NEEPAWA, Man. – The CN Future Links circuit is heading to Neepawa Golf & Country Club for the 2016 CN Future Links Prairie Championship. The fourth-of-six events in the series will welcome a field of 57 local and national junior golfers from June 10-12 as they compete in the 54-hole stroke play event.

The CN Future Links Championships are conducted in partnership with CN in an effort to support and develop junior golfers across Canada. Competitors will participate in a practice round on June 9 to prepare for the course’s challenging landscape situated around the Whitemud River.

“Golf Canada is excited to see the field compete at Neepawa Golf & Country Club,” said Dan Hyatt, the event’s Tournament Director. “This scenic track winds around the river to offer fantastic views for spectators and players alike. Neepawa will present an excellent chance for these players to strengthen their games.”

Three competitors from last year’s Top-10 will return in a bid to capture the Junior Boys title, led by Keaton Gudz from Victoria, B.C., who finished tied for fourth at the 2015 competition held at Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert, Sask. The 17-year-old will be joined by Carson Harcourt of Kipling, Sask., and William Comeau from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., who are looking to build upon their respective seventh and T10 finishes.

Shirin Anjarwalla of Nanaimo, B.C., represents one of three returning players in the Junior Girls division. The 16-year-old, who finished third last year, will see a familiar face in the field in Winnipeg product Rebecca Kuik, who claimed 13th.

After recording a 14^th-place result at her home club last year, Kayla Sawchuck of Prince Albert, Sask., completes the contingent of returnees looking to make good on lessons learned throughout the past year.

Two CN Future Links Championships remain to be played this season:

• July 4-6 – CN Future Links Western – Medicine Hat, Alta. – Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club
• July 12-14 – CN Future Links Atlantic – Fairview, P.E.I. – Countryview Golf Club

The top six scorers in the Junior Boys division will gain entry into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, held August 1-4 at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L. A hole-by-hole playoff will determine exemptions in the case of ties. All players in the Top-6 of the Junior Girls division, including ties, will earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, hosted by The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S., from August 2-5.

Additional information on the 2016 CN Future Links Prairie Championship, including a full list of competitors and tee-times, is available here.

Nanaimo, B.C. – June 2nd, 2016 – Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan led wire-to-wire in securing the BC Men’s Mid-Amateur championship today, with Greg Bismeyer of Mission taking home the Mid-Master title.

On the women’s side, Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay captured both the Ladies Mid-Amateur & Mid-Master honours after overtaking round 1 & 2 leader Alison Murdoch of Victoria.

Carrigan Goes Wire-To-Wire Winning Mid-Am At Nanaimo Golf Club

In the end, Kevin Carrigan won by six shots, but it was more of a struggle than you might think. Carrigan, who had a nine-shot lead to start Thursday’s final round of the B.C. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, saw his huge cushion slipping away after a disastrous beginning to his back nine.

“It didn’t feel like I was going to win by six after I had made three consecutive bogeys and splashed one into the water,” the 29-year-old Victoria native said. “I was thinking that the wheels had fallen off and I didn’t know where they had gone.”

After bogeys on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes, Carrigan then doubled the par 3 13th at Nanaimo Golf Club. Fortunately, he was able to birdie the par 5 14th hole to steady things and he parred the final four holes to post a five-over 77 that left him at four-under for the 54-hole tournament.

Carrigan finished six shots ahead of Victoria’s Scot Kral and Greg Bismeyer of Mission. “I definitely learned some stuff today,” said Carrigan, a 29-year-old member of Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria.

“It’s the first time I have won a tournament when I haven’t played three solid rounds of golf. I guess the fact there wasn’t anybody close after two rounds, I maybe got complacent or something like that.

I came out of the gate and bogeyed three of the first four holes and I’m thinking ‘oh my gosh, here we go.’ It’s one of those games. I always tell the juniors I work with no matter how bad it gets, it can always get worse, so just bear down and try to finish your round. I was fortunately able to do that not playing my best golf.”

The B.C. Mid-Amateur, which is open to competitors 25 and older, was held at the same time as the Mid-Master Championship, which is for players 40 and over. Bismeyer, a 54-year-old retired Vancouver police officer, took the Mid-Master title after closing the tournament with a solid round of one-under 71.

“It was a bit of roller-coaster round,” Bismeyer said. “It was some bad shots, some good shots and I strung three birdies together on 14, 15 and 16. Then the nerves get going on 17 and 18. It was fun.”

Bismeyer finished one shot ahead of Victoria’s Craig Doell and Nanaimo’s Sandy Harper in the Mid-Master category. Bismeyer and Kral will join Carrigan on the three-man team that will represent B.C. at the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship, which goes Aug. 23-26 in Bromont, Que.

Carrigan has now won two B.C. Mid-Amateur titles. He is also a two-time winner of the Canadian Mid-Amateur championship. Carrigan and Doell captured the two-ball championship that was also contested during the event. They finished with a score of 21-under par. That was eight shots better than the teams of Harper and Shelly Stouffer and John Gallacher and Gudmund Lindbjerg.

Click HERE for complete scoring

Nanaimo Twice As Nice For Nanoose Bay’s Shelly Stouffer

Shelly Stouffer battled more than just her closest pursuers in Thursday’s final round of the B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. She also battled the butterflies, which were in full flight as she walked the final few holes at Nanaimo Golf Club.

Stouffer, a Nanoose Bay resident, overcame her nerves and held off Alison Murdoch of Victoria and Christina Proteau of Port Alberni to win the Mid-Amateur title by two shots. “I am pretty happy,” Stouffer said. “I was able to hang in and win coming down the stretch. I was nervous, man.”

Thursday’s final round was something of a roller-coaster ride for Stouffer, who shot a final round of four-over 76 to finish the 54-hole event at 16-over par. That was two shots better than the 66-year-old Murdoch, who closed with an 80. Murdoch, a Victoria Golf Club member, had begun the day with a two-shot lead on Stouffer.

“I was just trying to hit every shot the best I could and it was a much better ball-striking day certainly than the first day, but I just put myself in some awkward spots that I couldn’t get out of,” Murdoch said.

Stouffer also claimed the Mid-Master title for players 40 and over. So she won two provincial championships in one day. Not a bad day at the office. “I’ve never won the Mid-Am before so it’s exciting. In a major tournament like this I have never beat Christina before, so it’s a good feeling.”

Last summer, when the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master events were contested separately, Stouffer won her first Mid-Master title and finished runner-up to Proteau at the Mid-Amateur. Proteau, the pre-tournament favourite, simply could not buy a putt on Thursday, or most of the tournament for that matter.

She finished alone in third place, three shots behind Stouffer. “I hit a lot of good shots at one point and then I didn’t really pull the trigger the last couple of holes,” Proteau said. “It just happens, I guess.”

Click HERE for complete scoring.

PARKSVILLE, B.C. – Third-round action at the 14^th playing of the Canadian University/College Championship at Morningstar Golf Club saw the teams representing the University of British Columbia (UBC) increase their leads atop their respective leaderboards.

The UBC men’s team continued to show its dominance by posting a collective 2-under 286 for the round. The Queen’s University Gaels occupy second with a team total of 7-over 887 – 43-strokes behind the leaders. The Kingston, Ont., university is being pursued by two institutions located in British Columbia: the University of Fraser Valley Cascades and the University of Victoria Vikes, who trail the Gaels by four and five strokes, respectively.

The Thunderbirds were led by a 3-under 69 from Jack Wood of Banff, Alta. The third-year kinesiology major collected five birdies and added an eagle on the par-5 13^th hole to move to 5-under in the competition. Tied with Victoria’s Lawren Rowe of the Victoria Vikes, Wood trails individual leader and teammate Scott Secord by four strokes. The Calgary product carded a 73 after opening the competition with consecutive 67s.

For the third consecutive day, Thunderbirds Evan Holmes of Calgary and Victoria’s Nate Ollis registered matching rounds. The pair have now shot 72-71-72 and sit T5 at 1-under alongside British Columbians Connor McLellan of Chilliwack who plays for the Cascades and Richmond’s Chris Crisologo, a member of the Simon Fraser University Clan.

Completing the Thunderbird contingent is Andrew Harrison of Camrose, Alta., who sits fourth following a 1-over performance. The 19-year-old tallied five birdies, but sees the round as a missed opportunity. “Today was a little bit disappointing,” commented the kinesiology major. “I had a good chance to shoot a good number, but made some bad bogeys. It’s a nice course, but it’s very tricky. There are lots of dog-legs that can trick you into trying to cut some corners. You have to be patient and lay back on those.”

The team’s rookie reflected pensively on his first year donning the blue and gold of the Thunderbirds. “It’s been pretty good. Jack and Evan have been great. I’ve known them for a very long time from Alberta, so it wasn’t too hard fitting in with them. We have a pretty young team and they’re great guys – easy to talk to; easy to be around – so it’s been fun.”

“College is very different, it’s interesting,” added Harrison, when asked about the experience of playing in this competition. “You’re playing against men unlike junior, where you’re playing against kids. I’m really taking it all in and learning a lot from all the older guys.”

After opening the third round with a five-stroke advantage, the UBC women’s team tallied a 16-over total on the day and now lead the Université de Montréal Carabins by 12 strokes. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues climbed into third at a combined 64-over 712, led by the T6 standings of Ontarians Sarah Dunning of Waterloo and Etobicoke’s Laura Upenieks, who made a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth hole.

Thunderbird Kat Kennedy made a significant climb up the standings for the second straight day. The native of Okotoks, Alta., carded a round of 5-over 77 and at 11-over-par, leads the competition by one stroke. After holding the 18- and 36-hole leads, the Université Laval Rouge et Or’s Alexandra Pelletier now sits one-stroke shy of the leader. The native of Montréal was 13-over on the day after opening 71-72 in the competition. Porto, Portugal’s Barbara Neto-Bradley of the Thunderbirds moved into third-place at 13-over.

The competition opened with 20 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams from across the nation vying for team and individual honours. With the conclusion of the third round, the field has now been reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead.

The final round of competition will see both the men’s and women’s sides begin the day at 7:30 a.m. off split tees. Additional information regarding the championship, including pairings and up-to-date scoring can be found here.

PARKSVILLE, B.C. – Clouds darkened the skies and light rains made for a wet afternoon as the 2016 Canadian University/College Championship continued at Morningstar Golf Club. The second round concluded with both the men’s and women’s squads from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds leading the team competitions.

The UBC women’s team entered the day in third, but traded places with first-round leaders, the Université Laval Rouge et Or. UBC collected a team total of 9-over and now sit 30-over in the competition. The Université de Montréal Carabins retained second-place, five-shots back of the Thunderbirds and three strokes ahead of the Rouge et Or.

UBC’s Kat Kennedy notched four birdies en route to a 2-under 70 – the low score in the women’s division through two days of competition. The native of Okotoks, Alta., began the day with a share of 12^th, but climbed to third at 6-over. Montréal’s Alexandra Pelletier of the Rouge et Or continues to lead the competition at 1-under following an even-par second round. The Carabins’ Caroline Ciot – a native of Québec City – held onto second with a 1-over showing to sit 4-over 148.

“Today was a grind,” reflected the 21-year-old Kennedy. “My short game was pretty good today. It was steady. I just have to be patient and keep my head up and keep pushing through.”

The third-year science major finds herself as the veteran on a young squad comprised of two rookies and a sophomore, but sees the situation as an opportunity to aid in the development of the team. “In my rookie year, I definitely made mistakes here and there. I learned from the older girls. I learned how to keep focused and you pull yourself together during a round and finish strong.

“There’s a lot on your shoulders when you’re one of the older players on the team. You definitely want to play well and at the same time, encourage the other girls to keep working hard even though there are tough days. It comes with experience and I want to show them my experiences to help them.”

When asked about the effect of the UBC men’s team’s strong performance through 36-holes, Kennedy added, “It’s definitely inspirational. They’re a strong group of guys. They go out there with a great showing and we want to keep up with them, but we also want to make a name for our women’s golf team.”

A collective 8-under day from the UBC men has the Thunderbirds at 18-under – 34 strokes clear of the Queen’s University Gaels. The University of Victoria Vikes, the competition’s hosts, began the day in ninth-place, but ascended the leaderboard to third with today’s combined 3-over 291 showing.

Calgary’s Scott Secord continues to lead the men’s individual standings following a second-consecutive 67. The UBC Thunderbird began the day with back-to-back birdies and would go on to tally five more to extend his advantage atop the leaderboard to six strokes. Secord leads a team where no player sits below T7. Andrew Harrison of Camrose, Alta., sits T3; fellow Albertan Jack Wood of Banff is tied for fifth; 2015 individual champion Evan Holmes (Calgary) and Nate Ollis (Victoria) hold shares of seventh.

Victoria native Lawren Rowe of the Vikes climbed from T6 to second and sits 4-under 140. Queen’s University Gael Jordan Gregoris of Aurora, Ont., moved into a share of third at 3-under. University of Manitoba Bison Devon Schade’s 69 moved the Beausejour, Man., product to T5.

The 2016 competition features 20 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams from across the country vying for national championship titles. Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead.

The third day of competition will see the women’s division tee-off at 7:30 a.m. The men will take to the course at 8:10 a.m. Additional information regarding the championship, including pairings and up-to-date scoring can be found here.

EUGENE, Ore. – Sulman Raza made a 7-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole to outlast Taylor Funk and give Oregon its first NCAA men’s golf title, 3-2 over short-handed Texas on Wednesday.

Raza rallied in regulation at Eugene Country Club and finished off Funk – the son of PGA Tour Champions player Fred Funk – with the birdie on the par-4 10th on the 21st hole.

“Those last two holes of regular play and those three playoff holes, I felt like everybody was watching and everything was on my shoulders,” said Raza, a junior from Eugene. “I think I handled it great. I’ve worked so hard to put myself in this position and excel and achieve this goal. To do it on this kind of stage and in front of this many people and fans, I think it is going to give me a huge confidence boost.”

Oregon became the first host school to win since Oklahoma in 1989 at Oak Tree. The Ducks entered the tournament 26th in the NCAA ranking and were the No. 6 seed in match play.

“They are just competitors. They worked hard and they are great players,” Oregon coach Casey Martin said. “It is all about these guys. I haven’t hit a shot, I just told them to breathe. That was the extent of my work. These guys did an awesome job. It is a special group.”

Raza also scored the deciding point in the Ducks’ 3-2 semifinal victory over Illinois on Tuesday.

“This is a dream come true,” said Aaron Wise, also the individual champion Monday. “We have worked so hard for this exact moment. For Raza yesterday and today to do what he did is incredible.”

Spotted a 1-0 lead when Texas star Beau Hossler withdrew against Zach Foushee because of a left shoulder injury, Oregon made it 2-0 when Edwin Yi beat Gavin Hall 4 and 3 in the first match.

Hossler was unable to play after fighting through pain Tuesday to score the winning point in the Longhorns’ 4-1 semifinal victory over Southern California.

“With the way my shoulder is right now I don’t have a chance of competing at all,” Hossler said during the match. “I’d be doing my team a disservice to be out there and, obviously, be risking some serious injury on my shoulder.”

Top-ranked Texas missed a chance to become the first No. 1 seed to win since the format changed to match play. Texas won the last of its three titles in 2012 at Riviera when Jordan Spieth was a freshman

“We came up short today just a little bit,” Texas coach John Fields said. “The NCAA crowned a great champion in Oregon. It is their moment, and we gave it our best. We didn’t lose this golf tournament, they won it. I’m excited for them.”

Scottie Scheffler and Doug Ghim won for Texas. Scheffler beat Wise 4 and 3 in the second match, and Ghim topped Thomas Lim 2 and 1 in the fifth.

“Scottie just played a heck of match,” Wise said. “I just got beat.”

Set to turn pro, Wise became the first individual champion to also play on the team winner since Kevin Chappell at UCLA in 2008, the year before the format switch to match play.

It came down to Raja and Funk in the fourth match.

“I realized Scottie won and Doug was basically closing out,” Funk said. “I knew at that point it was going to come down to our match for the national championship. I played some good golf, and he played a little better golf.”

Raja tied Funk with a par on the par-4 17th, and they halved the par-4 18th with pars. On 18, Funk made a 5-footer to extend the match after Raja two-putted from 35 feet.

On the 10th on the first extra hole, Raza’s 6-foot birdie try for the victory slid right, and Funk made a 3 1/2-footer for par to extend the match. On the 18th on the second extra hole, Funk had a chance to win, but missed a 10-foot birdie try.

Funk took the lead with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th. The sophomore escaped with a halve on the par-3 16th, getting up-and-down for bogey from the drop zone after hitting into the water.

“There were a lot of nerves,” Funk said. “Obviously, there is a hometown crowd for Oregon, so I wanted to keep that as quiet as possible. Obviously, the nerves were there. I loved every minute of it. That is what you live for and we didn’t come out on top this time, but there will be many more opportunities and I’m looking forward to those.”

Scheffler closed out Wise on the 15th after the Oregon star four-putted for bogey.

“I was pretty nervous out there, but I was able to handle it pretty well, thankfully,” Scheffler said.

Aurora, Oregon – Victoria, B.C., native Naomi Ko won the Cambia Portland Classic Amateur Open, earning a spot in the Cambia Portland Classic.

Ko, who just completed her freshman year at North Carolina State and who is a member of Team Canada, carded a 1-under par 71 at Langdon Farms Golf Club.

The Cambia Portland Classic will be held June 30-July 3, at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, OR and will be Ko’s first LPGA tournament.

Sydney Maluenda of George Fox University finished second with a round of 72 and UCLA signee Mariel Galdiano finished third at 74 earning opportunities to compete in the tournament’s Monday qualifier alongside professionals.  The qualifier will be held on Monday, June 27.  The top two finishers from the Monday qualifier will earn entry into the tournament proper.  2015 Tournament Champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., earned a spot in the event through the Monday qualifier last year and went on to win the event by eight shots over a strong field, for her first LPGA victory.

Ko recently qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open which takes place the week after the Cambia Portland Classic.  She finished 5th in the ACC tournament this season.

Ko, who knows Henderson from Team Canada, has actually roomed with her on occasion.

“I’m really excited to be playing in the Portland Classic,” said Ko.  “I know Brooke (Henderson) won it last year and look forward to seeing her here this year.”

Last year’s Amateur Open winner, Gigi Stoll, a Beaverton High School graduate, who just completed her freshman year at the University of Arizona, was unable to defend her title, shooting a 77 to finish three shots out of contention.  In 2015, Stoll set a course and tournament record with a 9-under par 63 at Langdon Farms.

The Cambia Portland Classic will take place at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club in Portland, OR, from June 30-July 3, 2016.  The 72-hole tournament features a purse of $1.3 million and broadcast coverage on the Golf Channel for all four rounds.  Brooke Henderson won the 2016 tournament, setting a new 72-hole tournament scoring record at 21-under par. Henderson became just the second player and first since 2000 to Monday qualify for an LPGA Tour event and go on to win. One of the hottest rising stars on the LPGA, Henderson has moved up to the 4th spot on the Rolex Rankings list of the world’s top women golfers.

Volunteer applications and Tickets to the Cambia Portland Classic are available now at www.portlandclassic.com.

TROON, Scotland – Royal Troon Golf Club, the host of this year’s British Open, is set to end its male-only membership policy after more than three quarters of members in a survey backed allowing in women.

Troon said in a statement on Wednesday that its committee will propose at a July 1 meeting that its membership grants approval for female members to join.

“Recently we spoke about the need for our club to reflect the modern society in which we exist and I am pleased that a large majority of members who responded to our survey agree and support opening the club to women,” Troon’s club captain Martin Cheyne said.

“Looking ahead to the Open Championship, we want Scotland to be proud of Royal Troon Golf Club and the Ladies’ Golf Club, Troon as we jointly host this most prestigious competition in front of a worldwide audience.”

Royal Troon, formed in 1878, is sharing the responsibility of hosting next year’s British Open with The Ladies Golf Club in Troon that uses its facilities.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews decided in 2014 to open its membership to women after 260 years of male exclusivity.

But Muirfield was banned last month from hosting the Britsh Open after its membership didn’t approve female members joining.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns Muirfield, announced its decision to retain the club’s male-only policy following a ballot of its members. A two-thirds majority was required for change. Out of 616 members who voted, 36 per cent were against allowing women.

Within minutes, the Royal and Ancient, which runs the British Open, said Muirfield was off the list of 10 courses that can host golf’s oldest major championship.

Golfers past and present backed the R&A’s stance.

PARKSVILLE, B.C. – Pristine conditions set the stage for the opening round of the 2016 edition of the Canadian University/College Championship at Morningstar Golf Club. Scott Secord opened with a 5-under 67 showing as the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds seized the lead in the men’s division. Alexandra Pelletier shot 1-under to send the Université Laval Rouge et Or to the top of the day one leaderboard in the women’s division.

A dominant performance from defending champions UBC saw the school finish a combined 10-under to lead the men’s division by 20 strokes. Calgarian Scott Secord recorded four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 third hole en route to a 67 to lead the men’s individual standings. Fellow teammates Jack Wood (69) and Andrew Harrison (70) are T3 and 5th, respectively. Evan Holmes and Nate Ollis matched 72s to complete the UBC men’s contingent.

The 23-year-old Secord remained focused when asked to reflect on the effect of past success on this year’s competition. “It helps; it definitely does. But we’re trying to stay modest because there are lots of good players here and it can change every day. We’re just trying to go with our game plan and stick with it. If that works for four days, great.”

With team totals of 10-over 298, the Camosun College Chargers and the Queen’s University Gaels are knotted in second-place. Five shots separate second- to ninth-place in the men’s team standings.

Secord – the 2014 individual champion – liked what he saw of the course and appreciates the opportunity to once again represent the Thunderbirds. “Chris and the boys graciously invited me back to play. It’s nice that all the members are allowing us to take the golf course from them for five days. The course is awesome. The greens are rolling great; they’re nice and smooth – a little fast, which is nice to see. The fairways and everything are just awesome, as well. You’ve just got to be careful out there.”

Chris Crisologo of the Simon Fraser University Clan is in second-place at 4-under. The Richmond, B.C., native notched five birdies and made an eagle on the third hole. Vernon, B.C., product Brady Stead of the Camosun College Chargers is T3 after collecting four birdies.

The Université Laval Rouge et Or finished the first day of competition at 18-over 234 to lead the women’s division by two strokes. The host University of Victoria Vikes are in second, while the UBC women hold third – one stroke behind their fellow British Columbians.

Alexandra Pelletier was the lone player in the women’s field to finish below-par. The native of Montréal tallied four birdies in a 1-under 71 performance. Caroline Ciot of the defending champion Université de Montréal Carabins opened with a 75. The native of Québec City is hoping to improve upon last year’s runner-up result in the women’s individual standings. Calgary’s Quinn Fitzgerald from the University of Victoria completes the Top-3 after carding a 76.

The 2016 competition features 20 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams from across the country vying for team and individual honours. Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead.

The second day of competition begins with the women’s division at 7:30 a.m., while the men tee off at 8:10 a.m. Additional information regarding the championship, including pairings and up-to-date scoring can be found here.

MIDLAND, Ont. – A hot and humid day, punctuated by a booming thunder clap, closed out the 2016 edition of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship at Midland Golf & Country Club. Brandon Lacasse and Isabella Portokalis emerged from tight groups of competitors to claim the Junior Girls and Junior Boys titles.

The Junior Boys leaderboard was crowded throughout the final day of competition. Lacasse separated himself from the group and the Châteauguay, Que., product matched his second-round 70 to finish 212 overall. The 18-year-old, who entered the day with a share of the lead, finished with two birdies for a two-stroke victory.

“I just tried to play as if it was a fun round,” said Lacasse. “I always finish second or third, so I’m happy to finally win a big tournament.”

Lacasse noted the bittersweet nature of the victory with this being his final year of eligibility on the junior circuit. “It’s fun to finish with a win,” he said. “Last year, I finished sixth at the Canadian Juniors, so maybe a win this year will help me perform better.”

Toronto’s Tyler Nagano remained competitive throughout the round, tallying four birdies, but could not catch the leader. The 17-year-old finished 4-over 214, while Beaconsfield, Que., native Remi Chartier earned third-place with a 69 – his lowest round of the weekend.

As the Top-5 in the Junior Boys division, Lacasse, Nagano, Chartier, Ty Celone (Long Sault, Ont.) and Jake Bryson (Dunrobin, Ont.) earned spots into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L. from August 1-4. Kelvin Young Woong Lim claimed the sixth available spot following a playoff-victory over Charles-David Trépanier of Québec City and Anthony Occhiuto from Guelph, Ont.

A clap of thunder forced the brief suspension of play with players being evacuated from the field due to safety concerns. After players returned to the course, Vancouver’s Tiffany Kong and Surrey, B.C., native Hannah Lee began play before the championship committee had allowed the resumption of play. After careful review of the situation, the committee decided to waive the penalty of disqualification as per Rule 6-8: Discontinuance of Play; Resumption of Play, and to issue each with a two-stroke penalty.

Isabella Portokalis tallied a pair of birdies en route to a 2-over 72 on the day. The London, Ont., native made par on hole 18 to sit 6-over 216 alongside Kong. When the two-stroke penalty was applied following the round, Portokalis claimed the win by two strokes.

“I just tried to keep calm and keep making pars, and if a putt went in then that was great,” said the 14-year-old when asked to reflect on the day. “I got into the scoring tent and everybody said that I won and I didn’t even realize it.”

Portokalis sees this victory as a building block towards future success, including the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship in August. “Now I know that I can win any tournament,” she said. “I was three back on the first tee, but I bounced back on the back nine.”

Kong and Lee – members of Team Canada’s Women’s Development Squad – claimed second- and third-place in the tournament. Kong collected four birdies and an eagle on hole 15, but finished with a 2-over 72 showing. Lee finished third following a 75.

All players within the Top-6 in the Junior Girls division earned entries into the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship from August 2-5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S. Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont,), Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.), and Grace St-Germain (Orleans, Ont.) will compete alongside Portokalis, Kong, and Lee.

Four additional CN Future Links Championships will cross the country this summer:

• June 3-5 – CN Future Links Quebec – Beauceville, Que. – Club de golf Beauceville
• June 10-12 – CN Future Links Prairie – Neepawa, Man. – Neepawa Golf & Country Club
• July 4-6 – CN Future Links Western – Medicine Hat, Alta. – Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club
• July 12-14 – CN Future Links Atlantic – Fairview, P.E.I. – Countryview Golf Club

Additional information regarding the 2016 CN Future Links Ontario Championship can be found here.

MIDLAND, Ont. – Temperatures flared at Midland Golf & Country Club during the second round of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship. Monet Chun claimed sole possession of the lead in the Junior Girls division, while James Parsons and Brandon Lacasse share top spot in the Junior Boys division.

Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., shot 1-under 69 to improve upon her opening-round 72. The 15-year-old tallied four birdies, including two back-to-back on holes 13 and 14, en route to a 1-under 35 across the back nine.

Three Team Canada Women’s Development Squad members are within the Top-5. First round leader Grace St-Germain (Orleans, Ont.) carded a 5-over 75 and sits two strokes behind Chun. Teammate Hannah Lee of Surrey, B.C., sunk five birdies for a 1-over 71 and shares 3rd with London, Ont., native Isabella Portokalis. National Team member Tiffany Kong of Vancouver also recorded five birdies on the day, advancing to T5.

The low round of the day in the Junior Girls division came courtesy of Ellie Szeryk. The dual-citizen and product of London, Ont., collected six birdies and finished 2-under 68 to climb into a share of 5th. Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., and Kathrine Chan of Richmond, B.C., are T12 and T17, respectively.

The Junior Boys’ top-spot is split between James Parsons of Almonte, Ont., and Brandon Lacasse of Châteauguay, Que. The pair sit 2-over 142 and hold a one-stroke advantage after matching 70s on the day.

Jake Bryson of Dunrobin, Ont., is third following a 73. The 16-year-old was one of three players to collect an eagle on the day. Two Ontarians – Thomas Code of Dorchester and Toronto’s Tyler Nagano – are tied at 4-over to complete the Top-5 in the Junior Boys division. Men’s Development Squad member Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson (Aurora, Ont.) is part of a six-way tie for 21st.

The top six finalists in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L., from August 1-4. Exemptions will be decided via a hole-by-hole playoff in the case of ties. All competitors in the Top-6, including ties, in the Junior Girls division will gain exemptions into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The tournament will be held August 2-5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S.

The second day of competition will see the Junior Boys division tee-off at 7 a.m. before the Junior Girls take to the course at 11:10 a.m. Additional information, including pairings and up-to-date scoring is available here.