Lipton Brisk Canada Cup - Team East Takes 1st Round

Release: CJGA

The Lipton Brisk Canada Cup is a 3 day Ryder Cup Format event between 8 players from the Western side of Canada (Manitoba to British Columbia) and 8 players from the Eastern side of Canada (Ontario to the Maritimes). During the first round players were tested with fourball matches where each player played their own ball and the best score from each side was the one that counted towards the match.

Team East most certainly had the upper hand going in to the first round as they did not have to deal with a significant time change on top of the already early tee times. Team East was able to take advantage of that factor and took 3 of an available 4 points on the first day.

"I was very impressed with both the East and West Teams, saw a lot of great shots out there and the competition should only get better as the week moves on" explained Team East Non-Playing Captain Cory Jones.

Non-Playing Captain for Team West, Claudine Foong is optimistic towards the rest of the week as she had this to say, "I am very proud of how Team West played today, we are very excited for foursome matches tomorrow and think that it will be a tight fight to the finish!"

In the Boys 14 and Under Division Brandon Raine of Caledon, ON and Zackery Secord of Midland, ON were able to oust Jack Wood of Banff, AB and Michael Pruss of Red Deer, AB on the 14th hole beating them 5&4. Not to go unmentioned is likely the shot of the day by Michael Pruss. Pruss got himself in to some trouble off of the tee placing his drive in to the lip of a deep bunker leaving him no choice but to take his stance outside of the bunker. Pruss was able to some how pick the ball clean and land it to 15 feet setting himself up for a makeable birdie putt.

"We were dormie so I knew that I could not play it safe like I usually would so I went for the green and was able to get something good out of a potentially bad situation" explained Pruss.

In the Girls Division the Team West duo of Grace Howie of Calgary, AB and Winnie Hyun of Winnipeg, MB were able to battle back from being 2 down to beat the Team East side of Marlies Klekner-Alt of Ottawa, ON and Karyn Lee Ping of Brampton, ON on the 18th hole 2UP earning Team West their only point of the day.

Team East was able to sweep the Boys 15-19 Division winning both of their matches. Amin Ashkar of Guelph, ON and Clayton Presant of Kingston, ON were able to beat British Columbia natives Jake DuVall of Victoria and Bradlee Jones of Vernon on the 17th hole 2&1.

In the second 15-19 match local player Brett Geiser of Markham and Graeme Shadbolt of Oakville, ON were able to take their match against Scott Secord of Calgary, AB and Travis Jenkins of Prince Albert, SK on the 16th hole beating them 3&2.