Linden Jeffery sauntered home to 100 Mile House on Sunday after claiming his first win at the 2012 Junior Simon Fraser golf tournament.
The 15 year old shot a two-day total of 151, plus nine, to capture the overall win and the championship for the 13-15-year-old flight at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club.
"I've never won a tournament this big," said Jeffery. "I was just nervous about winning it and going out with a one-shot lead, then a two-shot lead."
Jeffery led after Day 1 by one stroke over Sam Tenveen, golfing on his home course, and had a two-stroke advantage over Aberdeen Glen Golf Club's Kyle Dickson. After a 75 on the first day, Tenveen struggled Sunday, finishing with an 84 and eight strokes in arrears of Jeffery.
It was Dickson who made Jeffery nervous on the back nine on Day 2. The butterflies were floating around Jeffery's stomach when Dickson birdied the 15th hole to tie him for the lead. Then their foursome went on to the 16th hole.
"I threw away the tournament on 16 which was disappointing," said Dickson. "I was going for the green in two and I just made a really bad shot, shoved it right in the water. I hadn't really hit a bad shot yet on the back nine and it just came at an inopportune time."
The chance to claim the overall win was gone, but the Grade 12 student at Kelly Road secondary maintained a three-shot lead over Nathan Cachia to claim the over-16 trophy. Dickson wrapped up the event with a 153, plus 11 and Cachia finished with 156, plus 14.
After the double bogey on 16, Dickson parred the final two holes, while Jeffery parred the final three holes.
The way he lost irks Dickson, but losing to a golf buddy took the sting out of it a bit.
"We've known each other for five years, we're friends, so if I'm going to lose to Linden I'm OK with that," said Dickson.
Both Jeffery and Dickson qualified for the junior men's provincial tournament, July 10-13 at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek. For Dickson it'll be his seventh opportunity to golf with the best young golfers in B.C.
"I think this is my last year so it was important for me to make it," said the 17 turning 18 year old next week. "Trying out for the B.C. Amateur will be a little more difficult.
"I'm just trying to make the cut this year at the juniors, that's my goal," added Dickson. "I've played really poorly down there so I'd just like to have a better round."
In addition to qualifying for the junior provincial tournament, Jeffery also ensured he'll get an invite to the juvenile boy's championship, Aug. 21-23 at the Princeton Golf Club.
"It'll be good experience to go to them both," said Jeffery. "[For the junior men's] I'd just go for the experience, not for placing, and just do the best I can."
There were 34 golfers in the annual Junior Simon tournament, but no girls took part in 2012. The third category of golfers were 12 and under. The top four golfers in each category qualify for the provincial tournament - the bantam boy's championship is Aug. 27-28 at the Merritt Golf Club.
No King of the green
Tanner Fjellstorm, a Prince George Spruce Kings recruit for the 2012-13 season, was swinging a putter on the weekend rather than a hockey stick.
The student at Kelly Road placed fifth after a two-day 166, plus 24.
"I would have to say I'm a better hockey player," said Fjellstorm. "The weekend didn't go exactly how I wanted it to but I had fun and the weather was great so it was a good time."
The 2011-12 captain of B.C. Major Midget Hockey's Cariboo Cougars did qualify for the junior men's provincial tournament on the Sunshine Coast for the second time. Fjellstorm qualified for the juvenile and junior events in 2011.
"I didn't actually go last year because I had hockey plans that interfered," he said.
