Canmore Wolverines host successful golf zones tourney

CANMORE – Golf balls were flying and putts were sinking at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club for the high school golf zones tournament on Monday (Sept. 16), with three locals qualifying to provincials.

“It’s awesome to be able to host a tournament in your own backyard,” said Chris Shatzmann, Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club’s head golf professional. “We know we have awesome golf courses in the Bow Valley, but to be able to showcase it to players that might not otherwise come to the mountains, is really a first-class experience.”

Eighty-eight young golfers were trying to shoot as low as they could on the links to earn a coveted spot in provincials in Grande Prairie next week.

“You’ve got a full range of skill level, but it’s great to have everybody come together and play a little bit of tournament golf and learn from each other too,” said Shatzmann.

The four Canmore Collegiate High School Wolverines girls shot a collective 293 to place third among the six other teams.

“The girls showed up all wearing the same outfits today,” said Shatzmann. “So, when I see things like that, it makes me smile, makes me think, ‘yeah, they’re really engaged in not just the sport aspect, but the social aspect,’ which is really what’s so much fun about it,” said Shatzmann.

In first place for the girls was Cochrane High School with a score of 265, earning a spot in provincials. In second place was Springbank Community High School with a score of 292.

The Canmore boys placed eighth in the ranks of 14 other teams with a score of 235. In first place was Holy Trinity Academy, shooting 214 to earn a spot in provincials, followed by Springbank Community high school with a score of 216.

Fourteen female and male golfers also earned spots at provincials after marking down a low enough score individually. To qualify, the boys would need to shoot a 76 or lower and the girls would need 90 or better.

Canmore’s Beckett Roste will be the sole Wolverine going to Grande Prairie after he shot a 74. Banff’s Charles Greaves and Robson Horyn shot a 71 and 76, respectively, to earn their spot in provicials.

Holy Trinity’s Patrick McLarty took first individually with a score of 69 and Chestermere’s Aliyah Hull took first for the first with a score of 79.