Golf Canada – Owen Mullen of Truro, N.S. and Haley Baker of Halifax, N.S. crowned champions in their respective divisions

PORT BLANDFORD, N.L. —  Owen Mullen emerged as leader in the Boys Division while Haley Baker captured a playoff victory at the Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic Championship at Twin Rivers Golf Course on Thursday. 

Mullen, who started the day co-leading with Peter Blazevic, shot a 1-over-par 72 — the low round of the day — to earn his victory in the Boys Division. The Truro, N.S., talent had a slow start with three consecutive bogeys but rebounded with an impressive eagle on the 9th hole, followed by three birdies on the back-nine to earn a two-stroke victory.

“I’m really excited. It’s my second win of the year. I haven’t been playing my best lately so it was good to close this one out and get the win. It’ll be my first nationals and going to Medicine Hat should be a good time looking to play well and hoping to make the cut.”

“It’s my second win of the year. I haven’t been playing my best lately so it was good to close this one out and get the win,” said the 14-year-old, who is heading to the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in near the end of the month. “The tournament will be my first nationals. I’m just looking to play well there and am hoping to make the cut.”

Blazevic, Mullen’s second round co-lead, finished close behind in second after carding a 3 over. The 14-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., struggled throughout the round, but ended strong with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. He finished at 6-over-par 221. 

Finishing in third place was Ewan Jr. Kelly from Beaver Bank, N.S., at 11-over-par 224. The 17-year-old fired a tournament-low 70 on Tuesday to lead after the first round but fell to third place after carding 78-76.

The other top-six finishers earning exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 30-Aug. 2 at Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club in Medicine Hat, Alta., are:  Michael Simms of St. John’s, N.L., Mark Chandler of Chester, N.S., and Eric Yun of Richmond Hill, Ont.

In the Girls Division, Haley Baker and Raesa Sheikh fired final rounds of 11 over and 7 over, respectively, to finish the round at 17-over-par 230 and enter into a playoff for first. Baker outlasted Sheikh and won the playoff by one stroke on hole number one.

“I think it’s a pretty big win for me. It was probably one of the better tournaments I played in score wise but it was pretty nerve-wracking,” said Baker, who played alongside her younger sister in the final round. “My sister was really supportive of me because she saw I was struggling. She just told me to stay with it, so that was very helpful.”

Four shots back from Baker and Sheikh was Haley’s younger sister, Abbey Baker. The 13-year-old finished in third at 21-over-234.

Rounding out the top six earning exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, B.C. are Ashley Chow (North York, Ont.), Taylor Cormier (Corner Brook, N.L.) and Mackenzie Deveau (Moncton, N.B.).

NOTE TO MEDIA: Click here for photos. Credit: (David Hiscock/ Golf Canada)

2018 FUTURE LINKS, DRIVEN BY ACURA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS – JUNIOR BOYS DIVISION
1. Owen Mullen, Truro, NS, *76-71-72-219 +6

2. Peter Blazevic, Mississauga, ON, *74-73-74-221 +8

3. Ewan Jr Kelly, Beaver Bank, NS, *70-78-76-224 +11

4. Michael Simms, St. John’s, NL, *77-73-76-226 +13

5. Mark Chandler, Chester, NS, *77-75-76-228 +15

6. Tae Kyoung (Eric) Yun, Richmond Hill, ON, *77-78-75-230 +17

7. Felix Boucher, Dieppe, NB, *82-77-74-233 +20

7. Jordie Cooper, Fall River, NS, *74-79-80-233 +20

9. Kieran Allain, Halifax, NS, *82-77-76-235 +22

9. Evan Stewart, Wood Islands, PE, *79-73-83-235 +22

11. Evan Callaghan, Stellarton, NS, *77-76-83-236 +23

11. Teran Newell, Shelburne, NS, *79-76-81-236 +23

13. Ryan McNeil Lamswood, Stephenville, NL, *85-75-77-237 +24

13. Daniel Kirby, Woodstock, NB, *81-81-75-237 +24

15. Jason Howe, Toronto, ON, *77-86-75-238 +25

15. Andrew Cash, Upper Tantallon, NS, *77-82-79-238 +25

17. Luke Baldwin, Hammonds Plains, NS, *82-80-77-239 +26

18. Pierre Luc Arsenault, Saint-Louis, NB, *82-82-76-240 +27

19. Tyler Hashmi, Charlottetown, PE, *80-80-81-241 +28

19. Jake Smith, Dartmouth, NS, *77-79-85-241 +28

21. Ben Callaghan, Stellarton, NS, *87-75-80-242 +29

22. Michael Favier, Charlottetown, PE, *83-86-74-243 +30

22. Adrian Mallett, Cornwall, PE, *83-81-79-243 +30

24. Evan D’Angelo, St. John’s, NL, *82-82-80-244 +31

24. Logan Tramble, Bedford, NS, *78-84-82-244 +31

26. Sam McNeill, Summerside, PE, *84-83-78-245 +32

27. Brett LeBlanc, Hammonds Plains, NS, *78-87-81-246 +33

28. Liam Brann, Sydney, NS, *86-82-81-249 +36

29. Nathan Hogan, Miramichi, NB, *82-92-77-251 +38

29. Ethan Efford, St. John’s, NL, *87-80-84-251 +38

31. Jordan Martins, Toronto, ON, *81-90-81-252 +39

32. Michael Yang, Fredericton, NB, *78-89-87-254 +41

33. Devon Gionet, Miramichi, NB, *92-83-81-256 +43

33. Jakob Lorefice, Antigonish, NS, *86-91-79-256 +43

33. Liam Llewellyn, Edgetts Landing, NB, *84-81-91-256 +43

36. Thomas Sutherland, Hammonds Plains, NS, *84-86-87-257 +44

37. Cam White, Belfast, PE, *93-85-80-258 +45

37. Ethan Colpitts, Stoney Creek, NB, *85-86-87-258 +45

39. Alex Dolomount, St. John’s, NL, *86-86-87-259 +46

39. Dimitri Mihelakos, Halifax, NS, *82-88-89-259 +46

41. Gavin Connors, Torbay, NL, *87-87-86-260 +47

42. Aria Kabganian, Calgary, AB, *78-98-86-262 +49

43. Nash Denic, St. John’s, NL, *85-96-82-263 +50

44. Alec Anderson, Halifax, NS, *82-95-88-265 +52

45. Campbell Mayne, Emerald, PE, *88-91-87-266 +53

46. Nathan Clow, Fall River, NS, *89-89-89-267 +54

47. Jared Fraser, Sackville, NS, *97-84-88-269 +56

47. Patrick Cormier, Dieppe, NB, *84-95-90-269 +56

49. Nathan Young, Torbay, NL, *91-90-91-272 +59

49. Lucas Efford, Port Blandford, NL, *79-93-100-272 +59

51. Tyler Green, Clarenville, NL, *93-89-103-285 +72

52. Ethan Barter, Upper Coverdale, NB, *106-97-83-286 +73

53. Liam Robertson, Sydney, NS, *94-99-97-290 +77

54. Jack Pelley-MacHardy, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, *106-95-97-298 +85

55. Karsen Best, Holyrood, NL, *102-113-103-318 +105

2018 FUTURE LINKS, DRIVEN BY ACURA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS – JUNIOR GIRLS DIVISION
1. x-Haley Baker, Halifax, NS, *73-75-82-230 +17

2. Raesa Sheikh, Caledon, ON, *74-78-78-230 +17

3. Abbey Baker, Halifax, NS, *81-75-78-234 +21

4. Ashley Chow, North York, ON, *75-82-79-236 +23

5. Taylor Cormier, Corner Brook, NL, *86-89-80-255 +42

6. Mackenzie Deveau, Moncton, NB, *88-91-90-269 +56

7. Alexandra Guitard, Moncton, NB, *95-97-89-281 +68

8. Amelie Guitard, Moncton, NB, *120-111-104-335 +122

Full results and tournament information. 

 

GOLF CANADA
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 319,000 golfers and 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 www.golfcanada.ca.

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, 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 1.4 million young Canadians have taken part in Future Links.  For more information, visit golfcanada.ca/futurelinks. 

For more information:

Samantha Sokol
Media and Public Relations
Golf Canada
(t) 1-800-263-0009 x 316
(e) ssokol@golfcanada.ca