39th Annual Little Masters Golf Tournament

By HARRY WHITE
For the Optimist Junior Linkster Tour

Over one hundred and twenty competitors vied for the honours of "Champion Golfer Of The Year" for the Optimist Junior Linkster Tour Canada junior program. After the field was trimmed to the low 40 and ties for the final 18 hole round, a number of new faces were on the verge of going forward into the winners circle.

One of the great stories of 2008 has been the inspired play of six-year-old ILIRIAN ZALLI of Vancouver. Ilirian represented BC at the recently completed Callaway Jr. World Championship in San Diego, taking second place! He has clearly outclassed all other golfers in his age division and the Little Masters confirmed his standing as the next exciting and talented golfing youngster for BC. Dylan Bercan and Ethan Choi had a great battle for silver and bronze.

Junior Girls Age 10 & Under division saw Callaway Junior World champion SUMIE FRANCOIS of Burnaby take her division over long-time rival Shania Remandaban of Coquitlam, with the bronze medal going to Lily HE, a visitor from China, ranked number 3 for her age division there.

Boys Age 7-8 champion was North Vancouver's ZACH RYUJIN of North Vancouver, who easily took the crown. Michael Crisologo of Richmond had a great day to move into the silver medal position for the 72 hole championship, edging up and coming Justin Yap, also of Richmond, B.C.

Boys 9-10 division saw a battle of birdies in the final, allowing HENRY LEE of Surrey to take the title over Jackie Zhang of Richmond. Jackie got off to a poor start but then reeled off five birdies to close the gap and just miss by one. Sy Lovan of Surrey moved up to take the bronze medal.

Boys 11-12 division saw ALEX FRANCOIS of Burnaby take the division easily and become the overall boys champion and Grand Champion for the entire field. Alex's steady golf is tough to beat and he also wins a special oil painting of Amen Corner at the Augusta National GC, courtesy of Wilson Zhao of Richmond. The Golf Channel covered the play of Alex Franois and younger sister Sumie Francois. The third round play was an exciting one for Mission junior golfer, Jamie Coates, who "aced" the 16th at Sunshine Woods before an excited and happy gallery of golfers, parents and officials. Congratulations Jamie!

Boys 13-15 age division saw sweet redemption for Richmond's BRIAN HARRISON, as he made up the two shot gap he started the day with and fired a superb 73 to out-distance all competitors on the day. Brian's win erases the memories of 2007. Smooth swinging Aaron Ferrer of Delta takes the silver medal.

Girls Age 11-15 division, saw the closest matches of the day determined ultimately by a playoff between Brooklyn Kraakman of Deroche, BC and Valentina Trillo of Coquitlam. Brooklyn takes the first place trophy after seven extra extra playoff holes. Some rather technical rules decisions had to be made to influence the final outcome and the writer is disappointed that the "spirit of the rules" was not more in evidence.

All in all though, our sincere thanks to all the parents, host courses Musqueam Golf Centre, Langley Golf Centre, Sunshine Woods GC and Newlands GC for their generous hosting of this prestigious championship for junior golf in BC.

Our thanks also to the Vancouver Optimist Club and parents for assisting in all facets of the tournament organization.

The presence of the Florida based "Golf Channel" enhanced the exciting junior golfing experience gained by all competitors and the day was capped off by formal award ceremonies for the entire field of Little Masters qualifiers. Special recognition plaques were presented to the four host-courses, Musqueam Golf Centre, Langley Golf Centre, Sunshine Woods GC and the Newlands GC.

(Position---Player---4th Round , 72 Hole Tournament Total)

CATEGORY
Girls 10 & Under

1 Francois, Sumie 66 251
2 Remandaban, Shania 69 261
3 He, Lily 73 269

Girls 11 - 15

1 Kraakman, Brooklyn 78 265 (won playoff)
2 Trillo, Valentina 77 265
3 Chua, Cheryl 80 266
4 Chua, Cherie 81 266

Boys 6 & Under

1 Zalli, Ilirian 58 241
2 Bercan, Dylan 66 279
3 Choi, Ethan 76 283

Boys 7 & 8

1 Ryujin, Zack 74 273
2 Crisologo, Michael 79 308
3 Yap, Justin 86 310

Boys 9 - 10

1 Lee, Henry 65 246
2 Zhang, Jackie 67 248
3 Lovan, Sy 64 258

Boys 11 - 15

1 Harrison, Brian 73 252
2 Kwon, Kevin 71 253
3 Ferrer, Aaron 80 257