter-provincial team competition at 149 – five strokes clear of second-place. Development Squad member Chloe Currie of Mississauga carded a 73 to lead the Team Ontario contingent consisting of Isabella Portokalis of London and Alexandra Naumovski from Hornby. Team Canada members Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Hannah Lee (Surrey) round out Team British Columbia alongside Mary Parsons (Delta).

The 2016 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship hosted by Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., from July 25 to 28.

The second round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship will see the first group of girls tee off from the first hole at 7:30 a.m. ADT.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here.