The 2015 B.C. Golf Association Junior Boys’ Championship is being played at the Osoyoos Golf Club this week with the East Kootenay being represented by four local golfers.
The opening round of play was completed Tuesday on the Park Meadows Course at Osoyoos Golf Club, with Ole Hatlelid (Ladner) and Patrick Tan (Vancouver) sharing a tie for the lead at two-under par.
The top showing from the East Kootenay came courtesy of Russell du Toit (Kimberley), who put forth two-over score of 74 to take a share of 21st place into the clubhouse after one round.
Kimberley’s Justin Sawley (T-69, 12-over) along with Nathan Nichol (73rd, 16-over) and Jonace Johnson (76th, 33-over), both of Cranbrook, all have work to do heading into second-round action.
Other competitors from the Kootenays include: Braden McKay of Rossland (T-12, one-over), Hanno Southam of Nelson (T-21, two-over), Ely Overennay of Castlegar (T-49, seven-over), Carson Arcuri of Nelson (T-64, 10-over) and Ethan Paton of Salmo.
All scores and rankings are as of print deadline Tuesday afternoon.
The second round of play gets underway Wednesday morning.
du Toit is scheduled to tee off at 1:30 p.m. (Mountain), Nichol goes at 1:50 p.m., Johnson tees it up at 2 p.m. and Sawley is slated to begin at 2:10 p.m.
Round three goes Thursday and round four will be played Friday.
du Toit and Sawley both hail from Kimberley Golf Club. Nichol’s home track is Shadow Mountain Golf Course and Johnson comes from Cranbrook Golf Club.
The Park Meadows Course at Osoyoos Golf Club is a 6,351-yard track when played from the championship tees.
A total of 156 competitors, aged 18 and under as of Aug. 1, are registered in the event.
The top 13 golfers (and ties) from the BCGA Junior Boys’ Championship will qualify to compete at the Canadian Junior Boys’ Golf Championship, scheduled to begin Aug. 4 in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.
BCGA can send a total of 22 players to the national junior championships. Any slots remaining following the provincial championship will be filled at the discretion of the BCGA.
19th Hole: The BCGA Junior Girls’ Championship, hosted at Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, played its first round on Tuesday. Results were unavailable by print deadline. Kimberley Golf Club is being represented by Kira Dereniwsky and Alysha Buchy. The junior girls play four rounds, with a cut down to the low 30 (and ties) following 54 holes.