This past weekend, Team Alberta competed at the 2016 CN Future Links Pacific Championship at The Dunes in Kamloops, British Columbia. This early season event carried with it a lot of opportunity for the young competitors. This tournament, as well as the upcoming Prairie and Western Championships later this summer, provide players with the opportunity to earn an invite to the 2016 Canadian Junior Championships. The Canadian Junior Boys Championship takes place in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador from August 1-4, and the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia August 2-5. Those who finish in the top six positions on each of the girl’s and boy’s sides will land themselves an exemption into Nationals. Each year, Alberta is awarded a limited number of spots into the Canadian Championship. With a win at one of the three aforementioned tournaments, the individuals who have already been given a spot in the Canadian Junior Championships can secure an extra place for another Alberta-based player. It is an accomplishment when the players are able to secure a spot, or an extra spot, in a CNFL championship, as every player dreams of attending Nationals at some point in their junior career. If Alberta can represent the province like they did this past week in Kamloops when they attend the Prairie and Western Championships, they will be able to send a higher than average number of players to the Canadian Junior Championships to help represent Alberta.

The 2016 Pacific Championship in Kamloops was one that won’t soon be forgotten. Having already secured spots in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship due to their affiliation with Team Alberta, a third place finish and a tie for fifth by Brendan MacDougall and Chandler McDowell, respectively, secured two more entries into the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Team Alberta coach, Randy Robb, described the tournament as being monumental in terms of the positive connotations this has for his young players. “There hasn’t been a tournament in recent memory where Alberta golfers and Team Alberta members have had such a rounded display of success.” Robb reiterated that “With the Team Alberta boys having secured two more spots with their top six finishes, it gives other deserving individuals the chance to play in the Junior Championships.”

All of the Team Alberta members showed great potential over the three-day event in Kamloops. Personal best scores in a national event, Kehler Koss (71) and Annabelle Ackroyd (72),  highlighted the Team Alberta girl’s play at the tournament. The Prairie Championship in Neepawa, Manitoba running June 10-12, and the Western Championship in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 4-6, are the next opportunities for the Team Alberta hopefuls to tighten up their game and potentially earn more spots for their ready and waiting fellow Albertans.

2016 CN Future Links Pacific Championship Results

Click here to see photos from the event