Golf Canada – Fifth of six regional junior tournament continues Golf Canada’s 2017 championship season

FERNIE, B.C. – Golf Canada nears the end of its 2017 junior golf championship season as the Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship is set to take place at Fernie Golf and Country Club.

With support from British Columbia Golf, the Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship is the fifth of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on July 10 before the tournament gets underway with round one on July 11. 

Founded in 1918, Fernie Golf and Country Club will be hosting its first ever Future Links Championship. With a varied terrain and stunning view of the Rocky Mountains, the course features an aesthetic charm accentuated by luscious greens and silica sand bunkers.  

“Golf Canada and British Columbia Golf are thrilled to present the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship in Fernie,” said Greg Moody, the Tournament Director from British Columbia Golf. “We are optimistic that the tricky course at Fernie Golf and Country Club will challenge Canada’s premier junior golfers and allow them to demonstrate their skills.”

The field will consist of 85 junior golfers in the Junior Boys Division with the top six earning exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.

The Junior Girls Division will consist of 16 golfers with the top six (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.   

The final Future Links, driven by Acura Championship of 2017 will conclude the regional championship series this summer.

July 17-20 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Church Point, N.S. – Clare Golf & County Club.

Results from the previous 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura championships can be found here: Pacific, Ontario, Quebec, Prairie.

More information regarding the Future Links, driven by Acura Championships can be found here.

NOTABLES

Kai Iguchi of Banff, Alta.

Finished T5 at the same event last year, the highest of all returning players. Highest finish of the season is a T7 at the PGA of Alberta Junior Masters. He is currently ranked at No. 47 in the Future Links, driven by Acura Order of Merit. 

Taylor Stone of Calgary, Alta. 

The 17-year-old won her first event of the season at the MJT Alberta Season Opener and finished in third at the PGA of Alberta Junior Masters. She is currently ranked at No. 37 in the Future Links, driven by Acura Order of Merit. 

Carter Graf of Red Deer, Alta.

Currently ranked seventh on the Future Links, driven by Acura Order of Merit. The 16-year-old is coming off a win at the PGA of Alberta Junior Masters back in May. In six events this season, Graf has finished in the top five three times and in the top 10 four times.  

Ethan Choi of Pincher Creek, Alta. 

The 15-year-old has four top-25 finishes in the five events he has played this year, including a third-place finish at the MJT Alberta Season Opener and T5 at the US Junior Qualifying Coeur D’Alene. He is currently 21st on the Future Links, driven by Acura Order of Merit. Shot a 14-under-par 59 when he was 14-years-old at the Alberta Bantam Championship at River’s Edge in Okotoks, Alta. 

Andrew Spalti of Vancouver, B.C.

The 17-year-old has placed inside the top 25 of each of his six events this season. He won the MJT Vancouver Championship back in March and is currently ranked at No. 34 on the Future Links, driven by Acura Order of Merit. 

FAST FACTS

In 2017, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations. 

Top six finishers in the Boys Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Top six finishers (including ties) in the Girls Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.  

Brandon MacDougall won junior boys tournament last year after a two-hole playoff against Team Canada Development Squad member Chandler McDowell.

Kehler Koss defeated Phoebe Yue in playoff to win the girls division in 2016.

Starting times for the first and second rounds will be made available on Monday, July 10th 9:30 a.m. More information on the event and starting times can be found here. 

ABOUT THE COURSE

Founded in 1918. 

Par 70.

More information can be found here. 

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FUTURE LINKS, driven by Acura

Future Links, driven by Acura is Canada’s national junior golf program conducted by Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and Canada’s provincial golf associations. Proudly supported by Acura, Puma, The R&A, NGCOA Canada, ClubLink and Sport Canada, the program is designed to forge a link between Canada’s youth and golf to ensure the future of the game in Canada. The program features three core areas of focus—in-school programming, facility programming and community outreach—including elements such as Golf in Schools, Learn to Play, PGA Junior League, Girl’s Club, Mobile Clinics, Junior Skills Competition and Community Golf Coach, along with six regional Future Links Junior Championships.  Since the inception of the program in 1996, more than 1.3 million young Canadians have taken part in Future Links. For more information, visit golfcanada.ca/futurelinks. 

ABOUT ACURA CANADA

Acura is the luxury-performance division of Honda Canada Inc.  and is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and design that creates a new driving experience. The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the Acura MDX seven-passenger luxury SUV. Acura launched its next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.  Acura celebrated its 30th anniversary in Canada in February 2017 and has grown to include 51 locations in its dealer network across the country.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 20 championships nation-wide which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Sport Canada, Acura, Titleist and FootJoy. For more information and scheduling visit golfcanada.ca/competitions.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 305,000 golfers and more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit golfcanada.ca.

Media contact:

Tyler Costigan

Manager, Corporate Communications & Social Media

Golf Canada

(t) 1-800-263-0009 x 315

(c) 416-300-4860

(e) tcostigan@golfcanada.ca