Sign up for the paNOW newsletter
P.A.'s Noah Parent going through his moves in a practice round in Florida.(Submitted photo/Leslie Wingham)
Showcasing Talent

Local golfers compete in Florida

Nov 9, 2019 | 8:00 AM

Three local Saskatchewan golfers are in Kissimmee, Florida at the Reunion Resort competing at the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) Boston Pizza National Championship. The 54-hole event started Friday and runs through Sunday.

Noah Parent and Cole Jenkins, both 18, from Prince Albert and 12-year-old Dade Bernatchez from La Ronge are among 14 Saskatchewan athletes in the tournament.

According to Golf Saskatchewan, the tournament will feature seven different age groups with 112 athletes from all over Canada. Based on their performance throughout the season, the golfers received member only invitations.

Bernatchez had a tough first day on Friday shooting 25-over-par on the par 72 layout in the peewee boy’s competition.

Jenkins shot a 12-over round of 84 and will be hoping to have a better round on Saturday.

Parent finished the opening day on six-over-par 78 sitting in eighth place on the junior boy’s leader board.

“I actually played a pretty solid round today, a couple of missed shots, but I pulled out a 78,” Parent told paNOW. “I think it will be pretty good, I’ll be somewhere in the high ranks.” The best-placed opening round in his category was an even-par 72.

Parent explained this tournament has been the biggest he has competed in.

“It’s the top competitors of each province too so it’s quite tough,” he said.

The temperature was 23 C in Kissimmee on Friday, according to The Weather Network. The good weather will continue Saturday, with a mix of sun and clouds and a high of 24 C.

“I think the course conditions were pretty good, the fairways were a little rough for it being in Florida. But beside that, everything else was pretty mint,” Parent said.

Heading into Saturday’s round he said he likes how he is positioned.

“There’s a couple of missed shots I really could have taken back which could have put my score a lot lower,” he added.

He hopes to improve his short-range game and his putting ahead of his next round.

“It’s great down here, the weather is perfect. I’d rather this than -20 C.”

Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12

View Comments