Tyler Robertson rode the wings of an eagle to dig himself out of a big hole in the opening round of the Junior Simon Fraser Open and put himself back into contention.
Trailing his golfing buddy Blair Scott by just one stroke heading into Sunday's final round at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, the 18-year-old Robertson made that deficit up in a hurry on the first hole. By the time the final group of Robertson, Scott and Koltin Chasse got to the tee at No. 18 they were locked in a three-way tie for the lead, but Robertson reached into his bag of clubs and pulled out a birdie for a one-stroke victory.
"We were all close and we were fighting the entire round and it just came down to the final hole and I made a birdie and the other two guys made par," said Robertson.
After a round of 72 on Saturday, Robertson shot 73 Sunday for a 145 total, one better than the 17-year-old Chasse (75-71-146), who edged Scott (71-75-146) for second place on a countback.
Robertson was the tournament runner-up in 2013 and finished third last year, just missing a playoff by one stroke. Scott was the defending champion.
"This has always been the one I've looked forward to, since I started playing (at age 12) this has always been the most prestigious junior tournament in Prince George," said Robertson.
"Blair Scott won it last year and that was good to see because him and I are really close and if I wasn't going to win I'd like him to win."
Robertson putted well all weekend and his saving grace came on No. 8 on Saturday when he holed out from about 30-yards away for an eagle.
"That put me right back in the hunt, because Blair was starting to run away with it and that brought him back to ground zero," Robertson said. "My putter was really on, I don't know how many times I had a must-make putt and I made it."
Robertson just finished his first year of business studies at the College of New Caledonia and works at the PGGCC, so he's had lots of practice rounds there this year and shot a round of 70 there last week on men's night. At the Simon Fraser Men's Open he finished tied for first in the second flight and was 12th overall and plans to enter it again, Aug. 14-16.
"Lately I've been consistent around 73 and it's been like that the entire year," he said.
A small field of 22 entered the two-day tournament.
