New golf tour big boost for juniors

Ken Mariash’s commitment to golf continues to grow.

The local developer, who is title sponsor of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada stop in Victoria, suggested at a news conference last year that junior golf is his next plan of attack.

That came to fruition last week, as the Bayview Place and Roundhouse developer announced his $75,000 investment to expand the Vikes Junior Golf Tour and develop a new Vikes Performance Tour.

That performance tour creates events where Island professionals, top amateurs and now juniors will play with and against each other and replaces the previous Vancouver Island Pro Tour. The top player in each category — pro, amateur and junior — will receive an exemption into the 2017 PGA Tour Canada event at Uplands Golf Club.

Mariash’s plan is to bring together as many golf clubs as possible in Greater Victoria. Upwards of 20 tournaments (some are still in the planning stages) will be held.

Cordova Bay, Bear Mountain, Royal Colwood, Gorge Vale, Victoria Golf Club, Olympic View, Cedar Hill, Cowichan, Arbutus Ridge and Ardmore clubs will be included in the circuit.

Mariash was not on hand for the announcement, but Paul Corns, the communications manager for Bayview Place, stressed how important the investment is for growing the culture and community of the sport.

“This would be a very important day for him,” Corns said, sending his regrets from the absent Mariash, who took the factors of youth development, leadership, learning and competition into this decision. “We’re really proud of the partnership and opportunity that’s been provided to us and acknowledge the great work UVic has done to get us to this point, and we’re inviting everyone into that relationship to grow the game and culture within the golf community in Victoria.”

Two juniors who have benefited from the now 10-yearold Vikes Junior Tour are Nolan Thoroughgood, 16, and Akari Hayashi, 14, who were both on hand for the announcement.

“It’s meant a lot for me. I’ve developed so much through it. It provides me with competition, I get to meet new people and play [different] courses,” Thoroughgood said of joining the tour at age 13. He is now the reigning B.C. Men’s Amateur champion, having earned the title of the youngest ever to win it in its 114-year history last summer.