News Release
TEAM NB FINISHES IN MIDDLE OF PACK
August 9, 2006
As published on August 9, 2006 - Telegraph Journal
Alain Plourde of Edmundston leads province to fifth-place finish
By Kevin Barrett - Telegraph-Journal
SUSSEX - Not great but not so bad.
After finishing eighth last year, New Brunswick jumped placed fifth place Tuesday as the 36-hole interprovincial Canadian junior men's golf championship wrapped up at the Sussex Golf and Curling Club.
"At the very least, we wanted to beat the other Atlantic teams," said Alain Plourde of Edmundston, who led the New Brunswick foursome with a solid 75, despite what he says were plenty of problems putting.
"But our main goal was to be in the top three."
New Brunswick posted a two-day score of 481, 42 shots behind national team champion British Columbia and 10 shots back of fourth-place Alberta.
Nova Scotia was eighth at 504, Newfoundland ninth at 505 and Prince Edward Island tenth at 514,
It was a marked improvement from 2005 but below the remarkable performances of 2000, when New Brunswick won the overall team title.
"That year was phenomenal," said N.B. coach Louis Melanson of Moncton.
"For us, it is good because the kids realize they can do it but on the other side, there is probably a little bit of pressure. But hey, everyone has pressure."
Jean Mainville of Scoudouc posted the second-best score on the team with a 79 Tuesday while Nick Clark of Riverview shot 81 and Thomas Keddy of Hillsborough West fired a round of 85.
"Everyone else is stronger so we have to work harder," said Melanson. "But a top-5, we'll take it, especially after last year."
The team members went out in the morning and enjoyed favourable weather conditions, avoiding Monday's wind and Tuesday afternoon's rain.
Plourde is the top New Brunswicker overall, with a two-round total of 158 which left him in a tie for 31st.
Reigning N.B. junior champion Nick Clark of Riverview recorded a round of 11-over 81 on Tuesday and is one shot outside the cut line with one round to play.
The field will be cut to the top 70 and ties after today's third round. The cut line stood at 163 after 36 holes.
Mainville was tied for 39th at 159 and Mathieu Gingras of Moncton was tied for 48th at 160.
Gingras, who opened with an 82, was even after eight holes Tuesday but doubled the 18th hole (his ninth of the day) and then racked up five consecutive bogeys en route to a 78.
"It was a really long round," said Gingras. "Especially with the conditions we had. There was a wait on every hole on the front nine."
Gingras and everyone who played in the afternoon, were among many who were drenched during a pair of separate downpours late in the afternoon draw.
But he is drawing on the experience on being the only N.B. golfer to make the cut in 2005.
"I really took that experience," he said. "The rough is longer, it is harder to make up-and-downs. You have to be patient."
His goal is to crack the top 25 this year.
Alex Whelan of Rothesay posted an 86 Tuesday to leave him near the back of the pack at the event, 15 shots away from 70th place at 178. Additionally, he is plenty downcast.
"I am pretty depressed," admitted the Riverside member. "I've never felt so depressed. This is what you look forward to every year. So far, it has been disgusting."
The other New Brunswicker golfers Tuesday were Stephane Boudreau of Dieppe (85 for a 174 total), Corey Bourque of Grand Bay-Westfield (80 for 171), Stephane Cormier of Bathurst (86 for 171), Chris Hopper of Berry Mills (83 for 168), Matt Layden of Moncton (79 for 165) and Eric Michaud of Grand Falls (80 for 166).
One player who especially enjoyed Tuesday's round? How about Luke Ovenden of Georgetown, Ont., whose score ballooned to 92 and share of 146th place on Monday.
He was out in the early groupings on Tuesday and fired a tidy score of 73 to jump into a tie for 80th, two shots outside the projected cut line.