Douro-Dummer, Ont. (September 12, 2016) – The 10th annual Canadian International Junior Challenge is set to begin Tuesday at Wildfire Golf Club in Ontario cottage country, with six teams ready to challenge for the coveted title. The national squad from England has won the three day stroke play competition a record 6 times.
Conducted by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) with the support of Nike Golf Canada as the title sponsor, the CIJC is pleased to welcome CJGA Team Canada, Colombian Golf Federation, Costa Rica Golf Association, English Golf, Mexico Golf Federation and the San Diego Junior Golf Association. The teams are comprised of four junior golfers aged 18 years or younger, with the top three scores from each team counting towards the total team score for each round.
This tournament has hosted a number of great junior golfers in the past, who have continued to enjoy successful careers in golf. In 2007, Andrew “Beef” Johnston was one of four players who represented Team England at the CIJC. Today, Johnston plays professional golf on the European Tour. Moreover, the CIJC has hosted junior golfer Paul Chaplet. The 17 year old represented Team Costa Rica, at the 2015 CIJC and has since become the second youngest player to play in the Masters, where he did so this year.
“The CJGA is excited about the opportunity to have such a prestigious event at such a prominent venue” said John Lawrence, CJGA’s Managing Director of Tour Operations. “The junior golfers competing will gain the experience of a life time playing on a course that has hosted several PGA TOUR Canada events. Of course we could not be able to provide this event without the continued support of Nike Golf Canada. We are honoured to have their support again which goes to show you their commitment to junior golf in this country. Nike Golf Canada is to be commended for their support in growing this event to become of one the world’s most notable junior golf championships” he added.
“Nike Golf Canada is proud to return as title sponsor of the Canadian International Junior Challenge, which has quickly established itself as a prestigious competition that showcases some of the best junior golfers from Canada and around the world,” said Tyler Keenan, Director of Marketing for Nike Golf Canada. “Supporting this great event further demonstrates Nike Golf’s commitment to developing junior golfers in Canada and internationally. We commend the Canadian Junior Golf Association for their work in growing this great event.”
Wildfire Golf Club is a private, family-oriented club featuring a spectacular 18-hole layout designed by noted Canadian golf course architect Tom McBroom. From its humbling beginnings in 2003, Wildfire has hosted many provincial championships and is the title sponsor of The Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial on the PGA TOUR Canada. In 2004, Golf Digest magazine selected Wildfire as the Best New Private Golf Club in Canada, however this will mark the first time the club has hosted an international competition.
“Wildfire Golf Club is very excited to be a part the 2016 Canadian International Junior Challenge. As a club we are very committed to supporting junior golf. Wildfire has hosted the Ontario Junior Championship and has been a major sponsor of the Golf in Schools Program in the Peterborough area. We are very much looking forward to hosting the juniors from Canada and around the world at our club, we have no doubt they will have a spectacular week of golf and camaraderie at Wildfire” said Jeff Mills, Wildfire’s Director of Golf.
CJGA Team Canada will be represented by four outstanding young golfers, Ty Celone of Long Sault, ON, Max Sekulic of Rycroft, AB, Keaton Gudz of Victoria, BC and Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, ON. CJGA National Team Manager Brad Kinvig from the Glen Abbey Academy will assume team manager duties for the Canadian side.
In 2013, Canada withstood a final round charge from England to take home its first CIJC title. Medalist honours went to Canadian Tony Gil who finished the tournament at 214.
Below is a complete list of competing players:
CANADA
Max Sekulic
Keaton Gudz
Ty Celone
Thomas Giroux
MEXICO
Juan Carlos Garcia
Alejandro Santibañes
Federico Gutierrez
Juan José Pedraza
COLOMBIA
Nicolás Rubio Reyes
Juan Antonio Victoria Gonzalez
Simon Estrada Castro
Felipe Alfredo Alvarez Cataño
COSTA RICA
Antonio Bolaños
Julian González
Andrés Russi
Enrique Ponçon
ENGLAND
Jake Bolton
Jack Cope
Danny Daniels
Kristian Tannum Donaldson
USA
Charles Reiter
Gian-Luca Martinez
Derek Kim
Joe Vrzich
Schedule of Events
Monday, September 12th
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – CIJC Skills Competition
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. – Official Practice Rounds
5:30 p.m. – Team Photos
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies & Dinner
Tuesday, September 13th
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 1st Round of CIJC
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – The Great Canadian Canoe Race
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Canadian Cookout (Pine Vista)
Wednesday, September 14th
8:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. – 2nd Round of CIJC
Thursday, September 15th
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Final Round of CIJC
3:00 p.m. – Closing Ceremonies & Awards Presentation
About the Canadian International Junior Challenge
The Canadian International Junior Challenge is one of the marquee events conducted by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) and is the only multi-team international junior golf championship conducted in Canada. This highly recognized event was developed to provide elite junior golfers around the world the opportunity to compete in an international ranked event while experiencing Canadian culture in one of Canada’s finest regions. The event also promotes the building of international relations between juniors and golfing federations.
About Nike Golf Canada
Based in Thornhill, Ontario, Nike Golf Canada markets, sells and distributes industry leading Nike Golf golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories throughout Canada. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honouring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game. For more information on Nike Golf Canada, visit www.nikegolf.ca.
Editors and journalists seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit: www.nikegolf.com/presscenter
About the Canadian Junior Golf Association
The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is a “registered Canadian amateur athletic association” (RCAAA) not-for-profit registered federally with Revenue Canada. The CJGA is dedicated to providing Canada’s junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf.
Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf.
For more information please visit www.cjga.com
The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by its National Partner, Freedom 55 Financial, which provides financial security advice and planning for Canadians.
For More Information:
John Lawrence
CIJC Tournament Director
Canadian Junior Golf Association
john.lawrence@cjga.com
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