Top Golfers Gather in Quebec for Future Links Junior Series
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:40:24
Since it began in 2000, the Bank of Montreal Future Links Junior Series has attracted Canada's top junior golfers in regional competitions across Canada. As the Junior Series continues to grow, not only has Canadian interest increased, but also interest from international competitors.
For example, five golfers from Bermuda - David Boyce, Nick Dunkle, Fraser Hunt, Ryan Marshall and Eric West - will enter Laval with international experience that should position them as serious contenders for the junior boys title. Also among the favourites in the junior boys division are 2001 Future Links Atlantic Champion Scott Harvey of Brantford, ON and Josh Burbidge of Newport, NS who was runner-up to Harvey at the Atlantic. Benjamin Noel of Rouyn-Noranda, QC and Charles Seguin of Buckinham, QC - who tied for sixth at the 2001 Future Links Quebec Championship - will also be looking for a strong finish at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac. As they battle for the junior boys title, competitors will also be looking to collect points towards the Bank of Montreal Junior Order of Merit, Canada's national junior ranking system for boys.
The junior girls division looks to be wide open as a number of golfers could challenge for top position. Genevieve Dupuis of Bois-Des-Fillion, QC - who plays out of the host club - looks to be the early favourite. Marie Andree Gendron of St-Nicolas, QC finished fourth at the 2001 Future Links Quebec Championship and should make a strong run at the title.
Perhaps the most telling sign of the increased interest in the Bank of Montreal Future Links Junior Series is the overwhelming response to the newly added bantam division. A record-high 12 golfers are set to compete in this division for golfers 11-13 years of age. Joey McInnes of Red Lake, ON looks for his second Future Links Bantam title of the year after winning the title at the 2002 Future Links Prairie Championship.
As the fourth of six Bank of Montreal Future Links Junior Series championships, the 2002 Quebec Championship features 84 of Canada's top young male and female golfers in a three-day, 54-hole stroke play competition.
Now in its third year, the Bank of Montreal Future Links Junior Series has established itself as the premier junior golf circuit in Canada. With six regional championships and over 500 participants in three age categories - Junior Girls (13-18 years), Junior Boys (14-18 years), the newly added Bantam Category (11-13 years) - and with two high profile American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) championships, the Future Links Junior Series continues to raise the bar for championship junior golf nationwide.
"As an organization committed to the development of junior golf in Canada, we're ecstatic with the growing response to the Bank of Montreal Future Links Junior Series," said Sean Van Kesteren, RCGA Manager of Amateur Competitions. "Every event seems to raise the bar for competition and judging by the response to this year's championships to date, I'd say we're in for another fantastic showcase of talent."
"
