Braden O’Grady wins 2021 Alberta Mens Amateur Championship
Alberta Golf (Calgary) – 7 golfers were within 5 shots of the lead to start the day at The Calgary Golf and Country Club for the final round of The Alberta Mens Amateur Championship. Jakob Chicoyne and Paxton Maxwell were co-leaders to start the day. On the uphill par 5 1st hole, Jakob Chicoyne put his second shot over the green into trouble, made double bogey and had to chase the rest of the day finishing in 5th place. Paxton Maxwell held the lead on his own after 5 holes and fought hard the entire day but ended up in a tie for 3rd place. On the front nine it was clear that Braden O’Grady from Blackhawk Golf Club in Edmonton and Ethan Choi from The Lethbridge Country Club had the hot hand on the course. O’Grady just missed a putt for 29 on the front nine and ended up shooting 30, while Choi, playing in the same group drained a birdie at 9 to shoot 31 on the front. Kai Iguchi from The Canmore Golf and Curling Club made a couple long putts on the front nine to shoot 33 and heading to the back nine O’Grady, Choi and Iguchi were tied atop the leaderboard at 4 under par. Ethan Choi took the lead after a birdie on the par 5 13th hole to get to 6-under par for the day and the tournament. After Choi made a bogey on the par 3 15th hole, he and O’Grady were tied again with Iguchi and Maxwell close behind. Kai Iguchi missed a short birdie putt on the par 4 16th hole while minutes later Ethan Choi missed a short par saver on the par 3 17th hole while Braden O’Grady made a clutch par saver on 17, O’Grady was in the driver seat with a one shot lead heading to 18. Ethan Choi got into a tough spot in the bunker after his drive on 18 and ended up making a bogey to finish in a tie for 3rd with Paxton Maxwell. Braden O’Grady made a clutch 2 putt par on 18 and waited to see if Kai Iguchi could birdie 18 to catch him. Iguchi made a great effort from 30 feet but it just slid by and Braden O’Grady was crowned champion after shooting a final round 64 for the title. O’Grady finished 3rd in the U19 Championship in Carstairs this summer and was low amateur at The Alberta Open Championship at Wolf Creek Golf and RV Resort 2 weeks ago. The 17-year-old says winning this title is something he’ll never forget. “Oh ya this will be a week I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” beamed O’Grady. “The Calgary Golf and Country Club was amazing, such a good test of golf, it was awesome.”
WATCH FINAL ROUND RECAP & INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION BRADEN O’GRADY
Hunter Thomson from The Glencoe Golf and Country Club who grew up playing at The Calgary Golf and Country Club finished 6th and is looking forward to competing in The U.S. Amateur Championship next month at famed Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Runner-Up Kai Iguchi earns a spot in the 2022 Pacific Coast Invitational.
Team Alberta consists of Braden O’Grady, Kai Iguchi and Ethan Choi.
