A collection of Canada’s top junior golfers were set to tee off this morning in the opening round of the CN Future Links Western Championship at Wolf Creek.
The tournament is the fifth of sixth regional events held across the country and will feature 85 golfers playing in a three-day, 54-hole stroke-play competition.
“Every year the CN Future Links Western Championship features the top juniors and best courses that western Canada has to offer,” Golf Canada tournament director Matt MacKay said in a press release.
“I am excited for the hospitality and challenge that Wolf Creek Golf Resort is going to provide these talented junior players.
“It’s going to be another great week of competitive golf.”
The top six competitors in the junior boys division of each CN Future Links Championship earn exemptions into the 2011 Canadian Junior Boys Championship Aug. 1-5 at Surrey, B.C.
The junior girls winners from each Future Links Championship earn exemptions into both of the 2011 Canadian Junior Girls Championship Aug. 1-5 at Richmond, B.C., and a 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Tour event.
The Central Alberta players competing at Wolf Creek are Matt Codd, Brett Pasula and Jesse Teron of Red Deer, and Austin Jacobson and Kolby Vold of Ponoka.
• Defending champion Jason Stanier of Calgary Inglewood heads an impressive field for the 2011 Ping Canada PGA of Alberta Club Professional championship Thursday and Friday at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.
Former champions Brett Burgeson of Calgary Country Hills, Greg McGarry of Edmonton Glendale and Scott Allred of Calgary Elbow Springs are also in the field, which each player aiming to become a three-time winner of the event.
Other potential contenders include Kevin Broderson of Lacombe, who is one of this season’s top money winners, Gord Courage of Calgary Hamptons and host pro Ken Frame.
The tournament starts at 7:20 a.m. both days, with the final groups teeing off at 8:50 a.m. Thursday and the leaders heading out at about 8 a.m. Friday.