An Okotoks golfer wasn’t quite able to repeat her high school provincial championship performance when the Maple Leaf Junior Golf tour made a stop in her hometown.
Okotoks’ Kat Kennedy finished second with a score of 157 (80-77) three strokes behind Gina Kowalchuk's 154 (78-76) at River’s Edge Golf Course on May 19-20.
Kennedy, a Grade 11 student at Foothills Composite in Okotoks, won the high school girls golf provincials in September with Lethbridge’s Kowalchuk, finishing second five strokes back.
“It’s turned into a playful rivalry, nothing serious,” Kowalchuk said with a laugh after the final round in Okotoks. “We have too much fun golfing together.”
Kennedy found herself two strokes behind her friend after the first round of the Maple Leaf tourney.
“My short game wasn’t the best and I had trouble getting on the greens in regulation,” Kennedy said. “Today (Sunday’s final round) it was my putting.”
Kowalchuk started the tournament on Saturday by playing the first three holes four-over par including a triple bogey eight on the par 5 third hole. She rebounded to birdie the 353-yard par 4 fourth hole.
“That really helped to settle me down,” Kowalchuk said. “It makes you think you are back to your normal way of playing.”
Kowalchuk was able to go out in 43 in the tournament’s opening nine holes. She came in shooting an even par 35 for a total of 78 and a two-stroke lead over Kennedy.
The Okotoks golfer said she didn’t let being down by two strokes going into the final round bother her.
“I didn’t think I was too far off — I just wanted to focus on the course more,” said Kennedy, who golfs out of Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River. “The back nine is pretty tight with a lot of trees.”
Kennedy shot an impressive one-over par 36 on the front nine of Sunday’s game. The impressive score was matched by Kowalchuk who shot 36 on the front nine — including a birdie on River’s Edge signature hole, the 105-yard semi-island par 3 ninth hole.
“I hit an eight-iron on to the green and I had about an eight-foot putt,” Kowalchuk said. “The other girls (in the foursome) were almost right there, so I was able to read their putts.”
As a result, Kennedy found herself still down by two going into the final nine holes.
“I knew the trees were coming and I just wanted to hang in there,” Kennedy said. “I really didn’t get anything going until the 15th hole when I sank about a long putt for birdie — but by then I was down by about four strokes with four to play,” she said.
They finished well ahead of the pack. The third-place golfer in the girls open was Ashley Dechant who was 23 strokes back of Kennedy at 180 (90-90).
Kennedy said she spent the winter working on a new swing.
“I am starting to feel more comfortable with my swing with every tournament I play,” Kennedy said. “Something is just not clicking yet, but hopefully it will.”
In the boys tournament, Mack Pretty of Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club finished in eighth place at 163 (80-83) in the boys’ 14-16 division.
“It was a weird round for me today,” said Pretty, a student at Holy Trinity Academy. “On the back nine, I went triple bogey, double bogey and then I had an eagle on the 15th (482-yard from the blues, par 5). I hit a three-wood off the tee and then a five-iron about four feet from the hole.”
Jordan Taylor of High River was sixth in the boys 17-19 division with a 162 (84-78).
To see the full results of the Maple Leaf Junior Tournament at River’s Edge Golf Course go to www.maplejt.com
Results from the Maple Leaf Junior tournament at River’s Edge were:
Boys 13 and under (5,889 yards) — 1. Brendan Brown, Calgary, 151 (77,74).
Boys 14-16 (6,468 yards) — 1. Jason Martens, Edmonton, 148 (74, 74).
Boys 17-19 (6,468 yards) — 1. Evan Holmes, Calgary, 145, (75, 70).
Girls (5,889 yards) — 1. Gina Kowalchuk, 154 (78, 76); 2. Kat Kennedy, Okotoks, 157 (80,77).
