Jesse Teron spent a little extra time learning the ins and outs of the River Bend Golf Course Friday afternoon.
Teron went out with his grandmother, Marilyn, to play 18 holes and it paid dividends as the 17-year-old from Red Deer captured the Canadian Junior Golf Association Nike Stephen Ames Cup qualifier in a playoff at River Bend Sunday.
“We played 18 holes so I could get used to the speed of the greens and she showed me a few things,” said Teron with a laugh.
‘But really I know the course real well as I’ve played here the second most behind the Red Deer Golf and Country Club where I’m a member.”
The fact he’s familiar with River Bend proved to be an advantage.
“Any time you know the course and you’re comfortable with it it’s a big advantage and I love it . . . it sets up well for me.”
Teron shot 70 and 71 for a three-under par 141 to tie Patrick Murphy of Crossfield, who had a second round 69.
Teron and Murphy played together and the pair enjoyed every minute of it.
“We had an awesome battle. I started the round two ahead and was one up after nine.
“But I trailed by one standing on the 18th tee, but I had a par and he bogeyed to force the playoff.”
One the first extra hole — par-four number one — Teron drained a 12-foot birdie putt to win.
“Both rounds I used my three wood to drive on the first hole, but in the playoffs I went for it and used my driver and had about 70-yards in for my second shot and put it to within 12 feet. I picked out a spot and hit it and it went in.”
Teron went all out on the extra hole, not wanting to give Murphy too many chances.
“He’s such a solid player you have to try to finish it as quickly as possible.”
The win couldn’t have come at a better time for Teron as he was looking to get his game on track after a slow start.
“I was OK in Lethbridge, but I lost my focus a bit and when I got back from B.C. (and the Future Tour event) which was a big wake up call for me, I took five days off and got back to grinding it out and I found something on the range this week and it worked.”
Teron has always been strong with his irons, but knows to play well he needs to drive well.
“When I do I tend to score well,” he said. “I love my irons and it’s a matter of the putts falling.”
Teron grew up in Red Deer and looked to have a bright future when he was starting out. But he ran into a flat period in his career, but hopes that’s over with.
“It was all a learning process,” he said. “I felt I had to go where I did to get where I am now, which is better than where I was. I learned so much about myself and my game.
“It was a matter of fighting to keep going up. I told myself at least five times I was going to quit, but a few hours later I was back at the practice range. But that’s golf it’s up and down.”
Teron set out this season with several goals in mind, and one was winning the River Bend event. He also wants to do well at the Alberta junior.
“That’s one of the events I star on my calender at the start of the year. You’re facing all the top juniors in Alberta and you want to see where you’re game is at.”
Teron graduates on Saturday and has already received a golf scholarship at the University of Victoria.
“There’s a lot of kids, who go to the States, but they have an excellent business program at Victoria and that’s what I’m interested in. As well you play golf all year, eventhough it’s windy and rainy at times, I don’t mind as I feel it makes me better.”
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Chandler McDowell of Springbrook captured the U14 division with a 72-76—148 total, eight strokes up on Chris Horton of Calgary.
McDowell, who has been playing for only there years, also knew the course.
“I was a member here before I moved to the Country Club,” explained McDowell, who knew he liked the sport from the first time he picked up a club.
“When I hit my first ball I said ’this is fun’,” he said with a smile.
McDowell, who had a spectacular four-under par 32 on the back nine, also enjoys hitting his irons.
“I hit them pretty well and I make some solid putts when I need to,” he said.
Brayden Brown of Calgary was third in the 15-19 year-old division with a 153.
Five Red Deer competitors were also in the older division. Allan Pruss (77-78) and Michael Pruss (80-76) came in at 155 and 156 respectively while Derrick Morrell was at 82-81—163, Logan Hill at 85-82—167 and Julien Boothby at 89-95—184. Kolby Vold of Ponoka was at 82-81—163.
Ryan Morrell of Red Deer had an 87-79—166 and Carter Graf a 91-89—180 in the U14 category.
Sabrine Garrison of Calgary won the girls’ title with a 76-77—153, 25 strokes up on Megan Lee of Calgary.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com