Junior and high school golf circuits teed off this month, with local talent scoring victories in three events.
Last week, 60 young golfers teed off at the Birchbank Golf Course for the first high school competition of the year. When the last putt dropped, it was Rossland Secondary School’s Brenan Moroney who grabbed first place with an even par 72.
Moroney and teammate Tyler Mckay were both 2-over going into the final tee-off box, but Moroney made a dramatic eagle on the 18th hole for the victory.
McKay, playing in the group behind Moroney, hit his approach into the greenside bunker, but managed to recover to make par to finish second with a 74.
Braden McKay from RSS finished in fifth with an 80, and Alex Rugg and Ryan Fullerton had strong showings from J. L. Crowe with 87’s.
On Saturday, close to 30 players hit the fairways at the Balfour Golf Course to open the Zone 1 West Kootenay Junior Golf Tour.
Jordan Hoodikoff from Christina Lake took first overall with a round of 77 on Saturday. While Moroney from the Rossland-Trail Country Club (RTCC) finished second overall and was first in the 17- and 18-year-old division with a 79. Rugg (Champion Lakes) took second with an 84.
The Rossland team also played the Colville invitational with Moroney winning that event in a one-hole playoff with a two under par round of 70. Tyler McKay finished third with a 73.
If the start to the high school season is any indication, Moroney and McKay should both be players to watch on the Zone 1 West Kootenay Junior Circuit. Hoodikoff from Christina Lake is also a very strong player and Fullerton, Rugg, Garrett Underwood, Ryan Page and Braden McKay can also contend on any given day.
The next Zone 1 junior event is Saturday in Nelson (noon start) and Sunday at Christina Lake.
