Deux superbes coups de fosse de sable par Jordan Spieth et Brooks Koepka _ l’un pour une normale, l’autre pour un aigle _ leur ont permis de tous deux remettre des cartes de 65 et de s’emparer de la tête à l’Omnium britannique.

Matt Kuchar a égalé le meilleur score sur le premier neuf du Royal Birkdale pour les rejoindre au sommet du tableau des meneurs, jeudi.

Koepka, qui n’a pratiquement pas joué depuis qu’il a gagné l’Omnium des États-Unis le mois dernier, se trouvait dans une fosse en bordure du vert du trou no 17, une normale-5, quand il a regardé son coup rouler jusqu’au fond de la coupe pour un aigle qui lui a permis de rejoindre Spieth à moins-5.

Spieth a réussi une ronde sans boguey, mais il a lui aussi dû se surpasser dans une fosse à la droite du vert du 16e trou. Il a visé la droite de la coupe pour ne pas que la balle roule jusque dans une autre fosse sur la gauche. Elle a stoppé sa course à 10 pieds du fanion, en parfaite position. Il a calé son roulé pour la normale.

De son côté, Kuchar a enchaîné son premier neuf historique en accumulant les normales sur le neuf de retour, mais ce fut suffisant pour que l’Américain remette sa meilleure carte à vie dans un tournoi majeur.

Grâce à trois oiselets consécutifs et un pointage de 29, il a égalé la marque établie en 1991 par Ian Baker-Finch, éventuel vainqueur du tournoi. Kuchar a gaspillé des occasions d’oiselets aux 15e et 17e trous.

Le Royal Birkdale est beaucoup plus clément qu’il ne l’avait été il y a neuf ans, alors que des vents violents et de la pluie fouettaient le parcours. Le 146e Omnium britannique s’est amorcé par temps frais, sous une pluie fine et un fort vent. Mark O’Meara, vainqueur au Royal Birkdale en 1998 et qui dispute son dernier Omnium britannique, a frappé le premier coup de départ.

Puis, il en a frappé un autre.

Sa première balle a été perdue dans les ajoncs et il a joué un quadruple boguey, en route vers un pointage de 81.

Peu de temps après, les vents de la mer d’Irlande ont poussé les nuages pour faire place à un soleil radieux pour les rondes d’après-midi.

Si le vent est demeuré assez puissant, les pointages ont été plutôt bons.

Koepka, Spieth et Kuchar ont montré la voie, suivis de Paul Casey

à 66 et d’Ian Poulter, Justin Thomas, Richard Bland, Charley Hoffman et du Canadien Austin Connelly à 67. Un autre groupe, qui inclut le Japonais Hideki Matsuyama, suit à 68.

L’autre Canadien en lice, Adam Hadwin, a connu une journée plus difficile avec une carte de 71, un coup au-dessus de la normale.

Cliquez ici pour le classement complet.

Two great bunker shots by Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka – one for par, one for eagle – led to a 5-under 65 for each of them in the opening round of the British Open.

Koepka, with no competition and very little golf since winning the U.S. Open last month, was in a pot bunker short of the green on the par-5 17th when he blasted out and watched it roll into the cup for an eagle that allowed him to share the lead with Spieth among the early starters Thursday at Royal Birkdale.

Spieth had a bogey-free round, and it required great bunker shots even by his standards to keep it that way.

Great work! @bkoepka holes a bunker shot to move in to a share of the lead. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/cv8UGVpRFD

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017

His shot out of the rough barely rolled into a pot bunker to the right of the 16th green, leaving the ball on a slight slope near the back edge.

“This is dangerous,” he said to his caddie.

He aimed to the right of the hole to avoid it going off the green on the other side and into another bunker, and it came off perfectly about 10 feet away.

“That was awesome,” were his next words to his caddie.

He made the par putt – Spieth made a lot of putts on Thursday – picked up a two-putt birdie on the 17th and narrowly missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the last. It was Spieth’s best start in a major since he opened with a 66 at the Masters a year ago.

“I couldn’t have done much better today,” he said.

Austin Connelly was the top Canadian after Thursday’s play, sitting just two strokes back of the leaders with an opening round of 3 under. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., opened at 1 over.

Meanwhile, at Birkdale…

The Challenge Tour's own Austin Connelly is 4 under par and just one off the lead at #TheOpen ? pic.twitter.com/DpUFR08Fyb

— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) July 20, 2017

Royal Birkdale was much more kind than it was nine years ago in raging wind and rain. The 146th Open began in cool temperatures, a light rain and a strong wind. Mark O’Meara, a winner at Royal Birkdale in 1998 who is playing in his last British Open, hit the opening tee shot.

And then he hit another one.

O’Meara’s first shot was lost in the gorse, he made a quadruple-bogey 8 and was on his way to an 81. But it wasn’t long before the wind off the Irish Sea pushed along the rain clouds and led to sunshine in the afternoon.

The wind remained strong. The scores were largely good.

Koepka and Spieth led the way, with Ian Poulter, Justin Thomas and Richard Bland in at 67. It was a businesslike day in more ways than one for Thomas, who wore a tie loosely draped around his neck and a cardigan sweater. He wasn’t all about making a fashion statement. Thomas, who shot a 63 in the third round of the U.S. Open, made eagle on the 17th hole to hang around the early leaders.

Solid start to @TheOpen. @RoyalBirkdale_ was great this morning. The sun has come out and it's the calm before tomorrow's storm ?☔️? pic.twitter.com/viPmyM4cVc

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) July 20, 2017

Hideki Matsuyama was among those at 68.

Koepka didn’t seem to miss a beat from his four-shot victory at Erin Hills, even if he barely touched a club. He stuck to a planned trip to Las Vegas after winning his first major, and he spent two weeks out West. When he finally got back to Florida, he played golf only one time, with manager Blake Smith at Hambric Sports, and lost to him (though he gave him 13 shots).

Koepka considers himself the consummate gamer, though. He was itching to get back to competition, and after arriving last weekend at Royal Birkdale to learn the course, he proved to be a quick study.

“It feels back in the routine now,” Koepka said.

Whether he and Spieth had the lead depended on the late starts, particularly Matt Kuchar, who made the turn at 5-under 29.

Kuchar was the U.S. Amateur champion when he played Royal Birkdale in 1998, still not even sure he was going to turn pro. Now he’s on the short list of best players to have never won a major. And the way the majors have gone the last few years, maybe this is his time. Koepka was the seventh straight first-time winner of a major.

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Even though all golfers are currently engrossed in “The Open” (a.k.a. the British Open), it’s time to look forward to “Our Open” (a.k.a. the RBC Canadian Open).

There are many reasons to come to Our Open, first played in 1904 and the third-oldest continuously running tournament on the PGA TOUR after The Open and the U.S. Open.

Although the tournament proper doesn’t begin until Thursday, there’s lots going on beforehand.

On Saturday, July 22, the RBC Canadian Open 5K run takes place at 9 a.m. starting near the first tee of Glen Abbey Golf Club and finishing alongside the 18^th green.

On Monday, there’s the Canada Day Pro-Am where teams of three amateurs will be joined by one of our country’s top golfers or a Hall of Fame player. This year, among other notables, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Graham DeLaet, Alena Sharp, David Hearn, Brad Fritsch, and Jared du Toit are scheduled to participate. It’s a celebration of Canadian golf and, suitably, proceeds from the event will go to the Golf Canada Foundation to support the developmental pathway for young golfers in this country.

On Tuesday, the official opening ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on the stage at the Coors Light 19^th Hole Beer Garden where Judy Darling Evans and Bob Vokey will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Admission is free. Tuesday is practice day for the pros, too, so it’s a great chance to see some of the world’s best players in a relaxed atmosphere.

Things tighten up just a bit on Wednesday, when the Championship Pro-Am pairs three amateurs with a top pro. Although the pros are no doubt thinking ahead to the opening round of the championship the next day, the banter and camaraderie of this event make it almost as fun to watch as to play in.

Come Thursday, it’s on.

Once again, this year’s field is impressive. (Players have until 5 p.m. ET Friday, July 21, to confirm their participation.) World No. 1 Dustin Johnson heads a contingent heading over from that other Open, including Ernie Els, Matt Kuchar and Canadian Adam Hadwin. Other early confirmed stars include two-time RBC Canadian Open champ Jim Furyk, former U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell, and Ryan Palmer.

Way back in 1954, Pat Fletcher was the last Canadian to win Our Open. Oh, we’ve been close since. In 2004, Mike Weir lost a playoff to Vijay Singh. In 2015, David Hearn had a two-shot heading into the final round before being defeated by a charging Jason Day. Last year, Jared du Toit, then still an amateur, finished tied for ninth. Friday at this year’s Open is Red and White Day where spectators have the chance to cheer on our homegrown heroes by wearing red-and-white apparel.

Parking is free as are the complimentary shuttle buses to and from the course. The new GO to the RBC Canadian Open ticket includes a one-day pass Friday to Sunday and a round-trip GO transit fare to the Oakville or Bronte GO station.

I wish I could say that during this, Canada’s 150th birthday year, I could come up with 150 reasons for everyone to attend Our Open. But this is a start. And if you do, I’m sure you will come with close to that number to come back year after year.

Development Squad’s Max Sekulic carded a 5-under-par 67 in the second round of the Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship to lead by four after 36 holes at Ponoka Community Golf Club, in Ponoka, Alta.

Sekulic started his round with an eagle on the par-5 1st hole and recorded three birdies, another eagle, and two bogeys to sit four shots clear of the field.

The Rycroft, Alta., native is coming off a win at the 2017 Alberta Junior Boys Championship. Sekulic, 18, was 12th at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship earlier this year.

He has committed to attend Grand Canyon University (NCAA Division I) in the fall.

Carter Graf from Red Deer, Alta., matched Sekulic’s 67 in round two to move to 5 under par for the championship and sit in a tie for second with Andrew Harrison (Camrose, Alta.) and Calgary’s Brett Hogan who recorded matching rounds of 69 in Wednesday’s second round.

Another Calgarian Logan Carver, is tied for fifth with Claresholm, Alta., native Jordan Gustman at 2 under par.

Sekulic’s Development Squad teammate Chandler MacDowell is T9 at 2 over par (71-73).

Click here for the full leaderboard.

CHURCH POINT, N.S. – Meghan McLean extended her lead in the girls division while Aubrey Farrell caught up to Calvin Ross as the pair sit at the top of the boys division at the Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic Championship on Wednesday.

Farrell shot an even-par 71 to close the round-one gap between him and Ross. Things didn’t look too great for the 18-year-old from Sydney Forks, N.S., as he carded three bogeys in his first six holes.

After calming his game down and making par on the next eight holes, Farrell knocked down three straight birdies on holes 15-17 to launch him to the top of the leaderboard with Ross at 2 under for the tournament.

“I got off to a bad start, I was three over after six,” he said, after his round. “After that I hit every green. I just had a lot of good looks and finally hit it to within a couple of inches on hole 15 and got going from there.”

Ross, the defending champion and round one leader, shot a 1-over-par 72. The 18-year-old from Fredericton, N.B., looked like he was going to extend his lead after carding a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, but he made bogey on the following par-3 hole.

“I missed a good opportunity on the third hole and I gave a few back where I didn’t need to,” said Ross. “I got off to a bad start on the back nine and couldn’t get anything rolling.”

Andrew Bruce, an 18-year-old from Corner Brook, N.L., shot his second consecutive even-par 71 to secure himself into third place, two strokes behind the co-leaders.

Bryson McCulloch, from Kingston, Ont., shot the low round of the day with a 1-under-par 70. He sits T12 at 8 over par for the competition.

In the girls division, McLean held on to her lead after posting a 6-over-par 77. The 18-year-old from Port Williams, N.S., was the only girl in the top five to fail to register a single birdie, but her 6 over par was still tied with the lowest score of the day.

“I didn’t hit as many greens as I was hoping to today,” she said. “My chipping really saved me. I could really visualize my shots and these greens work really well for the bump-and-run that I typically hit so feeling confident with the chipping definitely helped.”

Laura Jones, from Moncton, N.B., also carded a 6-over-par 77 to remain three strokes back of McLean in second place. The 18-year-old started her round off with a birdie – her only one of the day – but also added five bogeys and a double bogey to her scorecard by the end of the round.

Kiley Rodrigues from Kingston, Ont., dropped into solo-third after she shot a 79. The 17-year-old was 5 over par after the first six holes and turned things around with two birdies and four pars over the next six holes, but finished her round with three more bogeys and a double bogey to move her to 13 over for the tournament.

The top six finishers in the Boys Division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, Ont. The top six including ties in the Girls Division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Full results can be found here.

The 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event will take place on Saturday, July 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Acura, Golf Canada, and the PGA of Canada will host the finals of the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge  as 23 golfers from three age groups will compete in the ninth edition of the national event at the Glen Abbey Golf Club practice facilities on Saturday, July 22.

The Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event is the culmination of more than 3000 participants competing at 171 golf facilities across Canada.

The field is comprised of 23 golfers: five boys and girls in the 9-11 age group, four boys and girls in the 12-14 age group, and three girls and two boys in the 15-18 division all selected from the top of the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Leaderboard.

These 23 juniors will compete in a four-part skills challenge (putting, chipping, driving and iron play) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

The schedule of events is listed below.

Below are the rules for all four parts of the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge.

Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must land within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.

Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.

Putting: Each competitor receives two putts each from each distance of 3, 5 and 8 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt.

Iron Play: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.

The winners of the Future Links driven by Acura Skills Challenge National Event in the boys and girls 15-18 age groups will receive an exemption into their local Future Links driven by Acura Championship in 2018. All other attending participants of the Future Links driven by Acura Junior Skills National Event will receive prizing courtesy of Titleist Footjoy.

On Sunday, July 23, Future Links, driven by Acura Skills Challenge National Event participants will have the opportunity to play the famous Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor Cobra Puma Golf. Following that, participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Golf Canada Foundation Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s Walk with a Pro event.

For more information on the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills National Event click here.

Le club Cutten Fields est prêt à accueillir plusieurs des meilleures golfeuses amateurs du monde à l’occasion de la 104e édition du Championnat canadien amateur féminin, du 25 au 29 juillet.

Cinq des 15 meilleures golfeuses, selon le classement mondial amateur, seront de la partie à Cutten Fields qui sera l’hôte de ce prestigieux championnat pour la première fois. Il s’agit de Jennifer Kupcho (no 4), Andrea Lee (no 5), Lilia Kha-Tu Vu (no 7), Mariel Galdiano (no 9) et Hannah O’Sullivan (no 12).

Établi en 1931 par Arthur Cutten, Cutten Fields a été conçu par le célèbre architecte canadien de golf Stanley Thompson qui a voulu en faire un parcours accessible à tous les habitants de la région. Cutten Fields présente les caractéristiques d’un parcours signé par Thompson avec son profil vallonné et ses trous superbement agencés.

« Nous sommes ravis d’accueillir le 104e Championnat canadien amateur féminin à Cutten Fields, dans la ville de Guelph », a déclaré Steve Bryant, directeur du golf à Cutten Fields. « Ce championnat est profondément enraciné dans l’histoire du golf canadien et c’est avec enthousiasme que nous recevrons plusieurs membres de l’élite mondiale du golf. »

Les Canadiennes Brooke Henderson et Augusta James, aujourd’hui des étoiles du Circuit de la LPGA, ont remporté ce championnat au fil des quatre dernières années. À présent, une nouvelle génération de golfeuses canadiennes et étrangères tenteront de suivre leurs traces en enlevant le trophée Duchesse de Connaught, emblématique de ce tournoi.

« Ce championnat s’est avéré un tremplin pour plusieurs golfeuses amateurs qui se sont ensuite illustrées dans les rangs professionnels », de dire la directrice du tournoi, Mary Beth McKenna. « Huit des 10 dernières championnes, dont Brooke Henderson, couronnée en 2013, ont ensuite connu du succès chez les professionnelles. Nous sommes prêts à écrire le prochain chapitre du Championnat canadien amateur féminin à Cutten Fields. »

Les quatre membres de la formation nationale amateur d’Équipe Canada seront sur place : Maddie Szeryk (London, ON), 30e mondiale, Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, AB), 129e, Naomi Ko (Victoria, C.-B.), 138e et Grace St-Germain (Ottawa, ON), 390e. Des membres de la formation de développement d’Équipe Canada prendront également le départ, soit Mary Parsons (Delta, C.-B.), Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, ON), Chloe Currie (Mississauga, ON) et Hannah Lee (Surrey, C.-B.).

Trois golfeuses qui se sont classées dans le top 5 l’an dernier seront de retour : les Américaines Andrea Lee et Allisen Corpuz, toutes deux ex æquo au 2e rang, et la Mexicaine Maria Fassi (5e). Mentionnons aussi la Philippine Yuko Saso, 67e mondiale, gagnante en 2016 du Championnat mondial junior féminin au Mississaugua Golf Club.

Un championnat interprovincial par équipes se déroulera concurremment aux deux premières rondes. L’équipe du Québec, composée de Josée Doyon, Valérie Tanguay et Sabrine Garrison, a été sacrée championne en 2016.

En 2017, la championne et la meilleure canadienne obtiendront des laissez-passer pour le Championnat amateur féminin des États-Unis 2017 et l’Omnium féminin CP qui aura lieu du 21 au 27 août à l’Ottawa Hunt & Golf club.

Cliquez ici pour de plus amples renseignements sur le Championnat canadien amateur féminin, y compris le tableau complet, les heures de départ et les scores en direct.

Cutten Fields is prepared to host the world’s premier female amateur golfers from July 25-28 for the 104th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Five of the top-15 players on the World Amateur Golf Rankings will be competing against each other as Cutten Fields hosts the Women’s Amateur Championship for the first time. World No. 4 Jennifer Kupcho headlines the group, along with Andrea Lee (No. 5), Lilia Kha-Tu Vu (No. 7), Mariel Galdiano (No. 9) and Hannah O’Sullivan (No. 12).

Established in 1931 by Arthur Cutten, Cutten Fields was designed by the famed Canadian architect Stanley Thompson with the vision that it would be accessible to all the residents of Guelph, Ont. Under the classic Thompson design, Cutten Fields features a rolling topography and beautiful layout to challenge even the most talented golfers.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the 104th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields here in the city of Guelph,” said Steve Bryant, director of golf at Cutten Fields. “The event is deeply rooted in Canadian golf history, and we are excited to be welcoming the world’s next best players to Cutten Fields as we crown the next champion of this storied championship.”

Canadian LPGA stars Brooke Henderson and Augusta James are two Canadians who have won the championship in the last four years. Now, a new generation of Canadian and international amateurs will look to continue their legacies by pursuing the Duchess of Connaught Trophy—the prize awarded to the winner of the event.

“This tournament has proven to be a stepping stone for many amateurs working towards joining the professional ranks,” said Tournament Director, Mary Beth McKenna. “Eight of our past 10 winners, including 2013 champion Brooke Henderson, have gone on to find success as professionals. We are very excited to write the next chapter of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields.”

All four members of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad will be in attendance: World No. 30 Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.), No. 138 Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.), No. 129 Jaclyn Lee (Calgary), and No. 390 Grace St-Germain (Ottawa). Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C. will be joined by her fellow Team Canada Development Squad members Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Chloe Currie (Mississauga, Ont.) and Hannah Lee (Surrey, B.C.).

Returning from last year’s top-5 are Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, Calif. (T2), Allisen Corpuz of Honolulu, Hawaii (T2), and Maria Fassi of Pachuca, Mexico (5). Also included in the field is world No. 67 Yuko Saso, winner of the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship at Mississaugua Golf Club.

A practice round will be conducted on July 24 prior to the championship’s opening round. Following the first two rounds of play, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. A tie for the championship will be decided by a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following the conclusion of play.
An inter-provincial team championship will take place in conjunction with the first two rounds of play. Quebec’s Josée Doyon, Valérie Tanguay and Katherine Gravel-Coursol claimed the team title in 2016.

In addition to the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur title, the individual champion and low Canadian will earn exemptions into the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa from Aug. 21-27.

For more Information on the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship including the full field, starting times and live scoring, click here.

Jordan Spieth might be the most famous golfer from Texas right now, and a favourite to win the British Open, but he thinks another Texan has a chance at surprising some people at Royal Birkdale this week.

Austin Connelly, who is a dual Canadian-American citizen, has known Spieth for several years through swing Coach Cameron McCormick. Connelly, 20, will be making his major debut at the British Open this week. He and Spieth played a practice round on Monday.

“This is the type of golf where he (Austin) can really, really make a move and prevail. He really works the ball extremely well. He hits his long clubs dead straight,” Spieth told TSN’s Bob Weekes. “And he’s got a killer instinct on the greens.”

Nice practice round at The Open for Canadian Austin Connelly yesterday, who pegged it with good friend Jordan Spieth

— Adam Stanley (@adam_stanley) July 18, 2017

Connelly, a graduate of the Team Canada Amateur Squad, is playing on the European Tour this year and has already notched two top-10s in his rookie season on the circuit.

He qualified for the British Open by winning a four-man playoff at the Royal Cinque Ports Qualifier – demonstrating the killer instinct Spieth spoke about by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole.

Adam Hadwin – the other Canadian in the field this week – is also making his British Open debut. Hadwin, 29, comes to Royal Birkdale ranked No. 54 in the world.

A little bump and run practice for @ahadwingolf ahead of @TheOpen at Birkdale. pic.twitter.com/5k4X9l1RoD

— Bob Weeks (@BobWeeksTSN) July 18, 2017

The Abbotsford, B.C., native notched his first career PGA TOUR win earlier this year at the Valspar Championship in March and shot a 59 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January.

Hadwin will tee off Thursday with Andrew “Beef” Johnston and Todd Hamilton at 11:36 a.m. local time. Connelly will go at 12:09 p.m. with Matthew Griffin and Matthew Southgate.

Click here for the full Thursday tee times at the British Open.

Development Squad’s Max Sekulic carded an opening round 4-under-par 68 at the Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship to sit tied for the lead with Jordan Gustman after 18 holes at Ponoka Community Golf Club, in Ponoka, Alta.

Sekulic had an up-and-down day in Thursday’s first round recording five birdies, three bogeys, and an eagle to finish at 4 under par.

The Rycroft, Alta., native is coming off a win at the 2017 Alberta Junior Boys Championship. Sekulic, 18, was 12th at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship earlier this year.

Gustman, from Claresholm, Alta., was even par through 13 holes before birdies on four of his last five holes brought him even with Sekulic.

University of British Columbia Thunderbird teammates Andrew Harrison (Camrose, Alta.) and Logan Carver (Calgary, Alta.) are tied for third at 2-under par alongside Calgary’s Brett Hogan.

Sekulic’s Development Squad teammate Chandler MacDowell is T6 at 1 under par after an opening round 71.

MacDowell recently finished third at the 2017 Alberta Junior Boys Championship. He was fourth at the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship.

Click here for the full leaderboard.