Conner Kozak of Vernon carded a scorching 6-under 66 Sunday to claim his third straight Zone 2 Junior Golf Tour at the Revelstoke Golf Club.
Kozak, a Seaton Grade 12 student with a UBC Thunderbird scholarship in his backpocket, shot a 73 Saturday to win by seven strokes.
Tour convenors Larry Yamaguchi and Eric Breitkreuz announced that it was the first time in Zone 2 history a player had won three consecutive Okanagan titles.
Kozak was tied for second place with three others in the field of 50 after the opening round.
Ayrton Mantha of Penticton was alone in the lead scoring an even-par 72 Saturday.
Kozak and Spallumcheen Golf and Country clubmate Randy Todosychuk, along with Steven Lee and Nic Corno, both of Kamloops, were all one shot back.
After the first hole in Sunday’s second round, Kozak and Todoyschuk took the lead and never looked back. It was a two-man battle from there on in.
After three birdies, Kozak finished the front nine at 3-under with Todosychuk at 1-under. Kozak reeled off four more birdies and one bogey to finish at 66 – his new personal best in tournament play down from a 68 in Future Links Pacific Championship action.
Todosychuk finished at one-over for the day and second overall at 73-73-146.
Mantha fashioned a 78 Sunday to finish in a three-way for fourth at 150.
Kozak, along with Kelowna’s Charlie Lewthwaite (77-72-149), Brett Moore of West Kelowna (74-76-150) and Lionel Taylor of Kelowna (76-83-159) were selected to the Zone 2 team that will represent the Okanagan at the B.C. Junior Championships, July 5-8, at the Rossland-Trail Golf Club.
Kowan O’Keefe of Blind Bay shot 75-74-149 to share third. Brad Jones (79-78-157) and Matt McEachran-Law (81-79-160) of Vernon will also compete at the B.C Junior.
