-Canadians Head into Singles Matches Needing Four Points to Win Cup-

Caledon, Ontario (July 25, 2019) – As the hot summer sun beat down on the juniors from both Canada and the United States, CJGA Team Canada expanded their lead over IJGT Team USA following the second day of the North America Cup at TPC Toronto.  Competing in foursome matches, the Canadian side increased their lead to five after a 3.5-2.5 score today, 8.5-3.5 overall.

Ryan McAskill and Tyler Cunningham were the first Canadians out facing off against Americans Steven Strasheim and Matthew Hicks. The match stayed tight throughout the front nine, with the Canadians finding themselves one down going to the back. Despite the best efforts of McAskill and Cunningham, they were unable to find their best game on the day, as the Americans were able to pull away on the back nine, ending the match at 4 & 3 on the fifteenth hole.

The Alberta pairing of Cole Ruelling and Tayler Kurucz teed off in the second match of the day against Matthew Hicks and Tyden Wilson. This was a closely fought match all round, and heading into the seventeenth hole, the two teams were all square. After a long tee shot by Ruelling, Kurucz hit a tremendous approach shot, which allowed the Canadians to par the hole and take a one-hole lead heading onto the last hole. However, Hicks and Wilson had a strong eighteenth hole and were able to pull the match back to all square, meaning the two teams each took half a point on the day.

Logan Hawke and Dayton Price were paired together for a second consecutive day and faced off against an American team of Jaden Wiesman and Chandler Brewer. After the front nine, the Canadians held a two-hole advantage, which they extended to a three-hole lead by the sixteenth hole meaning the match was dormie. On sixteen, Brisebois hit a great tee shot to the middle of the green, which allowed the boys to par the hole and finish the match at 3 & 2, extending Canada’s lead to 7-2 over the Americans.

Riley Mathieson and partner Alexander Brisebois were the final match of the Junior Boys division and drew Americans Alex Burnett and Mikee Ordona. Hawke and Price got off to a quick start, with a two-hole lead early on, after winning holes one and four. They went on to the back nine with a four-hole lead, after winning the ninth hole, and did not look back from there. The Canadians eventually finished the match on the thirteenth hole, making quick work of their opponents, and winning the match by a score of 7 & 5.

“Today was another solid day for the entire team and I’m really proud of how they played” stated Ryan Shaw, CJGA Team Canada non-playing captain.  “It is easy to lose focus after building a lead like we did after round one, but the team was prepared and focused, and really played well. I am happy with our position heading into tomorrow’s singles matches and look forward to an exciting day of competition.”

The Bantam Boys were the fifth match out with CJGA Team Canada partners Tanner Cardwell and Nathan Szpakowicz battling Americans Jeep Patrick and Nick Ciocca. The Canadians were looking for revenge after losing a heartbreaker on the eighteenth hole in round one. Ironically, the match was all square on the eighteenth tee once again, giving the Canadians a chance for redemption. However, it was a feeling of déjà vu for the Canadians, as Jeep Patrick hit another fantastic putt on eighteen, sealing a win for the American Bantam Boys for the second day in a row.

The Girls Division rounded out the day two matches as Canadians Yasmine Qureshi and Sara Cumby were challenged by the US team of Kayleigh Zemen and Teagan Devoe. After struggling for much of the front and finding themselves one down through the nine, the Canadian girls fought back and took the match on the sixteenth hole by a score of 3 & 2. Yasmine hit an outstanding tee shot to give the Canadians the upper hand on the hole, and they were able to two-putt for par to seal the victory, making the ladies 2-0 in the tournament.

The North America Cup resumes tomorrow morning at 7:40am with singles matches.  There are twelve points on the line tomorrow with CJGA Team Canada needed four points to win the North America Cup.

About the Canadian Junior Golf Association

The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is a “registered Canadian amateur athletic association” (RCAAA) non-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 please contact:
Brad Parkins
Chief Operations Officer
Canadian Junior Golf Association
brad.parkins@cjga.com