CN and Golf Canada are pleased to announce the six champions of Saturday’s CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., site of next week’s 2015 RBC Canadian Open.
The National Event, running for the seventh consecutive year, crowned female and male champions from three age groups (9-11, 12-14 and 15-18). Among the 22 participants from across the country, the following six individuals emerged as champions:
- Eric Collier, Copper Creek Golf Club, ON (Boys 9-11)
- Emily Zhu, Copper Creek Golf Club, ON (Girls 9-11)
- Nathan Hogan, Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club, NB (Boys 12-14)
- Laura Wong, Seymour Golf & Country Club, BC (Girls 12-14)
- Tyler Leclair, Seymour Golf & Country Club, BC (Boys 15-18)
- Elizabeth Blier, Club de Golf La Vallée du Richelieu, QC (Girls 15-18).
The winners of each age group received a champion’s package from Titleist Footjoy. In addition, Tyler Leclair and Elizabeth Blier – winners of the 15-18 age groups – have earned exemptions into their local 2016 CN Future Links Championship.
“It was really fun playing against all the great competition out here,” said boys 9-11 winner Eric Collier. “I really wasn’t sure if I was going to win but I hit a few great shots in the end and came out on top today, it was so much fun.”
Saturday’s National Event tested juniors in a four-part skills challenge which tested putting, chipping, driving and iron play. The participants, split into three different age groups, were invited based on their scores from individual Skills Challenge events hosted at local clubs throughout the year by CN Future Links instructors.
To celebrate the event being hosted for the first time leading into the RBC Canadian Open, junior participants will also have the opportunity to test the storied Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format on Sunday, July 19th. Following that, junior participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Canada Day Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s CN Future Links Walk with a Pro event during the Championship Pro-Am.
“The CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event is in place to recognize individuals from across the country in three age groups who have accumulated the highest score in our four key skill areas—chipping, putting, iron play and driving,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The event’s first time being integrated into the RBC Canadian Open made for a very memorable event and we thank all competitors for their participation.”
Current CN Future Links programming includes the Learn to Play program as well as mobile clinics, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club, Field Trip and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools.
In 2014, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge running more than 3,200 juniors through qualifying events. More than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.2 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.