Skip to content

Junior Ponoka golfer wins MJT nationals tour

Ponoka golfer Jared Nicolls earned his first nationals title at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) in Arizona last week.
74832ponokaGolf112614
Ponoka golfer Jared Nicolls poses with his recent Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour nationals trophy Sunday

Ponoka golfer Jared Nicolls earned his first nationals title at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) in Arizona last week.

The tour was held Friday, Nov. 14 to Sunday, Nov. 16 in Phoenix, AZ with junior Canadian golfers vying for the MJT top spot. Nicolls, who finished with scores of 71-70, said this was his first nationals win and he couldn’t be more excited.

Things were looking good for Nicolls, who didn’t know he was tied for the lead with three holes left on the last day. A chipped-in birdie on the 16th hole helped boost his confidence to sink a long 45-foot putt on the 17th hole.

“The adrenaline was going because I knew I was close now,” said Nicolls.

He completed the 18th with a birdie. “I had a little bit of the Wolf Creek magic,” he added, referring to his home golf course.

Nicolls was actually in the lead on the last day after one leader boogied the first hole and another shot it in seven. Anything could have happened, so Nicolls kept calm and had a steady game throughout the course. His birdies ensured the win although he only won by one point.

The same player who shot the first hole in seven, eagled the 18th hole, narrowing the gap but that was not enough to surpass Nicolls.

Team Alberta

Nicolls received a call over the weekend that Team Alberta wants him on their roster for 2015.

“Team Alberta was kind of a goal . . . You always look up to those guys,” said Nicolls.

He is excited to have his final year of junior golf representing Alberta.