John Wilmshurst | special to the 51暗网
Jasper has a proud golfing tradition.
Approaching its 100th birthday, the golf course at Jasper Park Lodge was designed by Stanley Thompson, who also designed the links in National Parks at Fundy, PEI, Cape Breton Highlands and some place called Banff.
Traditions like this, that span generations, require that young and old are involved. It is for this reason that some enthusiastic duffers at the JPL golf course have organized some junior high-school kids in town into a golf team. Last Wednesday, the Jasper Junior Senior High golf team took to the links for the first time this season to take on two rival schools from Pine Grove Middle and Holy Redeemer High in Edson.
The seven-person Jasper team paled in comparison to the 40 or so kids that made the trek up Highway 16 from Edson for a competitive round of golf. Decked out in matching Augusta green t-shirts, the Edson kids looked pretty pro in the eyes of JJHS coaches Heather Legacy and Theran Sawchuk.
But, as the afternoon progressed, their charges, Sebastian Golla, Jacob Bartziokas, Kewin Sommerfeld, Tanner Carlton, Donovan Fawcett, Kalan Sawchuk and Isobel McArthur proved that, in the world of golf, a branded t-shirt and fuchsia shorts are no match for a steady hand and a decent sand wedge.
First to dig out his clubs was Donovan. Don had an epic round that put him in the same category as a generation of North Korean leaders. He hit a stingy 34 on his 15-hole, modified round and only one bad hole when he bunkered on 2. More on Donny later.
Next to tee off for Jasper was Isobel. She鈥檚 a big big hitter out of the tee box and if she gets into sandy trouble, has some sweet touch with the wedge. She led her foursome from wire to wire and finished with an impressive 75.
Tanner, who was hard to miss in his hunter-orange cap and shirt, bagged a great round and finished strong, shooting just over par on the back nine and finishing with a 48 on his modified round. This kid can crush the ball.
Kalan was the most consistent Cougar on the day, and with a swing smooth like honey, there is no wondering why. On almost every hole he reached the green in 3 and putted out with 6 or less, only foiled by the trees on 8. He finished with a 47, leading his party and putting him high on the leaderboard.
Jacob was next to the tee box and the first of the three teammates to play a full round of unmodified 18-hole golf. This kid swings a big stick, and under tournament pressure, had the round of his life. He finished with a team leading (unmodified) 65, crushing the back nine including a par on 17. Finishing the tournament were Kewin and Sebastian, half of the final foursome. Kewan, who was playing his first round of 18 ever, finished with a 107, setting himself a target to best for his next outing. Sebastian hit a respectable 77, which would have been much better if Lac Beauvert wasn鈥檛 so deep and cold.
When the literal and figurative smoke had cleared, Donovan wound up at the top of the leaderboard with his impressive round of 34. Congrats Donny!
This week, the 鈥渁ction鈥� shifts to the Edson Golf Club.
Fore!
