The East Coast Junior golf tournament took place at Covered Bridge in Hartland, New Brunswick on June 27th-28th, 2023. This highly anticipated event attracted a total of 45 talented young golfers who competed in three age categories: U-19 Boys, U-19 Girls, and U-15 Boys. The participants vied for the titles in both overall gross score and the Dormie Par Three Challenge, which focused on the overall par three performance.
Despite the threat of rain, the weather held off for the most part, allowing the junior golfers to showcase their skills in what marked the first Junior event of the 2023 golfing season. The tournament unfolded over two days, providing an exciting platform for these promising athletes to demonstrate their abilities.
In the U-19 Overall gross division, Simon Mullen from Turo Golf Club emerged as the champion. Mullen started the tournament with an impressive score of 72 (even par) on the first day, securing him the lead. His closest competitor, Miguel Babineau, shot a commendable 73 (+1) on the opening day. Despite the pressure from his pursuers, Mullen maintained his lead on day two by delivering yet another outstanding performance, shooting a 72 (even par) and ultimately clinching the East Coast Junior Championship by a three-shot margin over Babineau.
Abbey Baker, representing Ashburn Golf Club, triumphed in the U-19 Girls division. Baker started strongly with a score of 75 (+3) on day one, granting her a two-shot lead over the previous champion, Callie Taylors, who posted a score of 77 (+5). Baker’s relentless pursuit of victory continued into day two, where she showcased exceptional skills by recording the only subpar round of the tournament, a remarkable 71 (-1). Her stellar performance secured her a nine-stroke victory in the U-19 Girls division. Both Baker and Taylors are set to face off once again in the upcoming Under-19 championship at Fraser Edmundston Golf Club, promising an action-packed rematch between these talented competitors.
The U-15 Boys Division witnessed an exhilarating come-from-behind victory by Owen Roach, hailing from Fredericton Golf Club. Roach began the tournament with a score of 82 (+10) on day one, placing him in third position and trailing the leader, Carter Lavigne, by five shots. Determined to make up ground, Roach displayed remarkable skill and resilience on the second day, shooting a 77 (+5) to surpass Lavigne by two shots and secure the U-15 East Coast Junior Championship for himself.
Additionally, Dormie Workshop organized a captivating side competition during the event, allowing all players to participate. This competition revolved around achieving the lowest overall score on the par three holes throughout the tournament, with separate categories for male and female players. The victors of the Dormie Par Three Challenge were also rewarded with custom Dormie alignment stick covers. Tommy Chang and Jacob Rockwood tied for the boys’ division, both shooting even par on all par threes during the week. In the women’s category, Abbey Baker and Callie Taylor shared the top spot, both finishing at +2 on the par threes throughout the event.
- For more information on the 2023 East Coast Junior please CLICK HERE.
- For more information on the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club please CLICK HERE.