Ryan Garbutt (C) , boys’ champion of the Jordan Brand Memorial Junior Open today in Lacombe. Head Professional Weston Gillett (L) present the trophy along with Bruce Brand (R) of Sherwood Park. The tournament is named in the memory of Bruce’s late son Jordan, a former junior member of the Lacombe GCC.Â
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At the first McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour event of the season two weeks ago in Innisfail, 13-year-oid Ryan Garbutt of Windermere GCC fired the day’s low gross score of 78, but it was achieved from a shorter set of tee markers for his age group than what was used by the two older age groups of boys. Sebastian Berube of Priddis Greens came in with a 79 that afternoon from the whites, so it was somewhat unsettled as to who really ‘won’ the Innisfail event.
Today, that matter was crystal clear as all the junior boys on hand in a sold-out field of 50 players competed from the same set of tees, set at slightly over 6,000 yards over the hilly fairways and small, slick greens at the Lacombe GCC. Very windy conditions made low scoring extremely difficult and Garbutt’s 79 was the only score of the day under 80. Spencer Florchuk of Ft. Saskatchewan was a single shot back at 80, with three players T3 on 81, including Danny Humbke and Seth Marriott of the host club, and Tyler Michaels of Broadmoor. Micheals was paired with Garbutt in the flight for boys born in 2006 and later. Garbutt becomes only one of a handful of players aged 13 and under who have won a McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour event outright in the Tour’s 25-year history.
Ryan Garbutt, Boys Champion of the Jordan Brand Memorial Lacombe Junior OpenÂ
Some of the other players who have achieved such early success include Andrew Harrison of Camrose, who won both the Alberta Amateur AND the Alberta Open Championship last year, and Wil Bateman of Blackhawk, who won a professional event this winter in Arizona and is one of the leading contenders for the 2020 Alberta Open Championship coming up later this month on The Links Course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort. Bateman remains the youngest winner in McLennan Ross Tour history after he won the Goose Hummock event, shooting a smooth 73 as an 11-year-old!
An added sideline is that young Tyler Michaels is the son of Oilers play-by-play broadcaster Jack Michaels, who can now freely chirp his colour man Bob Stauffer that “My 14-year-old can kick your butt” on the golf course.
The Lacombe event this morning was the fourth in a row this spring that sold out their available spots, as junior golf interest in Alberta is going through the roof. Adding to the excitement is that both the Olds event this Wednesday and next Monday’s tournament at RedTail Landing in Nisku have both already hung out the “Sold Out” sign. We also learned today that the tournament on July 28th at Collicutt Siding GC in Crossfield is also full! Check the Tour schedule on the Alberta Golf website at www.albertagolfjuniors.org for the events coming up the rest of the summer leading up to the 25th annual Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort.
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OVERALL TOP TEN:
1. Ryan GARBUTT            Windermere            79
2. Spencer FLORCHUK       Ft. Saskatchewan       80
T3. Danny HUMBKE          Lacombe              81
T3. Seth MARRIOTT          Lacombe               81
T3. Tyler MICHAELS         Broadmoor             81
6.  Mason KUCY             Camrose               82
T7. Branden LAILEY         The Winston            84
T7. Brady BRUNS            Lacombe               84
T9. Nathan PIERS            Edmonton CC          86
T9. Carson DEVLIN          Windermere           86
T9. Saahir SHARMA          Edmonton CC          86
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THESE ARE THE TOP 6 AND TIES IN EACH AGE GROUP, EARNING TITLEIST ORDER OF MERIT RANKING POINTS.
BOYS BORN IN 2001 – 2003
1. Spencer FLORCHUK      Ft. Saskatchewan         80 Q
T2. Danny HUMBKE         Lacombe               81 WC
T2. Seth MARRIOTT         Lacombe               81 WC
4. Mason KUCY              Camrose                82
4. Blake HAMMEL           Ft. Saskatchewan        90
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BOYS BORN IN 2004-2005
T1. Branden LAILEY        The Winston              84 PQ
T1. Brady BRUNS            Lacombe                 84 Q
3. Nathan PIERSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Edmonton CCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 86
3. Reid WILLIAMSON       Olds                   88
3. Josiah TONG            Heritage Pointe         89
3. Colby SIMS             Lacombe                 90
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BOYS BORN IN 2006 & LATER
1. Ryan GARBUTT           Windermere            79 PQ
1. Tyler MICHAELS          Broadmoor             81 Q
T3. Carson DEVLIN          Windermere            86
T3. Saahir SHARMAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Edmonton CCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 86
T5. Rylan Ramsey           Lacombe                  92
T5. Cole PHILLIPS          Willow Park            92
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JUNIOR GIRLS
1. Alexa WINGNEAN        The Derrick            81 Q
2. Kristine DIXON            Lynx Ridge             88
3. Alyssa KANNGIESSER      Lacombe               94
4. Brooklyn CAMPBELL      Didsbury              95
5. Olivia LEUNG             The Winston           101
6. Serin GIRARD             River Bend            103
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UP NEXT ON TOUR:
Wednesday, July 15               Olds                           SOLD OUT!
Monday, July 20                             RedTail Landing     SOLD OUT!
Tuesday, July 21                              Whitetail Crossing   spots still available
Wednesday, July 22                           Camrose             spots still available
Tuesday, July 27                               Collicutt Siding       SOLD OUT!
Wednesday, July 28                          Montgomery Glen    spots still available
Thursday and Friday, July 29/30  Goose Hummock     spots still available