In contention
Taylor looking to carry strong finish into today’s final round of Atlantic event
Alex Taylor birdied the seventh hole Wednesday and never looked back.
The 16-year-old Nine Mile Creek resident was 3-over par through the first six holes Wednesday at the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship at the Countryview Golf Course in Fairview.
“I had a tough up and down,” Taylor said describing his play on the seventh hole.
Sinking the putt fired him up and he birdied two of the next three holes en route to a 2-under 70. He tied defending champ Calvin Ross for the best round of the day, and they were two of the three golfers to break par.
“I thought the conditions were perfect, just a little wind, but the course was amazing,” said Taylor.
He is not just a member of the host course, he also works there. While it comes with pressure, it has its advantages as well.
“Everyone is rooting for me,” he said.
He entered the day tied for 13th and ended it in a fourway tie for second place, four strokes back of Ross, heading into today’s final round of the three-round championship. Stratford’s Kevin Chen and Nova Scotians Jack Anderson and Shaun Margeson are also tied for second.
The top-six finalists in the boys division will earn exemptions into the Canadian junior boys championship at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L., Aug. 1-4. In the case of ties, exemptions will be decided via a holeby-hole playoff.
Taylor finished 23rd at last year’s Atlantics in Bathurst, N.B. Heading into this year’s event, his goal was to be in the top-six, and he’s right in contention. “It’s very exciting,” he said. Asked what he had to do to achieve that goal, Taylor showed no hesitation. “Play like I did today,” he said. Taylor wasn’t resting after his round. He was out working on his game in the early evening. He tees off at 12:50 p.m.
Chen shot an even par 72 Wednesday with three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine and two birdies, including No. 18, on the back nine.
Ross, a Fredericton, N.B., native, had five birdies and three bogeys. N.S., has a 10-stroke lead as she looks to defend her girls crown.
She shot a 1-over 73 on Wednesday for the best round of the girls division.
Port Williams, N.S., sisters Meghan and Heather McLean are second and third, respectively.
There are no Islanders in the field of 14.
All competitors within the top-6, including ties, in the girls division will gain entry into the Canadian junior girls championship. The tournament will be conducted from Aug. 2 to 5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S.