Tee 2 Green with Barry Sharpe - - April 16/09

After finishing first in a regional qualifier in West Vancouver on Monday Canada's National Men's Development Team has earned the right to compete in the 2009 World Junior Golf Team Championship (WJGTC) in Japan in June.

Playing on the lush greens and fairways of Capilano Golf & Country Club, the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) National Men's Development team of Mitch Sutton of London, Ont., Toronto natives Richard Jung and Albin Choi, as well as Julien Goulet of St-Roch de L'Achigan, Que., led wire-to-wire, topping Mexico (645) by 7-strokes with a team score of 8-over (638).

Also competing in this prestigious 54 hole international junior team event were Guatemala (671) and Puerto Rico (685) who finished third and fourth respectively.

"We are proud to have our talented National Development Team represent Canada at the World Junior Golf Team Championship in Japan," said Doug Roxburgh, RCGA Director of High Performance Programs. "The passion these phenomenal young men share for the game will undoubtedly bring them success and we are confident they will make our nation proud."

The 2009 World Junior Golf Team Championship will take place June 16-19 in Japan.

Albin Choi finished the event at 1-under to take home top individual honours, while Julien Goulet and Richard Jung finished tied in a logjam for third at 6-over. Reigning Canadian Junior Boys champion Mitch Sutton finished 10th at 13-over.

Canada has been competing in the World Junior Golf Team Championship since its inception in 1992. Each year, more than 60 countries attempt to qualify for the event via regional qualifiers with only 14 teams earning the right to play in Japan.

In the past Canada has earned seven top-10 finishes in the event's 16 year history. There has only been two years (1992 and 2008) where Canada did not make it through regional qualifying.

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Canadian National Amateur Team member Matt Hill of Bright's Grove, ON continues to get stronger and more proficient the more he plays. Named Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Golfer of the Month for March, the sophomore at North Carolina Sate, won his fourth NCAA title of the season this past weekend and was named Golfweek NCAA Player of the week.

Hill finished in first place at (67-71-68--206) 10-under par for his fifth college casreer victory in 20 starts, tying PGA Tour member Tim Clark for most wins in NC State Wolfpack history and setting a school record with four NCAA titles in one season.

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Sherbrooke, Que native and National Women's Amateur Team member Maude-Aimee LeBlanc has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after earning top medalist honors at the Ladies Midwest Shootout. The Purdue sophomore finished 3-over par, shooting 147 after 36 holes to claim the event by two-strokes, while her Boilermaker team finished fourth overall. The Ladies Midwest Shootout victory was her first individual victory of the season and her fifth top-five finish.

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Scott Keenlyside, the head professional at Island View Golf driving range in Central Saanich for the past four years, has been promoted to general manager. He replaces Sean McNulty, who will be joining Five Star Paving's interlocking brick division. Keenlyside brings a wealth of credentials over his 35 years in the golf world, including GM for both Morningstar and Eaglecrest golf courses, terms as president of the B.C. Golf Museum and B.C. Golf Association as well as national and provincial CPGA titles as Professional of the Year. Island View has been named one of the best driving ranges in Canada by the industry and Business of the Year by the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.