RYLEY, Alta. (Alberta Golf) - It was a celebratory moment as teammates Kehler Koss and Annabelle Ackroyd became this year's 2017 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Girls Champions. After three days at the Coal Creek Golf Resort, the girls were closely matched until the end. Koss was able to claim the junior title with a strong back nine finish, only one stroke ahead of this year's juvenile champion, Annabelle Ackroyd.
"I think it honestly came down to the last hole. Annabelle and I were close the whole day. I had three birdies coming in on the back nine. The last hole was really what set it," says Koss.
Koss and Ackroyd went back and forth over the entire three day championship. Koss lead by two strokes after the first two rounds, following her 74, 72 (146) total. Ackroyd managed to close the gap by shooting 74 in the third and final round, but fell one shot short down the stretch. With three holes to play, the pair were tied at the top. Koss' birdie on the 16th hole seemed to be the turning point.
Even though the competition was intense, the ladies were all laughs as Ackroyd explains what it was like to play with her Team Alberta squad member.
"It's awesome, we always have a good time out there. We're so fairly matched all the time. We've been together in probably every tournament. This is maybe our seventh time this year. So it kind of just feels normal at this point. It's always the same."
Despite losing the junior girls title to her teammate, Ackroyd, at age 15, takes home the juvenile title in her fifth attempt at provincials. Koss, 18, has only been competing for a few years, but has worked hard to get to this level of play.
"In this last year, I've really set my mind to certain goals and trying to achieve them," she says.
Tillie Claggett, from The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, joins today's top two to form the
2017 Alberta Interprovincial Junior Girls Team. Koss will attempt to use this week's momentum in the 2017 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies' Amateur Championship next week in Red Deer. She will then go to nationals, and begin her first year at New Mexico State University in the fall. Ackroyd is set to compete with the 2017 Canada Summer Games Alberta girls and boys teams this August in Winnipeg.
BOYS TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Max Sekulic and Matt Bean are tied for first heading into the final boys round
Ryley Gacek made a hole in one on #4
Carter Graf set an unofficial course record with a score of 65
