Alberta’s 2017 Canada Games Team Announced

Annabelle Ackroyd

Annabelle Ackroyd (Photo/Golf Canada)

Alberta’s top six junior golfers will represent the province for Canada’s 150th birthday in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for 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 both 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 the overall experience that the players 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 play. The 39 individual low scorers will then play individually for the final two days of competition.

Full event information

BOYS TEAM:

Ethan Choi


Age: 15
Club affiliation: Pincher Creek Golf Club

T5 – 2017 USGA – US Junior Qualifying
T2 – 2017 MJT Paradise
1st – 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 & Country Club

1 – 2016 CJGA Alberta Junior
T5 – 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship
8 – 2016 Alberta 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 Club4 – 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