Saskatoon’s Steven Duchscher finished within the top 60 of the national junior golf championships, the Riverside Country Club player had slightly higher goals but is pleasantly pleased at his result in Hartland, New Brunswick.
Duchscher was the lone Saskatchewan golfer to play all four rounds at the event. He said playing the complete championship was a nice conclusion to his teenage years.
“I am super happy this year I got to make the cut this year being my last year of junior golf,” he said. “My game was in a really good spot throughout the whole tourney and I’m happy the way I finished out.”
Duchscher put together four solid rounds at Covered Bridge improving everyday. He carded a two-over, 74 during round one. Duchscher carded a stroke off his total during round two coming in at one-over, 73. In round three he posted an even-par round 72. He was set to put together another round with lower numbers but a bogey on hole 17 slowed his leaderboard advancement. Duchscher finished in a tie for 59th at seven-over.
Last year he competed in Medicine Hat as a Sask. team alternate and missed the cut. Duchscher looked back on that event for experience.
“Last year I took it easier and warmed up more and practiced a lot more instead of playing everyday,” he said. “I gave my body more time to rest, our first tournament last year I realized what I have to do to make the cut. Bogeys won’t kill your round, it’s the doubles that do. I just tried to stay away from those as much as I could.”
Last year’s champion, Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Quebec won the tournament for the second straight year.
To see the complete results click here.
You can hear more as Duchscher spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork from New Brunswick.