Calvin Ross carded an 8-under-par 62 setting a new amateur course record at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club during the third round of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship on Wednesday.

Ross went bogey free for the fourth time ever and registered six birdies and a clutch eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, moving him to 10 under on the tournament with a seven-stroke lead.

“I’m a little nervous right now,” he said, in front of the large crowd that gathered to see his final putt fall. “Which is weird because it’s all done now, but I’m happy. I’m really proud of myself and I hope I can keep it going tomorrow.”

The 18-year-old from Fredericton, N.B., was 7 under par as he launched his tee shot on the 18th hole behind the iconic tree sitting in the middle of the fairway at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club. Invisible to the gallery waiting greenside because of the obstacle, Ross grabbed his 8-iron and hooked it around the tree.

The ball landed less than three feet to the hole.

“It scared me for a little bit because it hung out over the trees for a long time, but when it went down is when it started to move the most,” he said. “While watching it I thought it was going to land on the hill just to the right and kick hard across the green. For it to carry was a little bit of luck.”

Calvin Ross sets a new @Catgandcc with an 8-under-par 62 ??

Full leaderboard: https://t.co/gZlKdj0nP3 pic.twitter.com/q3vdc8ehQx

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) August 2, 2017

Playing next to Ross during the third round was Tristan Mandur from Mill Bay, B.C. The 18-year-old shot a 1-under-par 69 to move to 3 under for the tournament and sits alone in second place.

Christopher Vandette launched himself up the leaderboard and into contention after he shot a 6-under-par 64 – the lowest round of the tournament up to that point.

“I was getting it off the tee really well today,” he said. “I hit my irons really well and I was finally sinking some putts so it feels good. I knew that if I had a good round today then I would be right there with the leaders. Now I just have to do the same thing tomorrow.”

The 15-year-old from Beaconsfield, Que., started his day back at T37 at 5 over par before he registered the first 64 of the tournament and moved to 1 under par and into T3.

Fellow 15-year-old Ethan Choi from Pincher Creek, Alta., carded a 68 on Wednesday and shares third place with Vandette.

Both Vandette and Choi share the lead for the juvenile division while Kai Iguchi (Banff, Alta.) and Nolan Thoroughgood (Victoria, B.C.) sit two strokes back at 1 over par.

In addition to the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship title, the individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club in Toronto from Aug. 7-10.

For full results click here.

Calvin Ross, Joel Veenstra and Tristan Mandur are all deadlocked at the top of the leaderboard at 2 under par after round two at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club on Tuesday.

Mandur shot a 3-under-par 67 after he carded six total birdies and limited himself to one bogey and one double bogey. The 18-year-old from Mill Bay, B.C., shot a 1-over-par 71 in his opening round and used the same tactics on day two.

“I used the same game plan as the first day,” he said, next to the 18th green. “I just wanted to execute my shots and have fun. I hit a lot of good putts and chips, my short game was solid today.”

Ross, from Fredericton, N.B., started the day alone in second after his opening-round 67. However, the 18-year-old, who started his round from the 10th tee, dipped down the standings as the day wore on and was 3 over par through 14 holes.

“I was a little bit worried after I was plus three, but I knew the front nine was a little bit easier than the back,” he said. “I knew I could make a few birdies and my putter got hot towards the end and managed to make a few putts.”

His putter served him admirably down the stretch as he registered birdies on three of his last four holes to lock in a 1-over-par 71 to give him a share of the lead.

Veenstra got off to a rough start with a bogey on his first hole, but gained the stroke back with a birdie on the par-5 fourth hole. The Smithers, B.C., product played steady golf from there on out and made par on the remaining holes.

Four players stand one stroke back of the trio of leaders at 1 under par. Round one leader Marcus Khaw (Burlington, Ont.) stumbled with a 3-over-par 73 and Tyler McDowell (Whitby, Ont.) scored 2 under par to bring him up the standings.

Team Canada Development Squad members Chandler McDowell (Springbrook, Atla.) and Peyton Callens (Langton, Ont.) round out the juniors who hold shares of fourth place. Callens shot a 2-under-par 68 while Chandler McDowell locked in a 1-under-par 69.

In the Juvenile division, 16-year-old Nolan Thoroughgood from Victoria, B.C., claimed top spot on the leaderboard after he recorded a 1-under-par 69 to bring him to even par for the tournament. Johnny Travale (16) from Stoney Creek, Ont., and Ethan Choi (15) from Pincher Creek, Alta., are tied in second one stroke back of Thoroughgood.

Team Alberta won the inter-provincial championship after team members Max Sekulic (Rycroft, Alta.), Matt Bean (Canmore, Alta.) and Chandler McDowell shot a combined 4 under par on Tuesday to pass New Brunswick, the round one leaders, by one stroke. Team Ontario finished in a tie for second with New Brunswick.

The cut was set at 8 over par and 71 golfers will advance to the final two rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.

In addition to the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship title, the individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club in Toronto from Aug. 7-10.

For full results click here.

Marcus Khaw shot a 4-under-par 66 and sits as the clubhouse leader after the first round was put on hold due to weather and darkness at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club on Monday.

Khaw registered five birdies and just one bogey for his one-shot lead.

“I started off by hitting a lot of greens but I wasn’t making many putts until I hit one to within a foot of the ninth hole and got my first birdie,” he said, after his round. “I was more consistent and hitting a lot of pars until that birdie and then things really started to happen.”

The 17-year-old from Burlington, Ont., started his opening round with eight straight pars before carding a birdie just before the turn. After he made his second birdie on No. 12, it looked like he was about to get things going but the field was called in at 3:18 p.m. due to inclement weather.

After the break, Khaw immediately scored his only bogey of the day, but he turned it around from there.

“As soon as they let us keep playing I bogeyed my first hole but then the putts started to fall for me.”

In his final six holes he carded three of his five birdies while dealing with the wetter conditions from the weather delay.

Calvin Ross, from Fredericton, N.B., sits in second place after he shot a 3-under-par 67. He too was affected by the break in action, but he still managed to keep his scorecard bogey free and climbed up the standings with birdies on holes three, eight and 16.

Joel Veenstra battled the creeping darkness and carded a 2-under-par 68 just prior to play getting called. The 17-year-old from Smithers, B.C., recorded just one bogey and carded a birdie on his final hole to hold third place.

Five players sit tied in fourth place after shooting 1 under par: Kai Iguchi (Banff, Alta.), David Tweddell (Quebec, Que.), Griffin Jones (Manotick, Ont.), Shawn Sehra and Benjamin Chassé.

In the 16-and-under juvenile division, Iguchi (16) and Sehra (14) sit deadlocked at the top of the leaderboard. Johnny Travale, a 16-year-old from Stoney Creek, Ont., sits one stroke behind the co-leaders, after an eagle on the par-4 third hold led to an even-par 70.

Team New Brunswick leads the inter-provincial competition after the team consisting of Sam Reid, Calvin Ross and Stuart Earle shot a combined 2 under par. Team Ontario sits in second at even par and Team Alberta holds on to third place at 1 over par.

In addition to the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship title, the individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club in Toronto from Aug. 7-10.

The first round will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

For full results click here.

Cataraqui Golf & Country Club will welcome the nation’s best young golfers for the 2017 Canadian Junior Boy Championship. The 79th playing of the tournament will take place between July 31-Aug. 3 and will consist of 156 of many of the nation’s best junior golfers, including all four members of Team Canada’s Development Squad.

Cataraqui was designed by famed Canadian golf course architect, Stanley Thompson, and boasts one of the best courses in the entire country and the only one in the surrounding area ranked on SCOREgolf’s 2016 top 100 Canadian courses (No. 91). Overlooking Lake Ontario and currently enjoying its centennial year, the course features rolling fairways and small breaking greens designed to challenge players’ shot making skills.

“Our tremendous staff has worked very hard and the course is in great shape. The community of Kingston is extremely excited to host an event of this calibre,” said Jay Gazeley, COO of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club. “We look forward to hosting this strong field through what is sure to be a great week of golf.”

The Canadian Junior Boys Championship has served as a significant milestone in a number of professional and amateur careers. Before playing on the PGA TOUR, Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor captured the 2006 Canadian Junior Boys title. Other champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan and Doug Roxburgh.

“Golf Canada is pleased to head to Kingston to hold our annual Canadian Junior Boys Championship,” said Tournament Director Akash Patel. “We have received a very warm welcome here and truly appreciate the support and commitment of the staff. Cataraqui will be a great platform to showcase the talents of Canada’s best junior golfers.”

In 2016, Sam Meek, from Peterborough, Ont., shot an opening-round 66 that eventually propelled him to a two-shot victory and finished at 3 under for the tournament. The 18-year-old returns in hopes of becoming the championship’s eighth back-to-back winner and its first since Mitch Sutton accomplished the feat in 2008-09.

In order to be eligible to participate in the championship field all entrants must be under the 19 years of age. This year’s field will consist of the defending Canadian Junior Champion – both Junior and Juvenile – the Team Canada Development Squad members, the current Junior Club Champion/Host Club exemption, the top six finishers in all Future Links, driven by Acura regional championships and those players earning a spot through their respective provincial championship.

More information, including tee times, 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.

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.

JOHN’S, N.L. – Brisk temperatures and grey skies set the stage for Team Alberta emerging victorious in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship’s inter-provincial team competition. Brendan MacDougall was even-par on the day in leading the prairie province to victory.

“It’s kind of cool,” reflected the 18-year-old when asked about the provincial win. “You don’t see many team events in junior golf. For us to come together as a team and play well is pretty interesting. The two guys on the team are great. Chandler and Matt are great guys, fun to have around and fun to hang out with and they’re good golfers, too.”

Joining MacDougall were Chandler McDowell of Springbrook and Matt Bean of Canmore. The team earned a 2-under 286 result for a nine-stroke victory. Team British Columbia consisting of Tristan Mandur of Mill Bay, Adam Veenstra from Smithers and Team Canada Development Squad member A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam claimed runner-up honours in the 36-hole team competition.

MacDougall began the day in third, but with today’s 72, climbed into a three-way tie atop the leaderboard at 3-under. The Calgarian notched four birdies on the day, but a penalty on the par-5 17^th hole prevented him from claiming sole possession of the lead.

“The round today was pretty good. I was playing well. I started off a little rough, but I found a way to get back. I made a mistake on 17 which cost me two shots, but I’ll get over it,” said the resilient MacDougall.

When looking ahead to the final two days of competition, the High Point University commit remains focused on the process of competing rather than achieving results alone.

“My goal this year was just to come in and a Top-10 would have been awesome. A Top-5 would have been unreal. So that goal still stands right now. It’s pretty good to keep improving every year and see that I’m doing better each year that I’m playing.”

Knotted alongside MacDougall are fellow Albertan Max Sekulic of Rycroft who was 1-over on the day and Callum Davison who carded a 67 for the day’s low round. A native of Duncan, B.C., Davison also leads the Juvenile competition. Thomas Critch of Cedar Park, Texas finished with a 74 and is three strokes off the lead in the 16-and-under division.

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.

A total of 74 players finished 154-or-better to advance to the final two rounds of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. 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.

JOHN’S, N.L. – The unpredictable weather conditions characteristic of the Newfoundland golf experience welcomed competitors to the first round of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Sam Meek opened with a 6-under 66 showing at Clovelly to sit atop the leaderboard.

The native of Peterborough, Ont., began his round by birdieing No. 10. He would go on to collect nine more birdies on the day, including four back-to-back pairs to claim the early lead.

“It was really good,” said Meek when asked about his round. “I struck the ball really well. I was able to make 10 birdies today, so that always helps your cause. Just closing out the round was probably my main focus once I got to the back nine. I had a few hiccups on the back, but I was able to keep it intact for a good round.”

Beaming sunshine and clear skies gave way to chilly gusts and cloud cover as the day progressed. “Early on in the round, the conditions were very score-able,” explained Meek. “For our front nine, there was no wind, it was sunny, then all of a sudden, we were standing on the eighth tee and we all said to each other, ‘it just got really cold’ and the wind picked up tremendously. So you definitely had to change your game plan accordingly.”

Meek, who finished T35 in 2015 at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., stressed the need to remain focused in the coming days.

“A four-day tournament is long, it’s not a sprint. You’ve got to stay patient with it. When you get the opportunity to make your birdies, you have to make them and just hold on when the weather gets tough.”

Max Sekulic carded a 68 and is two shots back of the lead. The Rycroft, Alta., native began the day on the back nine and collected a string of three birdies on holes 12 to 14, before registering a bogey-free 2-under 34 across the second half of his round. Fellow Albertan Brendan MacDougall of Calgary sits third following a 3-under 69 performance.

Team Alberta holds a seven-stroke advantage in the inter-provincial team competition. MacDougall’s 69 and Springbrook, Alta., native Chandler McDowell’s 71 gives the team a total of 4-under 140. Matt Bean of Canmore completes the contingent from the prairie province.

Team Canada Development Squad member Charles-Éric Bélanger of Québec City, Marc-Antoine Hotte of Mascouche and Longueil’s Laurent Desmarchais form the team representing Québec, which sits second at 3-over 147.

Sitting atop the Juvenile division is Thomas Critch of Cedar Park, Texas. The 16-year-old notched five birdies and sits T4 in the overall competition at 2-under. One stroke off the lead in the 16-and-under division is Chandler McDowell.

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

The second round of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship will begin with groups teeing off Nos. 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m. NST. The afternoon wave of competitors will begin their rounds at 12:30 p.m. NST.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here.

JOHN’S, N.L. – Nestled in the northeast end of St. John’s, Clovelly will open its gates to the country’s talented golfers for the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The 78^th playing of the tournament from August 1-4 will see players from across the nation vying for the national title, including Team Canada’s Development Squad and five regional winners from the CN Future Links Championship series.

Clovelly is home to a pair of Graham Cooke designs: Black Duck and The Osprey – at which the competition will be conducted. The Osprey winds through the picturesque landscape of the Avalon Peninsula, boasting natural wetlands, scenic ponds and lush forests of black spruce and balsam fir.

“Our tremendous staff has worked very hard and The Osprey is in great shape. The community of St. John’s is extremely excited to bring an event of this calibre to Newfoundland,” said Judy Dobbin, Managing Director of Operations and the owner of Clovelly. “We look forward to hosting Golf Canada and this strong field through what is sure to be a great week of golf.”

This tournament has served as a significant milestone in a number of professional and amateur careers. Before playing on the PGA Tour, Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor captured the 2006 Canadian Junior Boys title. The championship counts Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan and Doug Roxburgh among its winners.

“Golf Canada is pleased to return to Newfoundland and its fantastic fans of the sport,” said Tournament Director Dan Hyatt. “We have always received a warm welcome here and we truly appreciate that support. Clovelly will be a great platform to showcase the talents of our players.”

In 2015, Charles-Éric Bélanger claimed victory on the first playoff hole at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., to win the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. At season’s end, the Québec City native was named to Team Canada’s Development Squad and would go on to finish atop the CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit. The 17-year-old returns in hopes of becoming the championship’s eighth back-to-back winner and its first since Mitch Sutton accomplished the feat in 2008-09.

Bélanger will be joined by his four Development Squad teammates, including A.J. Ewart who finished 5^th in 2015. The Coquitlam, B.C., product is hoping runner-up results at the B.C. Junior and Amateur Championships can translate into success on the national stage. CN Future Links Pacific champion Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont., fellow Ontarian Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson of Aurora and Calgary’s Alexander Smith will complete the national team contingent in the field.

Joining Gil as 2016 CN Future Links champions in the competition are Callum Davison of Duncan, B.C., who won the Québec edition of the junior championships, Peyton Callens from Langton, Ont., who claimed the Prairie edition, Calgary’s Brendan MacDougall who captured the Western title and Atlantic champion and Fredericton, N.B., native Calvin Ross.

In 2015, Team Québec claimed victory in the inter-provincial team competition played concurrently over the first two rounds. The 16-and-under Juvenile Championship will be contested alongside the tournament’s four rounds.

In addition to the Canadian Junior Boys title, the 2016 winner will receive an exemption into the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

For more information about the competition, including the full field and tee-times, please visit the tournament’s website.

VAUDREUIL-DORION, Que. – Charles-Éric Bélanger claimed victory on the first playoff hole to win the 77^th playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.

“I feel I played really well. I hit some pretty good shots and made some great saves for par, as well as, some birdies,” reflected the 16-year-old. “My game plan was just to stay focused on the process and play one shot at a time. With the wind this week and the challenging greens, par was a good score.”

He is the national championship’s first winner from Quebec since André Nols in 1976. The tournament’s Juvenile Division was introduced in 1970; Bélanger is the seventh champion to capture both the Junior and Juvenile titles in the same year. Amongst that group, he is the third to do so in his home province.

“It feels really special,” said Bélanger when asked about returning the championship to Quebec. “It has been 39 years since the last winner was from Quebec, so it just feels great. I am so happy. I’ve worked very hard during the past two years to be able to perform at this level.”

Bélanger carded three birdies and an eagle on the day to equal his 1-under 71 performances in the first and third rounds. Despite his consistent play, the Québec City, Que., native needed an extra hole to secure the victory. Maxwell Sear of Unionville, Ont., made a furious charge to force the playoff, tallying four birdies across the back nine with the last coming on the final hole to match Bélanger at even-par for the tournament.

Raphaël Lapierre-Messier of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., and Henry Lee of Coquitlam, B.C., finished tied for third place. Lapierre-Messier, who entered the final round in a three-way tie for second, shot 2-over 74 to complete the competition at 3-over 291. The 17-year-old Lee recorded two eagles on holes 11 and 14 to move up from seventh place.

Placing second in the Juvenile Division and fifth overall was A.J. Ewart. The product of Coquitlam, B.C., shot a final-round 74 and finished four strokes shy of the winner. Fellow British Columbian Tristan Mandur of Mill Bay, B.C., rounded out the Juvenile Division’s top-3 at a combined score of 296.

Played concurrently with the first 36 holes of the competition was an inter-provincial team competition. Team Quebec consisting of Lapierre-Messier, Team Canada Development Squad member Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que.) and Félix Normand (Beloeil, Que.) claimed the title with a combined even-par 288. Claiming second place was Team Ontario at 296 while 2014 winners Team Alberta finished third with a total of 302.

With the victory, Charles-Éric Bélanger has secured a place in the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. While excited for the opportunity, he plans to maintain a calm demeanor. “I’m just going to have the same plan as this week:  focus on hitting fairways and greens and then I will see the result at the end of the week. I’m not putting any added pressure on myself because I won this week. I need to stay focused on the process.”

Bélanger joins 265 competitors vying for the historic Earl Grey Trophy at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The event in Toronto will be co-hosted by Weston Golf & Country Club and The Lambton Golf & Country Club from August 8-13. Details regarding the 111^th playing of the world’s third-oldest national amateur championship can be found here.

Additional information and full scorecards from the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship are available here.