For Immediate Release
July 1, 2017

ALBERTA GOLF ANNOUNCES 2017 CANADA SUMMER GAMES TEAM

Six of Alberta's best U19 players will compete on Canada's largest youth multi-sport stage

Pictured: Annabelle Ackroyd. Credit: Golf Canada

CALGARY, Alta.  (Alberta Golf) -  Alberta's top six junior golfers will represent the province for Canada's 150th birthday in Winnipeg, Man. at the 2017 Canada Summer Games. The four-year cycle event represents the first step in Olympic sport development, with both the male and female teams having worked very hard to get their July 28th to August 13th invite.

"There isn't anything like the Canada Games for our junior golfers. It's an opportunity to be part of a large multi-sport event and compete for your province. Coach Bill Murchison, team trainer Crystal Watson, and the six team members will have specific training sessions in July as they get ready for the Games in August," says Alberta Golf's High Performance Sport Manager Randy Robb.

The Interprovincial squad will compete as a team and individually for the Canada Games Flag and the Centennial Cup. Alberta has placed fourth every year since golf was introduced in 2009 to the event. Robb says that this year's team looks promising, but that the overall experience that the teams will receive is what matters most.  

"It's going to be a competitive event for the players attending the tournament in Winnipeg. There is a good chance that our teams will come home with a medal, but the lasting memory of the event will be being part of the big group of athletes representing Alberta. As golf will be played during the second week of the Canada Games, our juniors will be part of the closing ceremony, which they will remember for a long time."

The 2017 Canada Summer Games Alberta team was selected based on a combination of results from the past four years and events on the 2017 tournament schedule. With 16 sports and 4,000 athletes at the Games, golf will take place at the Southwood Golf and Country Club from August 8th to August 11th. The first two days of competition will feature two days of accumulating team point play. The 39 individual low scorers will then play 72 holes for the final two days of competition. 


BOYS TEAM: 

Ethan Choi
Age: 15
Club affiliation: Pincher Creek Golf Club
T5 - 2017 USGA - US Junior Qualifying
T2 - 2017 MJT Paradise
1 - 2016 Alberta Bantam Championships - shot 59
T7 - 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship
Participated in 2016 US Junior Amateur Championship
2016 Bantam Boys Player of the Year
 
Max Murchison
Age: 17
Club affiliation: Glencoe Golf & Curling Club
1 - 2016 CJGA Alberta Junior 
T5 - 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship

T15 - 2016 AJGA Canadian Championship
T10 - 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship
 
Kai Iguchi
Age: 16
Club affiliation: Banff Springs Golf Club
7 -  2017 PGA of Alberta Junior Masters
5 - 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship
T9 - 2016 CN Future Links Pacific Championship
11 -  2017 PGA of Alberta Junior Masters
 
 
GIRLS TEAM: 

Annabelle Ackroyd
Age: 15
Club affiliation: Silver Springs Golf & Country Club
4 - 2017 PGA of Alberta Junior Masters
T16 - 2017 Future Links Pacific
1 - 2016 Alberta Bantam Championship
4 - 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship
T17 - 2016 CN Future Links Pacific Championship
2016 Alberta Golf Bantam Girls Player of the Year
 
Sharmaine Rapisura
Age: 18
Club affiliation: Inglewood Golf & Curling Club
1 - 2017 CJGA Alberta Junior
5 - 2017 PGA of Alberta - Junior Masters
1 - 2016 CJGA Alberta Junior
2 - 2016 PGA of Alberta - Junior Masters
T5 - 2016 Alberta Junior Girls Championship
8 - 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship

Taylor Stone
Age: 17
Club affiliation: Pine Brook Golf & Country Club
1 - 2017 MJT Paradise
3 - 2017 PGA Alberta Junior Championships
T5 - 2016 Alberta Junior Championships
10 - 2016 PGA Alberta Junior Championships

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ABOUT TEAM ALBERTA
The Team Alberta high performance program is focused at further developing the best golfers in the province to be competitive on the national stage. Program highlights include coaching by PGA of Canada certified golf coaches, training camps, monthly competitive matches, fitness testing, mental skills coaching and monitoring, game analysis and much more. The goal of the Team Alberta program is to enhance and support the top players in the province. 

ABOUT CANADA GAMES
Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada's Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada's sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.  The 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg are the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games and will be held from July 28th to August 13th.  The 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer will be held from February 15th to March 3rd.  The organization of the Canada Games is made possible thanks to the contribution and support of the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities and the Canada Games Council. 

For more information:
Coordinator, Competitions
Alberta Golf 
(p) 403-236-4616  
Alberta Golf l  #22, 11410 27 Street SE l  Calgary, AB l T2Z 3R6