Blair Scott isn't bringing his golf clubs with him on his trip to Cuba this week.
As much as he'd like to take a few swings in the sub-tropical heat, he's more intent on spending time on the beach with friends from his graduating class from Prince George secondary school.
Three weeks ago, the 17-year-old Scott survived a rocky start in his final round to force a playoff and win the Junior Simon Fraser Open at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Now Scott wants to follow in the footsteps of Keenan Hopson by becoming the junior and men's Simon Fraser Open champion in the same year.
Hopson, now 30, was 14 when he won both tournaments in 1998. He repeated as men's champion last year. The three-round Simon Fraser Open men's tournament is set for Aug. 2-4 at PGGCC.
Scott shot a 74-75--149 to win the junior tournament June 8, defeating his buddy Quinn Ferris in the first playoff hole. Scott got in trouble early in his second round, shooting seven on the Par 3 No. 3 which left him four shots over par. But he recovered in time and finished the back nine at one-under to tie for the lead. He and Ferris both hit good drives to start the playoff but Ferris landed in a bunker with his second shot and ended up with a bogie while Scott birdied the hole to clinch the win.
"I had a playoff last year in the Mini Masters tournament and lost it so I had a bit of knowledge about it," said Scott. "[The Junior Simon] was always the biggest tournament for me. I wanted that trophy all my life and I was happy to get it.
"I putted really well that weekend. I didn't play that much leading up to that, just the week of the tournament, and it was good. I kind of held it together."
Scott works in the pro shop at PGGCC and says he's having success with an old putter he found kicking around the shop. He just had to put a new grip on it and it worked like charm for him in the junior event.
Scott finished ninth in the men's Simon Fraser last year and he feels ready to take on all challengers this year. He's been playing the game seriously for five years is now up to about 25 rounds this season. His father Russell got him playing his first round when he was only six and even since then he's shared his dad's interest in the game.
"He gave me the basics and I watched a lot of golf on TV," said Blair. "He always had it on and I learned a lot watching it."
"[Former PGGCC pro] Geof Magrath gave me a good head start and my buddies have always been competitive. I play with Tyler Robertson a lot. We're always competitive kids so we just hate to lose to each other."
Scott plans to enter the Aberdeen men's open, July 25-27 but won't be around the city for the Aberdeen Junior Open, July 9. But with several of the region's top junior golfers heading to Pitt Meadows for the BCGA junior provincial championship, July 8-11, he says there's a good chance the Aberdeen junior event will be rescheduled.
