Golf Ontario

Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic Returns to Wooden Sticks for Victoria Day Long-Weekend

Uxbridge, ON – Golf Ontario is pleased to welcome the next generation of male junior golfers at the 2023 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge between May 21-23.

The event takes place annually over the Victoria Day long weekend and features Ontario’s best male junior golfers from all across the province as they showcase their skills and passion for the game. With the tournament trophy named after Randy Millage, father of Golf Ontario Provincial Head Coach Reggie Millage, the inaugural champion and first defending champion many years ago, this tournament has seen many talented golfers compete and go on to achieve great success. Some notable names include Richard Jung, Daniel Kim, Richard Scott, Albin Choi and Peyton Callens who went on to win the Junior Boys Championship, Men’s Match Play Championship and the 2022 100th Men’s Amateur Championship

Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane highlights the importance of this tournament for competitors. “We are thrilled to welcome a remarkable lineup of young athletes to Wooden Sticks for the Ontario Junior Boys (U19) Spring Classic,” he said. “This championship will showcase the exceptional talents of the top junior boys from across the province. It also presents an early-season opportunity for these participants to challenge themselves and test their abilities against their fellow competitors as they enter the competitive season in Ontario.”

Based on past results and achievements many players received exemptions into the tournament. The rest of the field was then determined through the five qualifying locations.  The players who finish in the top ten will receive an exemption into the 2023 Junior (U19) Boys Championship at The Club at Bond Head in July. The top 10 juvenile (U17) boys from the tournament will receive an exemption into the Ontario Juvenile (U17) Championship at Elmira Golf Club in August.

The tournament will feature 60 male junior golfers, including Jameson Staab of Galt Country Club, who comes in leading all participants in scoring average with 69-par. The Kitchener native is tied for second among all Golf Ontario participants in that department and tied for fourth in all of Canada as well. Though Staab will definitely be a player to watch out for, it isn’t to say the playing field won’t be competitive as 59 other promising players will contest each other in what is expected to be a thrilling long-weekend with skill and precision all across the course.

Additional players to watch include Team Ontario’s Luke Smith who won the 2022 Junior Boys Match Play Championship last year and most recently earned a place in Final Qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Open. Zachary Smith, another Team Ontario player – won the 2022 Junior Tour Championship last fall and Andreas Diogenous a former champion at Peewee (U13), Bantam (U15), and Juvenile (U17), will be looking to finish his junior career strong and cap it off with a U19 event.

The weather is expected to be in favor of the players with sunshine all three days throughout the tournament, with highs of 22°C and lows of 16°C. Competitors will prepare for what is expected to be a challenging and promising experience ahead.

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the most significant golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.

For more information, please contact:

Greg Mitchell, Coordinator; Brand, Communications & Marketing Golf Ontario,

GMitchell@gao.ca

Rob Watson, Tournament Director

RWatson@gao.ca

For tournament results, click here.