The Ponoka Junior Open was played at the Ponoka Golf Club on Tuesday, which is all part of the Alberta wide McLennan Ross Junior Tour. 

The summer long tournament provides junior golfers in Alberta the chance to develop their game in a competitive and fun environment. 

Executive Director of the Tour Duncan Mills says Ponoka Golf Club has played a major role in the McLennan Ross Junior Tour since its inception in 1996.

“This is one of four stops on the tour, out of our 25 events, that have been on since our first year in 1996. It’s one of the charter members of the tour…it’s our 22nd year of coming to Ponoka as part of the tour. Rob Macpherson, the Director of Golf here, and Ryan Moore the Head Professional, they are very supportive of junior golf.”

The tournament was originally supposed to happen in the middle of July, but had to be rescheduled for Tuesday, because Ponoka was hosting the Alberta Men’s Armature at that time.

This tournament is the 16th stop on the tour which started back on June 24th in Lethbridge, and there are still a few more stops to go, says Mills.

“I’ve got seven left including today leading up to the tour championships, so 20 something or in the teens, something like that. We had 25 events on the tour for the summer so we’ve got, after today, 6 more, and then the tour championship is at Wolf Creek on August 28th.” 

The top junior boys out of each of the age groups participating will qualify today to play in the tour championships in Wolf Creek.

Local Ponoka golfers participating in the tournament include Noah Hackett, Emmet Norn, and Liam McKeen.

Next stop for the McLennan Ross Junior Tour is August 9th at the Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club.

To follow the tournament and to view the results after the day of play, you can click here to view their website, mrossjrtour.com.