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Wolf Creek Links set to test top men

Alberta Amateur runs until July 19 at Ponoka area course
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Ponoka native Jared Nicolls is back on his home course of Wolf Creek this week as he takes on the best amateur men golfers in the province. Photo by Jordie Dwyer

The links course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort will be a tough proving ground for Alberta’s top male golfers this week.

That’s the sentiment from many of the 120 that teed off on their practice round July 15 for the 2019 Sun Life Financial Alberta Mens Amateur Golf Championship, which started July 16 and will conclude July 19.

Ponoka’s Jared Nicolls, who now resides in Chestermere and plays out of the Winston Golf Club in Calgary, will be among the 120 golfers taking on the massively long 7,123 yard par 71 course. The field will be cut in half after the first two rounds, while the winner, along with a trophy, will earn the last Team Alberta spot that will be competing next year for the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship in Tacoma, Washington.

Nicolls, who explained this is will be his final year as an amateur, said it will be key to keep your ball out of trouble in spite of what looks like wide open and expansive fairways.

“Wolf Creek hosts some of the biggest golf events in the province, but you have to look deep into this course. Being one of the longest courses, it’s also something that you won’t see anywhere else in Alberta,” said Nicolls, who just finished his athletic eligibility at South Dakota State University.

“Some look at the length, but there are other things that tend to be overlooked. It’s a great place to play and it is kept in spectacular shape.”

He added that, due to its length, many make the mistake that you need to be long right from the start.

“A driver is not that important here as I think being accurate off the tee is,” Nicolls stated.

“All of the par fours are tough, even more so if you’re not in a good place on the fairway.”

Other notables competing this week include the 2019 Alberta junior champion Carter Graf, Andrew Harrison who won the 2019 SVR Alberta Open and the 2019 Alberta Match Play champ Max Sekulic. It should also be stated that there will be a new champion this year, as the 2018 title holder AJ Armstrong has since turned pro.

Alberta Golf communications director Kevin Smith thanked Sun Life Financial for their 29 years of sponsorship support for this particular event and the staff of Wolf Creek Golf Resort for the wonderful work done to prepare the entire facility for this tournament.

He added that spectators are more than welcome to come out to watch and follow their favourite golfers.

More information can be found at www.albertagolf.com.

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Sylvan Lake’s Carter Graf, fresh off winning the Alberta Junior Championship, will see if he can cut it as the Alberta Men’s Amateur tees off this week at Wolf Creek Golf Resort. Photo by Jordie Dwyer