Baker Extends her Lead for the Junior Girls while Dao Vaults into the Junior Boys Lead at the Future Links, driven by Acura, Atlantic Championship

by Golf NB
Round 2 Junior Girls Results
Round 2 Junior Boys Results
Round 3 Pairings Click Here

Thunderstorms and rain were expected through the day, but the weather gods were looking out for the junior golfers today at the Future Links, driven by Acura, Atlantic Championship at the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland. Only a few sprinkles fell on the golfers for a short time so play was uninterrupted.

Haley Baker (Ashburn Golf Course)

Haley Baker not only held on to her overnight lead but lengthened it after round two. Baker, a product of the Nova Scotia Development Team and Ashburn Golf Club member, fired an even par 72 on the day. Even though she started and ended the front nine with bogeys, her birdies on holes #3 and #7 gave her an even par 36. She matched that total on the back nine with 7 pars, a birdie on #13 and a lone bogey on #14 to shoot her 72 and 146 2-day total. Haley’s sister, Abby, has a hold on second place as her matching 39’s on each nine gave her a 78 on the day leaving her 8 shots back at 155. Isabelle Ferguson, Heather McLean and Julie Gauvin, are tied in third spot at 12-over par and 1 shot back of Abby Baker. Ferguson, who has travelled here from Ottawa, and Gauvin from Dieppe both shot a 79 today to go with their 77’s from yesterday for their 156 totals. McLean who hails from Port Williams reversed those numbers, shooting a 79 yesterday and a 77 today.


Malik Dao (Summerlea Golf & Country Club)

On the Junior Boys side, Malik Dao from the Summerlea Golf & Country Club near Montreal, had the round of the tournament with his sizzling 5-under par 67. The 15 year-old had a clean scorecard with 5 birdies to go along with his 14 pars. His birdies on his outward nine came on holes #1, #6 and #8 to make the turn at 3-under par 33. His birdie bookends on his inward half on holes #10 and #18 gave him a 34 for his 67 total and a 2-day total of 140 (4-under par). Only one-shot back is local favourite Daniel Kirby. Kirby was 2 over (38) on his opening 9-holes after back to back bogeys on holes #3 and #4. He stayed 2-over through 14 holes but caught fire at that point and birdied the next 3 holes (#15, #16 and #17) to shoot a 33 on the back for a 1-under par 71 total on the day and a 141 overall. Tied in third place at 1-under par (143) are Nova Scotia residents, Jake Smith who plays out of Ashburn Golf Club and Owen Mullen from the Truro Golf Club. Smith had 3 birdies to go with his 4 bogeys for a 1-over par 73 for his 2-day total of 1-under par 143.  Mullen, was 2-under par through 17 holes but had an unfortunate bogey on his final hole that brought his total to a 1-under par 71. In fifth place, is one of Day 1 leader’s, Felix-Antoine Levasseur who shot a 75 for a 145 total.

The final round starts tomorrow at 7am with the Junior Boys leaders teeing off in the last few groups between 11:20am – 11:40 am. The final 2 groups of girls will tee off at 10:40 and 10:50 am. The day is set up for an exciting finish to this great tournament. The Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club is a wonderful host to this tournament and the players are enjoying the course.

Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick.  In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province.  Programs offered by Golf NB to its 8,000 members include: 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.