One misplayed hole almost cost Treyton Tangedal the championship, during Athabasca’s Junior Open golf tournament on Aug. 17.
The 17-year-old defeated his “good buddy” and “rival” Jerrid Hanzel in a playoff hole by one stroke to take home the Junior Open Cup for the first time after many years participating in the tournament.
“I knew it was going to me and him when the day started, so it’s a good win, for sure,” said Tangedal. “Feels good finally to win the big trophy.”
“He had a 10 on hole 18, and if it wasn’t for that he would have won it outright, but that’s golf,” Gilbart said. “You’re never home until you’re home.”
Going into the final hole, Tangedal had a solid lead on Hanzel. But that round, he shot six strokes over par, putting him neck-in-neck with Hanzel.
“It’s not really the score you’d think you’d end up with,” Tangedal said. “I remember last year, I shot an 80 and I still got second, so it wasn’t full of highlights.”
“Personally, I couldn’t get my irons going and that’s usually my best thing,” he added. “Like once you get your irons going, you can’t miss and you’re always on the green in (regulation). I was chipping and one-putting good, so that kept me in it.”
Hanzel didn’t leave the tournament empty handed. The 16-year-old was awarded with the first ever Ray Kelly Memorial Award for the most improved junior golfer of the Athabasca Golf and Country Club.
“Ray was a special guy and he just loved helping the kids,” Gilbart said. “It was very fitting of someone of Jerrid’s caliber. It was a perfect choice; he deserves it without a doubt.”
The low net champion went to young Spencer Florchuck of Boyle, whose 30-stroke handicap brought him to a score of 64. Florchuck also finished first in his 14-15 age category.
Talan Hobal was the 13 and younger winner, finishing with a low gross score 109.
Numbers were smaller this year, with only twelve kids participating. Gilbart originally had the open scheduled in July, but moved it to Aug. 17 in hopes of getting a bigger turnout.
“We’re a little disappointed in the numbers, but we’ll try and grow it,” he said. “Hopefully they all have fun and next year maybe they bring a friend. Next year we’re going to try some different things to see if we get more interest for sure.”
