Kelowna golfers were once again a conspicuous bunch as the Zone 2 Junior Golf Tour made a stop in the city last weekend for the seventh and eighth tournaments of the season.
On Saturday, 76 players took aim at top spot at the Kelowna Golf Club as Order of Merit leader, Steven Lee, looked to increase his points lead at his home course. Lee played well shooting a 2-under par 70, but in the end had to settle for second place behind clubmate and former Immaculata teammate, John Mlikotic
Mlikotic, who attends Simon Fraser University, had just returned home from a successful freshman season at the Vancouver-based university.
Mlikotic playing in his final tournaments as a junior, turned in a 69 finishing birdie/eagle. Lionel Taylor of Kelowna finished three shots back, settling for an even par 72. Victor Baptiste of Oliver shot a one-under par 71 to finish third.
The top female score on the day belonged to another Kelowna golfer, Emily Nicol, who returned from her freshman season at the University of Victoria, carded an even par 73. Overall Nicol finished alone in fourth place just four shots back of Miklotic. Rachelle Nielsen was second amongst the girls firing an 80 and captured overall low net honors with a 65. Jessica Claggett of Two Eagles was third with an 84.
On Sunday, 71 golfers headed to Kelowna Springs for tournament number eight. Many golfers shot tournament bests including a trio of bantam boys. Davide Kaiser shot a 6-over par 77 and garnered overall low net for the 13 and under contingent. Ryan Pereverzoff fired a 79 tying his older brother Trevor in the process. Jay Taylor, younger brother of Lionel Taylor, shot an 82 that included a 37 on the front nine.
The tournament was decided in regulation play with Lionel Taylor of Kelowna shooting a 71 and in the process becoming the first player to win three tournaments on the tour this year. The victory propelled Taylor into second place on the order of merit 30 points behind Steven Lee, who finished tied for fourth on Sunday with Austin Bosquet. John Mlikotic and Victor Baptiste finished one shot back of Taylor after shooting scores of one over 72.
Madison Kapchinsky was the low female golfer on the day shooting a 74. Kapchinsky’s score put her in a tie for sixth amongst all golfers. Nicol with an 80, and Mackenzie Barrie with an 81 rounded out the top three female golfers on the day.
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Three rounds are now in the books and competitors at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Molson Tour will begin competitive play on Monday as the third season of the recreational golf tour gets going at the OGC’s Quail and Bear courses.
Over 60 golfers have played three rounds to establish a Molson Tour handicap and will now begin play using the Stableford Scoring system, which rewards par and better with points and penalizes bogeys and worse as the players look to establish seeding through the regular season heading for a match play playoff later in the summer.
On Monday players hit the Bear Course for the first time this year and several players recorded solid rounds.
Winners of other on course contests:
Closest to Pin #4: Jason Senger
Closest to Pin #6: Logan Lampert
Closest to Pin #11: Craig Foster
Closest to Pin #14: Russ Acton
Long Drive #10: Zoky Lakovic
Molson Tour players will be back on the Quail this coming Monday.
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Clinton Darbyshire, Cathy McCullough and Ben Decosse have all had a hole-in-ones at the Black Mountain Golf Club so far this season.
On May 4th, Black Mountain Golf Club member McCullough of Kelowna used a 7-Wood on the 117 yard seventh hole for an ace that was witnessed by Karen Stewart.
On May 2, Darbyshire, a Langly native, used a 52 degree wedge on the 138 yard 4th hole for his hole in one while Ben Decosse of North Vancouver used a five-wood on the 210 yard 13th hole for an ace.
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Golf pros from around the valley will continue the Interior PGA tour next Tuesday with a one-day tournament at the Okanagan Golf Club’s Quail Course.
The IPGA has 10 events this season and features some of the top golfers in B.C. at each of its events. Golf professionals from around the Thompson Okangan take part in the IPGA.
Here are the top five in the IPGA order of merit standings so far this season:
1 Stephen Connor-Tobiano
2 Dean Claggett-Two Eagles
3 Jesse Crowe-Canoe Creek
4 Mark Kitts-Tobiano
5 Rob Anderson-Kelowna G & CC
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If you have a golf event, story or great shot that should be included in our golf digest, e-mail kparnell@kelownacapnews.com
