The Alberta U19 Championship concluded yesterday, and, as always, there was no shortage of excitement to keep both players and spectators engaged. With a full field of 140 competitors split between the Boys’ and Girls’ divisions, there was plenty of action unfolding throughout the week.
Round 1 provided ideal scoring conditions, and the leaderboard reflected it, with 17 players across both divisions finishing the day at even par or better. The highlight belonged to Brae Rogalczyk, who fired a scorching 63 to set a new club course record despite carding three bogeys. The impressive opening round earned him the solo lead, a position he would hold for the remainder of the championship. In the Girls’ division, British Columbia’s Ellie Johnson and Red Deer’s Coryn Tardif shared the first-round lead after each posted a 1-under-par 70.
Round 2 once again began under favourable conditions before Alberta’s unpredictable summer weather made its presence felt. A thunderstorm arrived just as the afternoon wave got underway, resulting in a one-hour and 45-minute delay. Players eventually returned to the course, with the second round concluding just before darkness settled in.
In the Girls’ division, Aliyah Hull, Alessandra Sundquist, and Saylar May all posted under-par rounds to move within a few strokes of the lead, while Tardif’s steady 71 allowed her to maintain the top spot. On the Boys’ side, little changed at the top of the leaderboard. Rogalczyk remained in control with a 69, while Jeevin Dhaliwal and Chase Strang matched him with rounds of 69 to stay within striking distance. The championship’s hole-in-one streak also continued, as Jayden Arnold recorded the first ace of his career on the 14th hole.
The final round brought even more fireworks, beginning with another hole-in-one—this time by Malkin Letendre on the third hole. As the leaders in the Girls’ division made the turn, Saylar May had taken the outright lead at 2-under-par. By the 11th hole, however, Tardif had drawn even once again. She reclaimed the lead on the 16th hole, and a birdie on the 17th ultimately secured her first Alberta Golf championship.
When asked what the victory meant to her, Tardif reflected on her journey since first competing in the event. “It feels really good, and it was a full-circle moment from the first time I played this tournament.”She also credited her preparation following last week’s Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship as a key factor in her success. “A big thing for me was decompressing and just chilling out a little bit.”
On the boys’ side, Brae Rogalczyk picked up right where he left off, continuing to build on his lead throughout the final round. Through nine holes, he sat at 12-under-par while Chase Strang and Dhaliwal continued their pursuit. However, Rogalczyk showed no signs of slowing down, extending his advantage as the round progressed.
A pivotal moment came early in the day after he opened with a bogey on the first hole before responding immediately with an eagle. “I hit a great drive, had 178 yards in, and stuck a pitching wedge,” he said, adding that the eagle was the perfect way to regain momentum.
Rogalczyk claimed his first Alberta Golf title earlier this season alongside Saylar May at the Alberta Best Ball Championship. He noted that having May around throughout the week, along with competing alongside Chase Strang—his newest teammate at the University of Idaho—helped keep the atmosphere fun and relaxed.
Interprovincial Teams
There was little suspense surrounding the boys’ interprovincial team once the final round concluded. The three players carrying Team Alberta bags competed together in the final group and remained inside the top five on the leaderboard throughout the championship. They will represent Alberta at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, hosted by Wascana Country Club in Regina from August 10–14.
The girls’ interprovincial team will consist of Coryn Tardif, Saylar May, and Raylee Denton (not pictured). The trio played steady golf throughout the championship, with May improving her score each day, while Denton rebounded after the opening round by closing with consecutive rounds of 72. They will represent Alberta at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at TPC Toronto from August 10–14.
Notable Highlights
- Alberta Golf’s Championship Hole in One streak continued with two this week, one by Jayden Arnold and one by Malkin Letendre.
- Brae Rogalcyzk set new course record at The Coyote with a 63, -8. This is back to back week’s with new course records being set by the eventual champions
- Both Rogalcyzk and Tardif claimed their first solo wins at Alberta Golf events with their U19 victories. Rogalcyzk previously won the Alberta Best Ball Championship in May, with his partner Saylar May.