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Golfers tee off competitive season with new tourney

For weeks golfers have been marveling at the course conditions at Mountain View Golf Club. The greens have been in mid-season condition since before the start of June, they say.
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For weeks golfers have been marveling at the course conditions at Mountain View Golf Club.

The greens have been in mid-season condition since before the start of June, they say.

So why not get the tournament season rolling a little early?

With the course in postcard condition, the club decided to host the new Mountain View Golf Club Open

last weekend. The 36-hole tournament was also a qualifier for the BCGA provincial amateur and junior championships next month.

“We took the qualifier that we would normally hold for those two (B.C. amateur) spots, but instead of having just 10 people playing, we wanted to give the members another stroke play event that anybody could enjoy,” said Mountain View pro Graham Frey.

“A lot of it too was because of the great course conditions. With the course being ready so early, it allowed us to put on an event like that ... It’s fantastic out there right now.”

Whitehorse’s Jeff Hunter, who currently resides in Vancouver, had a good visit to his hometown. Hunter carded a 79 Saturday and a 75 Sunday to become the low gross open’s champion. He beat six-time Yukon men’s champ Phil Mullin by a stroke. (Mullin placed first for low gross in the men’s Flight 1.)

Matt Gibson, who was playing in men’s Flight 2, was the low net winner with a combined 142 (after handicap).

At press time, it was not yet determined who will represent Yukon at the 113th BC Amateur Championship or the Men’s Senior Championships next month. But it was decided for the junior championship.

Parker Olson won the junior division with a combined score of 180 but declined the spot, giving it to runner-up Luke McGrath.

“This is my last year as a junior, so I’m excited to get the chance to get to go,” said McGrath, 18. “That will definitely be the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in. I’ve never played competitively outside of the Yukon before, so this will be fun.”

McGrath hit a 104 and a 98 over the two rounds on the weekend. He will play the B.C. junior championship at Park Meadows Golf Course in Osoyoos, July 7-10.

“I know a lot of the players have had a bit of a longer golf season and they play on longer courses, so it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m excited for it,” said McGrath. “I don’t know what shape my game is going to be in by the time I get there. I have a lot of work to do.

“I’m just going to try to enjoy it, take it all in.”

Contact Tom Patrick at

tomp@yukon-news.com

Results

Men’s Flight 1

Low gross: Phil Mullin (155)

Low net: Derek Baldwin (150)

Men’s Flight 2

Low gross: Rick Gingell (159)

Low net: Ron Kulych (152)

Men’s Flight 3

Low gross: Paul Getson (192)

Low net: Gord Starko (151)

Women

Low gross: Elaine Sumner (207)

Low net: Sheila Stockton (152)

Junior

Low gross: Parker Olson (180)

Low net: Jake Ekholm (120)

Senior Flight 1

Low gross: Tom Amson (162)

Low net: Matt Lafferty (154)

Senior Flight 2

Low gross: Harry Kulych (190)

Low net: Stan Dorosz (148)