Birchbank opens doors for 2011 B.C. Junior Golf Championship
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Nine players from the Zone One West Kootenay Junior Golf Tour take to the Rossland/Trail Birchbank course Tuesday for round one in the B.C. Junior Boy’s Golf Championship.
“The key to playing well at Birch is to drive the ball well,” said Zone One coordinator Rob McKay on the eve of the four-day tournament.
“If the kids can keep it in play they should be okay,” he added.
The kids, McKay is referring to, are the cream of the Zone One West Kootenay crop.
Redstone’s Kevin Bennett; the McKay boys, Tyler and Braden, of Birchbank; Brennan Moroney of Birchbank; Garrett Underwood of Champion Lakes; Tanner Kopan and Jordan Hoodicoff of Christina Lake; Salmo’s Kevin MacDonald and Alex Rugg of Champion Lakes.
A solid field of golfers from throughout the province will play a very challenging course known for large greens and lush, contoured fairways.
The local contingent has played the 6.788-yard par 72 track numerous times. So home course advantage could be in their favour.
Or should it?
“I think there are advantages and disadvantages to playing at home,” McKay explained. “ The kids will know the course, but there will be the added pressure of wanting to play well.”
McKay said the field is very deep with more than 100 players teeing it up Tuesday, starting from the hole one and ten.
And back to defend his title is Adam Svensson of Vancouver.
“Adam has to be the favorite,” said McKay. “He won both the world junior and the B.C. Am.”
“Kevin Kwon, Curtis Chan, and Connor Kozak are also very, very good,” McKay added.
Golfers are guaranteed two rounds before the field is cut before Thursday’s third round.
The public is welcome to attend. There is no admission.
19TH HOLE: The 2011 tournament is the final B.C. Junior for Kevin Bennett, Kevin McDonald and Tanner Kopan — the latter off to a golf scholarship at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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