Clovelly to Host 78th Canadian National Junior Championships
Nestled in the north east area of St. John’s on the Avalon Peninsula, Clovelly’s Osprey Championship course will be the host venue for the 2016 edition of the Canadian National Junior Boys Championship which was last contested in the province at Pippy Park in 1999.
Tournament Director Dan Hyatt stated that “there is no better proving ground for young male golfers in this country than the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of special players in the field that are looking to crown and call themselves a Canadian Junior champion, we’re going to be witnessing some amazing golf next week”. Conducted by Golf Canada since 1938, when the first championship was played at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont., the Junior has given Canadians a glimpse into the future glory that many of its champions have gone on to enjoy.
Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan and Doug Roxburgh have all won the Silver Cup as young men before moving on to fine amateur and professional careers.
In addition to the 18-andunder championship, the 16-and-under Juvenile Championship was added in 1970, with the winner receiving the Jack Bailey Trophy.
The Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over 72 holes, with the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship held in conjunction with the first 36 holes. This team event, which pits teams from every province against each other in stroke play competition, will be played concurrently with the first two rounds of stroke play declaring the winner. The top 70 plus ties will make the cut after 36 holes of the competition. The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
The field will include 156 players from across the country, including a number of international players. Team NL will have six players competing in the field with Evan D’Angelo of Clovelly, Andrew Bruce of Humber Valley Resort and Michael Simms of Clovelly comprising Team NL with Daniel Bruce of Humber Valley Resort, Nathan King of Blomidon Golf Club and Nash Denic from Clovelly rounding out the NL contingent.
Tournament chairperson, Geralyn Hansford has held numerous meetings over the winter months with her committee chairpersons and stated that “with more then 80 volunteers Clovelly thrives on camaraderie, friendship and fun and will be looking to transcend that attitude and provide an enjoyable and rewarding experience for these young athletes”.
The Osprey will provide a challenging yet fair test of golf as the course is routed through the traditional landscape of the area’s natural wetlands, small scenic ponds and surrounding forest. The course has an excellent mix of holes and is showcased by the demanding, yet playable par 5’s, short and medium length par 3’s, and a perfect mix of par 4’s. The Osprey can play differently every day due to the varying winds of the Atlantic, which will provide a challenge to these young golfers.