Confidence can do wonders in the right hands, on the right day.
That confidence was firmly in the corner of Red Deer’s Cole Bergheim, who took the title at the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Golf Tour Championship.
Bergheim, who qualified for the championship in the last event of the regular season, shot one-over-par 71 to win the tour title Friday at Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka.
The 16-year-old said in windy conditions it was a rocky start, but he managed to settle down and drain a few putts to get the day under control. He was two-under heading into the back nine.
” I had a pretty rough start. I was three over through five. Then I went eagle, par and birdie to finish the front nine, that brought it back together,” said Bergheim, who edged Christian Hansen of River’s Edge by one stroke.
“The wind was definitely a big problem in the first couple of holes. It died down and got a bit easier near the end.
Bergheim has fallen short in his last four visits to the tour championship at Wolf Creek. He added its challenge mostly lies in picking your spots off the tee and making putts when the opportunity is there.
“I’ve played here lots. Most of the holes you can’t rip driver, you have to think about it and lay up sometimes,” he said.
“It feels good, I’ve played in the tournament– this is my fifth time in the final, so it feels good to win.”
Scores coming in thick and fast at Wolf Creek. Leaders in the clubhouse are Cole Bergheim of Red Deer at 71 and Jayla Kucy of Camrose with an 80. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/nKdHh2yQ7c
— Alberta Junior Tour (@ABJuniorTour) August 23, 2019
Camrose product Jayla Kucy, who had been a dominant force on the tour all season long, captured the junior girls title with an 80 for her second consecutive tour championship victory.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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