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Ponoka girls take on junior girls’ golf championship

Young golfers from around Alberta took a swing for bragging rights during a tournament at the Ponoka Golf Club.
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Shaye Leidenius takes a shot down the fairway at the Ponoka Golf Club.

Young golfers from around Alberta took a swing for bragging rights during a tournament at the Ponoka Golf Club.

Alberta Golf’s Junior Girls Championship July 2 to 5 brought girls from all around the province vying on a challenging course, says Matteke Hutzler, intern for Alberta Golf.

She has enjoyed working with the staff at the golf club. “It’s a pretty big undertaking to give up the course for four days.”

Despite heavy rains at the beginning of the season, staff have ensured a full course for players.

“The course is in fantastic shape, she added. “The greens are hard for the girls, which is challenging.”

The joy is in the challenge and Hutzler has enjoyed seeing the players push themselves to do well. Hole 6 provides another challenge as it is a long par 4 but a strong wind on the first day of the competition made things easier for players.

“Some of the par 5s and par 4s are really long,” said Hutzler.

Although the championship was open for 120 players, only 33 played.

That is half the number of girls from last year.

“Our mission is to engage every golfer,” said Hutzler.

Ponoka girls had a chance to represent the town and despite some nerves at the beginning, were able to get into the game. Twins Shaye and Daria Leidenius started when they were five years old but have not competed in a tournament of this nature.

“It was a good experience,” says Daria.

She enjoyed the challenge and working against tougher competitors and used positive personal feedback to ensure each shot was better than the next. Hole 8 was the biggest challenge for her but she enjoyed the tough par 5. “It challenges me to improve my shot and get it (the ball) straight.”

Shaye’s toughest part of the course was hole 1. “I didn’t really shoot my greatest on that hole.”

But despite that and some nerves, she took the opportunity to better her game. Shaye intends to improve her short game and to stay clear of the trees and driving range. “It’s shooting where it’s safe.”

“I just went out there to learn new things,” Shaye added.

Despite the sharp decline in players this year, she believes programs such as CN Future Links and Golfing in Schools, will help increase their numbers. The former provides lessons and skill training for junior golfers across the country.

The latter is a program to get younger students a chance to learn about the fundamentals of golfing in an affordable way.

“We don’t want that (cost) to hinder girls from playing,” Hutzlar said.

Alberta Golf is also working to promote Canadian golfers in other avenues.

“We select girls to represent Alberta in three major tournaments,” explained Hutzler.

The top golfers of the tournament also had the chance to be picked for three Alberta teams: the Junior America’s Cup team, the Alberta-Montana Ryder Cup and Alberta’s Canadian Junior team.

The winner of the tournament and the Alberta juvenile girls championship was 16-year-old Jaclyn Lee, of Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary, with a 72 after four rounds. She and Sabrine Garrison and Brianna Carrels will represent Alberta at the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship in Pickering, Ont. July 30 to Aug. 2.

Shaye placed 22nd and Daria placed 27th.