The young golfers of tomorrow enjoyed perfect weather and course conditions last week at the Langdale par three golf course.
A total of 36 players took part in the fifth annual 12 and under golf tournament. The popular event was filled to capacity as was the spectator galleries with a roving crowd of parents, siblings and fans.
"When the players were showing up to sign in at the course, you could see the serious looks on competitors' faces," said event organizer Dave Strom. "There were players of little experience and players expecting to shoot par."
Each player received a gift bag containing a driving range token for the Sechelt driving range, balls from Sechelt, Pender Harbour and Sunshine Coast golf courses, a gift certificate from McDonalds, a score counter and a ticket for dinner after the event, which was donated by IGA and SuperValu.
Strom said as the tournament progressed he could see the individual groups were like miniatures of typical adult golfers.
"There were very serious older players concentrating on a low score, younger players being hustled along having fun and a group of young girls seeming to have as much fun socializing as playing to win," Strom said.
When the nine holes were finished, the chaperones handed in the tallied final scores, and the players sat down to dinner. The overall winner, 12-year-old Jessie Ostrosky, was a familiar face at Langdale, with a low score of 32. This score shows consistency, as his previous two years' scores were 31.The prize for overall champion was a ball shag bag and an electric putt returner. He also placed first in his 11 and 12 age category, winning a two-wheel golf cart.
The runner-up in that age category was Dylan Robertson, with a score of 38, who received a Canucks head cover and sleeve of balls. Kyle Horsman won the 9 and 10 age with a score of 37, while runner up was Andrew Strom with a score of 43.
In the eight and under category, Dryden Ostrosky won with a score of 49, while Andy Blattler was the runner-up with a score of 54.
All the category winners won a golf cart while the runners-up received a head cover and a sleeve of balls.
Michelle Jakszuk, Brenton Keyser and Kyle Horsman won the three closest to the pins. All three were awarded with a golf towel, golf pen and a hat.
More playing prizes and door prizes were also handed out. This year two sets of golf clubs were donated. Ryden Custance won clubs donated by Sunshine G.M., and Evan Murphy won clubs donated by J M E Enterprises. Dallas Colpitts, Breden Mackenzie and Danny Byers won three free golf certificates for one year at Langdale. Three golf caddies from Dick Davies, gift certificates from London Drugs and Pack Ratt Louie's, balls and a chair from G.B.S. and many other generous donations from businesses like Coastal Craft, Ship Shape Props, Sunshine Coast Credit Union, Molly's Reach, Dockside Pharmacy and Waterfront Restaurant helped make this years tournament the success it was.
Strom extends thanks to players, parents, Langdale Heights and others who helped bring this event together.
