Winners Crowned at Mizuno CJGA National Golf Championship

August 17, 2006

Barrie, Ont. - Defending champions Andrew Funk and Brittany Henderson were two of the four champions crowned today at the Mizuno CJGA National Golf Championship presented by HSBC Bank Canada at National Pines Golf Club. 

Funk, 17, of Edmonton, Alta held off a hard charging Adam Petrasovic, 17, to collect his second consecutive national championship title after winning the Boys 14 - 16 Division in 2005. “My front nine was really good today,” said Funk. “Although I didn’t play my best golf, I played well and I think I have a shot to win next year.” Funk’s final 296 total (71-76-74-75) was one better than Petrasovic and Courtice, Ont. native Tim Lew, 18. Petrasovic, of Tecumseh, Ont., fired a tournament low 68 to nearly catch Funk.

Henderson, 15, of Smiths Falls, Ont. added a second national championship trophy to her case after closing with a 73 for a 300 total (+12). After eventual second place finisher, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, 15, of Richmond Hill, Ont., made up two strokes in the first two holes, Henderson regrouped to shoot 35 (-1) on the front nine and pull away. “I played better the last two days,” said Henderson. “Got off to a rocky start to the tournament but I managed to come back and be consistent for the last two rounds.”  Kaetlynn Mannix, 17, of Glen’s Falls, N.Y. carded a round of 77 to grab third place in the Girls Division.

After opening the tournament with a disappointing 80, Burlington, Ont. native Michael Gligic, 16, stepped up to record rounds of 75, 72, 72 to earn his first career national championship title in the Boys 14 - 16 Division. “Juniors came from across the country to play in this event and it’s a good feeling to win it,” he said. “It sounds good to say I won a national championship but it feels even better.” Gligic finished nine strokes ahead of Justin Shin, 14, of Richmond Hill.  Russell Budd, 15, of Toronto grabbed third spot at 313.

Despite a rocky start to his round, Lucas Kim, 12, of Etobicoke, Ont. held on to his lead in the Boys 13 & Under Division for his first career CJGA victory. He closed with an 80 for a 310 total (+22). “It feels good to finally win a CJGA event and it being a national championship makes it even more exciting,” said Kim, who also recorded a hole in one during his third round. “My front nine was loose today and I had to really concentrate on the back.” Kristopher Kowalchuck, 12, of Burlington, Ont. fired an impressive round of 73 to move up to second spot, five shots back of Kim while Richard Jung, 13, of North York, Ont. finished third.