News Release
LOUIS MELANSON GOLF ACADEMY PLAYER LEADS FIRST ROUND OF FUTURE LINKS ATLANTICS
July 25, 2006
Louis Melanson Golf Academy's Jean Mainville is tied for the lead after the first day of play at the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship taking place this week at the Mill River Golf Club in Woodstock, PEI (July 25 - 27th).
Mainville shot an opening round of 75 today and is sitting tied for the lead with Thornhill, Ontario's Kneed Ng. Click here for a complete list of scores.
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MAINVILLE AND NG SHARE OPENING-ROUND LEAD AT CN FUTURE LINKS ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP
O’Leary, P.E.I. (RCGA) – Kheed Ng of Thornhill, Ont. and Jean Mainville of Scoudouc, N.B, shot opening-round 75’s to sit tied with the opening-round lead at the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship held at Mill River Golf Course.
Battling gnarly winds and devilish greens, Ng and Mainville relied on diverse aspects of their games to earn themselves a share of the opening-round lead.
“It was really windy out there today,” said 17-year-old Ng. “I had to keep the driver in the bag and hit a lot of knockdown shots to try and combat the wind.”
Ng headed into Mill River’s final-three holes a mere 1-over par but bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes to finish 3-over-par.
While Ng focused on combating the gusting winds, Jean Mainville concentrated on some of Eastern Canada’s most treacherous greens.
“These greens have a lot of break. If you want to make birdies you have to take your time reading each putt,” said 16-year-old Mainville.
Mainville took advantage of Ng’s struggling finish, making birdies on the 11th and 14th holes to tie Ng for the lead.
Scott Morton of New Glasgow, N.S., sits third, a single-stroke back of the leaders after shooting a 4-over-par 76.
18-year-old Mireille LeBlanc of Meteghan River, N.S., managed a 4-over-par 76 to lead the Junior Girls division.
This week LeBlanc is be looking to claim her first Future Links title.
“It would be great to win this championship,” said 18-year-old LeBlanc. “I have been playing in this tournament since 2002 and although I have come close I have yet to win it.”
Despite today’s strong performance LeBlanc is uncomfortable with her 4-stroke lead.
“I’m never comfortable with the lead because anyone can come out tomorrow and put up a low score,” said LeBlanc who attends Jackson State University as a biology major.
Tara McFadden of Thomasburg, Ont., is second, 4-strokes back of the leader.
Laura Harris of New Minas, N.S., sits third and looks to improve on her game opening-round 88 in order get within striking distance of her third-straight Future Links Atlantic Junior Girls title.
Brett McKinnon of Glace Bay, N.S., leads the Bantam Boys division after shooting an opening-round 85. Jonathan Whelan of Rothesay, N.B., is second, trailing McKinnon by three-strokes.
Irene Jung of Bedford, N.S., had an outstanding round today and leads the Bantam Girls division. Jung shot an opening-round 86 and has a commanding lead over Brecken Anderson of Calgary, who is second.
Running in conjunction with the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship is the Atlantic Provincial Team Championships. Provincial teams (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) have been broken up into three categories; Junior, Juvenile and Midget with three scores counting towards the team total.
Nova Scotia leads the Junior Boys division with New Brunswick a single-stroke back in second. New Brunswick leads the Juvenile Boys division, 2-shots ahead of Nova Scotia. New Brunswick leads the Midget Boys division, 12-strokes ahead of Nova Scotia. The Junior Girls division leader is Nova Scotia, while New Brunswick is a distant second.