Victoria's Jeevan Sihota Is Back At The Top Of The Leaderboard In A B.C. Golf Championship, But This Time He's Got Company In Burnaby's Leo Harper - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jeevan Sihota hopes to see fewer trees and more fairways in Tuesday’s final round of the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship at Christina Lake Golf Club.

The 13-year-old from Victoria shot a four-under 68 Monday to grab a share of the first-round lead with Burnaby’s Leo Harper, but was lamenting the number of times he was playing out of the trees bordering Christina Lake’s fairways.

Kevin Carrigan, Seen Here At Last Month's BC Amateur At Morgan Creek GC, Goes For His Third Canadian Mid-Amateur Title This Week - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan will be trying to complete a hat trick of sorts at this week’s Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana Country Club in Regina.

The 31-year-old Carrigan won the event in 2012 and 2013. He showed good form at last month’s B.C. Amateur Championship at Morgan Creek in Surrey, where he finished third, just one shot behind winner Jake DuVall of Victoria.

The Vancouver Open Charity Pro-Am put on by The Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) takes place on Wednesday, September 20th at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey and they are actively looking for those interested in playing in the tournament and also for additional volunteers.

VGT Commissioner Fraser Mulholland has put out the following release and information on the event:

The 2017 British Columbia Golf Bantam & Novice Championships take place Monday, August 21st - Tuesday, August 22nd at Christina Lake Golf Club in Grand Forks alongside the Kettle River in BC's beautiful Kooteny/Rockies region.

The Bantam Championships are open to players aged 14 and younger as of August 1st. There are two Championships - Bantam Boys & Bantam Girls. Each event is a 36-hole stroke play (2 rounds) - gross event.

For the Novice Championships (Boys & Girls), players will play off a shorter set of tees. Entry into the novice events will be for players with a higher handicap factor, to be determined by the final field. The Championship is a Net Stableford. Maximum field size is 90 players.

Jeevan Sihota (L) And Claire Lovan Are The 2017 B.C. Juvenile Boys' & Girl's Champions - Image BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Both went wire to wire and both won big. Jeevan Sihota of Victoria and Claire Lovan of Surrey simply dominated their competition at the B.C. Juvenile Championships at Granite Pointe Golf Club in Nelson.

The 13-year-old Sihota won the boys’ title by 11 shots, while Lovan, 15, took the girls’ championship by eight strokes. Everyone else was playing for second place.

Jeevan Sihota (L) And Claire Lovan Are Your Two Leaders At The BC Juvenile Championships At Granite Pointe GC In Nelson Going Into The Final Round - BC Golf Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota fired a two-under 70 Thursday and increased his lead to seven shots heading into Friday’s final round of the B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship at Granite Pointe Golf Club in Nelson. 

The B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship is also being played at Granite Pointe and Claire Lovan of Surrey retained her four-shot lead after firing a four-over 77 on Thursday.

The 2017 British Columbia Golf Juvenile Championships teed off Wednesday morning in the B.C. Kootenay region at the beautiful Granite Pointe GC in Nelson. Granite Pointe GC is a course rich with history dating back to 1919 when a group of men felt a golf course was absolutely essential for any town with the 'pretension' of being up to date.

Granite Pointe’s first year of operations as a 9-hole course was in 1920. Membership fees were $10 for men and $5 for ladies. A lot has changed since then as the course underwent a major overhaul and expansion to 18 holes in 1993, but it remains a vital part of the Nelson Community.

The front nine traverses through mountainous terrain with some holes offering elevated tee boxes. The three hole stretch known by Granite Pointe members as ‘Our Three Aces, holes 6, 7 and 8, offer some very good scoring opportunities. In fact the signature hole, no. 7, was voted one of the top holes in BC.

You’ll also notice a monster-sized chunk of Granite partially blocking the view of the flag on the 9th. The route continues over the back nine with park-like settings, generous fairways and some great water hazards.

Notes on the BC Juvenile Championships at Granite Pointe GC in Nelson:

• The BC Juvenile Championships are open to players age 16 and younger as of August 1st 
• The Juvenile Boys' is a 54 holes gross stroke play event with no cut for 2017
• The Juvenile Girl's is also 54 hole gross stroke play event with no cut for 2017
• The Juvenile Zone Team Competition is held over the first two days of the championship. Zone teams are made up of 3-4 players, with scoring based on best 3 scores on each day of the competition 
• Best-Ball Competition -  Players may make up their own 2-person teams from the field. Teams wishing to participate must identify themselves before play begins on day 1. This championship is a best ball conducted over 54 holes. The top 5 teams from the first 36 holes will be confirmed into the draw, regardless as to whether the players are in the top field or not

The Boys 2016 BC Juvenile Champion was Langley's Khan Lee, who recorded a brilliant 6-under 66 in the final round to defeat runner-up Jeevan Sihota by 2 shots. Lee is not in the event this year as he has moved on to the Junior category. Victoria's Sihota will be back to see if he can take that next step.

The 2016 Girls BC Juvenile Champion was Surrey's Hannah Lee whose 5-under total for the 3 rounds was the only under par score for the girls event. She was a 5-shot winner over Victoria's Akari Hayashi.

As with the Boys, last year's champion Lee will not be in the field as she too has moved on to the Junior level. At the same time last year's runner-up, Hayashi, who opened the tournament with a terrific 4-under 68, will be back looking to take the title this time around. 

For more information, tee times and live scoring beginning Wednesday, August 16 through to Friday the 18th please CLICK HERE

Team BC From The Golf Competiton At The 2017 Canada Summer Games In Winnipeg. From L-R: Tristan Mandur, Nolan Thoroughgood, Keaton Gudz, Alisha Lau, Hannah Lee And Tiffany Kong - Image Credit Christine Wong/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The gold rush finally ended for Team British Columbia at the Canada Summer Games, but there were plenty of silver linings.

The boys and girls teams each took home silver medals, and Richmond’s Alisha Lau won silver in the individual girls competition as the Canada Summer Games golf tournament concluded Friday at Southwood Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg. Tristan Mandur of Mill Bay added a bronze in the boys individual competition.

Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin Surpassed The $3Million Mark For The Year With His 5th Place Finish In The Bridgestone Invitational - Image Courtesy @adamhadwin.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin made his World Golf Championship debut a highly impressive one as he finished tied for fifth in a field that included 49 of the top 50 players in the world. Hadwin closed with a one-under 69 at Firestone Country Club to finish the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at seven-under par.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama ran away from the field, shooting a nine-under 61 Sunday to finish at 16-under par and five shots ahead of American Zach Johnson. Hadwin, who had missed three straight cuts, did more than bump a slump at the Bridgestone. He also boosted his chances of making the International team at this fall’s Presidents Cup.

2017 Canadian Junior Boys Champion Calvin Ross Of New Brunswick - (Justin Naro/Golf Canada photo)

Courtesy Golf Canada

Calvin Ross shot a 1-over-par 71 to claim the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys title at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club on Thursday becoming the first New Brunswick native to capture the event. With the win, Calvin Ross becomes the second New Brunswick male golfer to win a national amateur championship, joining Darren Ritchie who won the Canadian Men’s Amateur in 1992.

Ross catapulted to the top of the leaderboard after setting an amateur course-record 62 on Wednesday which allowed the 18-year-old from Fredericton, N.B., to cruise to a seven-stroke victory and finish at 9 under par for the tournament.

Tristan Mandur (L) Finished Second At The Canadian Junior Boys Championship While Fellow Vancouver Island Resident Nolan Thoroughgood R) Placed Fourth And Was The Runner-Up In The Juvenile Division - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Tristan Mandur and Nolan Thoroughgood both had to settle for silver on Thursday. Next week, they’ll try to strike gold. Mandur finished second at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship that wrapped up Thursday at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont. Thoroughgood finished second in the Juvenile division for players 16 and under. He was solo fourth overall in the Junior championship.

It was a terrific result for the two Vancouver Island golfers, who next week will be part of an all-southern Vancouver Island B.C. team at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.

Golden Ears 2017 Champion John Shin Holds The Winner's Trophy At Pitt Meadows Golf Club - Image Credit VGT/Mike West

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

His opponent opened the back nine with an albatross, so John Shin knew he had to respond with a big finish of his own. How does birdie, birdie, eagle sound? It got the job done for Shin, who made like Jordan Spieth at the Open Championship with his finish Sunday at the Golden Ears Men’s Invitational at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

Shin, who closed with an eight-under 64 to finish the 36-hole event at 11-under par, won by two shots over Eugene Wong. It was Wong who registered that two on Pitt Meadows’ par 5 10th hole on Sunday. Vancouver Golf Tour commissioner Fraser Mulholland said he thinks it is the first albatross recorded on his tour.

Doug Roxburgh Accepts The BC Senior Men's Championship Trophy From British Columbia Golf President Patrick Kelly - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

POWELL RIVER -- Legends apparently don’t retire. They just keep winning championships. Doug Roxburgh, at age 65, added another line to his Hall of Fame resume on Thursday, winning the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship at Myrtle Point Golf Club in Powell River.

It was Roxburgh’s third B.C. Senior Men’s title to go along with his 13 B.C. Amateur Championship titles, four Canadian Amateur crowns, his Canadian Senior championship and countless other titles. He won with a score of one-under par after closing the 54-hole event with an even-par 72.

The 2017 Boys Junior America's Cup Winners From British Columbia From L-R: Callum Davison, Tristan Mandur, Nolan Thoroughgood, Keaton Gudz And Coach Jayson “Nitro” Rite  - Image Courtesy PNGA 

Team British Columbia won the 45th Annual Junior America’s Cup, which was held this week at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

British Columbia, represented by Tristan Mandur, Keaton Gudz, Nolan Thoroughgood and Callum Davison, shot a final round team score of 2-over par 218 to finish the championship at 3-under par overall as a team. 

No other team finished under par as a team. Southern California finished in second place at even-par, and Team Utah rounded out the top-3 at 2-over par overall.

Don't Look Now But Doug Roxburgh Is In Position To Win Yet Another BC Provincial Title At Myrtle Point GC in The Senior Mens Championship - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

POWELL RIVER -- Doug Roxburgh had just stuck his approach to the 10th green inches from the cup for his third straight birdie when one of his playing partners joked about having to try and find a way to slow him down.

“I’m going to do a Nancy Kerrigan on him,” deadpanned Pemberton’s Lance Lundy. For a while, it looked like it might take a 7-iron to the knees to stop Roxburgh in the second round of the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship at Myrtle Point Golf Club in Powell River.

Doug Roxburgh Is Seeking His 3rd BC Senior Men's Title To Go With His Record 13 BC Amateur Titles - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

He has won 13 B.C. Amateur Championships and now Doug Roxburgh has put himself in position to win his third B.C. Senior Men’s title.

Roxburgh fired a one-under 71 Tuesday to grab the first-round lead at the B.C. Senior & Super-Senior Men’s Championship at Myrtle Point Golf Club in Powell River. The 65-year-old Roxburgh, who plays out of Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, closed his round with one of three birdies on the day.

Defending BC Senior Men's Champion Harry Ferguson Is Back At Myrtle Point To Defend The Title He Won Last Year At Shuswap Lake Estates GC - Image Credit Brad Ziemer

As the 2017 British Columbia Golf Championship season moves into its back-nine, we see the Senior & Super-Senior Men's events taking place at Myrtle Point GC in Powell River. 

As always the tournament boasts a strong field that includes many of the top senior players in BC and the Pacific Northwest. The defending champion is Invermere's Harry Ferguson and he'll be trying to retain his crown with the likes of past Senior Mens' Champions Doug Roxburgh, John Gallacher, Gudmund Lindbjerg and Sandy Harper looking to wrest the trophy back. 

The BC Senior Men's Championship is open to male players aged 55 and older as of the first day of the Canadian Senior Men's Championship - (September 11, 2017) . The Super-Senior Championship is open to players aged 65 and older. Maximum field size is 156 players.

Each Championship is 54-hole gross stroke play (NO CUT). Players will be competing in all events in which they are age eligible. The Zone Team Championship is held concurrently with the first and second rounds of the Championship. Four person zone teams are named by each zone prior to the start of the tournament. The zone team competition uses the low 3 of 4 scores each day. 

There is also a Best-Ball Competition where players may make up their own 2-man teams from the field.

CLICK HERE for further information and live scoring.

Doug Roxburgh Will Seek His Third B.C. Senior Men's Title This Week At Myrtle Point GC In Powell River - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

In his last four B.C. Senior Men’s Championships, Doug Roxburgh has finished first twice, second and third. Don’t be surprised if he contends again at this week’s championship at Myrtle Point Golf Course in Powell River.

Roxburgh proved at last week’s B.C. Amateur Championship that his game is in good shape. He comfortably made the cut in his 51st B.C. Amateur, a tournament he has won a record 13 times. And Roxburgh has been playing more tournament golf of late than he has in several years.

Over the last month, he has competed at the Kelowna Senior, the Rivershore Senior in Kamloops, the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship, the Ogopogo Invitational in Kelowna and last week’s B.C. Amateur at Morgan Creek in Surrey.

British Columbia Golf Coaches Clockwise From Top Left: Matt Cella, Keri Moffat, Colin Lavers And Jennifer Greggain - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski/BC Golf

With two Canadian Junior Championships coming up, B.C.’s four coaches will be at the national championships working with two provincial teams and two development teams.

The coaches will be travelling with 14 B.C. juniors to national competitions and coaching them throughout the week. Both of the championships take place the same week of July 31st - August 4th in Ontario, with the boys in Kingston at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club and the girls in Cumberland playing the Camelot Golf & Country Club.

As fortunate as our province is to have some very fine golfers on both the women’s and men’s sides, this seems a good time to acknowledge the behind the scenes contribution by the dedicated B.C. Golf coaches.

The 2017 British Columbia Amateur Champion, Jake DuVall, Holds The Bostock Trophy Over His Head After Winning The Title In A Playoff Over Washington's Jacob Koppenberg - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It may have been the biggest fist-pump in the 115-year history of the B.C. Amateur Championship.

Victoria’s Jake DuVall was more than a little excited when he rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Jacob Koppenberg of Bellingham at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey.

“This is huge,” an elated DuVall said. “I have never really won any big tournament anywhere near the stature of this one. It kind of gives me belief going forward into golf, thinking about turning pro, that I can do it in pressure situations and I am really excited.”