Ian Bolton New Junior Golf Club Champion After Defeating Defending Champion Mitch Watt with a Birdie on No. 18
Story by Pat Payton | The St. Marys Independent
Ian Bolton picked a great time to shoot his best golf round of the summer.
Last Thursday, August 23rd, at St. Marys Golf and Country Club, Bolton fired a five-over-par 77 (39-38) to win the Junior Club golf championship -- edging out defending champion Mitch Watt by one shot (39-39-78).
It all came down to the 18th and final hole, and it was good for Bolton and not so good for Watt, a two-time winner of the event.
After 17 holes, Watt held a two-shot lead, but hit his tee shot on the par 4 No. 18 hole into the river and finished with a double-bogey 6. After Bolton nailed his tee-shot down the middle, he hit a wedge from 70 yards out to a foot from the cup for a tap-in birdie 3.
Bolton, a 12-handicapper, said he had been playing well going into the golf tournament.
“My irons were going straight today, and I hit a lot of fairways on the back-nine,” the soft-spoken Bolton said after his round. “I had a lot of pars today; I was pretty consistent. To win this is pretty exciting.”
Bolton started well, and was one under par after four holes after birding the par 5 No. 2 hole. He held a one-shot lead on Watt after 13 holes.
For Bolton and Watt, both 18, it’s their final year in Junior golf. Watt, who won the event in a playoff in 2015 and again last year, didn’t appear to be too disappointed. A 6-handicapper, he recently shot an even-par 72 at St. Marys -- his best round of the season to date.
“I was mediocre all around,” said a modest Watt, who settled for champion in the 15-18 age division.
Other division champions
Carter McDougall emerged as the 12-14 age division winner, shooting a 47 over nine holes.
Simon Greig is the 9-11 age division winner after firing a 52 over nine holes.
Hayden Wright is the 8-and-under champion after shooting a 27 over four holes.
Charlotte Clinton was the overall winner among the girls, while Anna Ropp was the 12-and-under winner. Both girls shot 50 over seven holes, with Clinton winning by retrogression to get the overall title.
Junior Club notes:
--A total of 45 Junior golfers took part in last Thursday’s event, including four girls.
--The St. Marys golf club provided lunch for all the Juniors last Thursday. There were prizes for all golfers as well.
--Lily Brintnell, age 7, was the youngest player in the 2018 Junior Club event.
--There was a draw for four London Knights’ OHL tickets and the winner was SMMHA player Myles Clinton.
--Eric Dunn, of the St. Marys Golf & Country Club, also thanked all the parent volunteers who helped last Thursday.
