Sandy Hook Golf Club crowned Erik Bennett as champion of their Junior Tournament last Wednesday.
Bennett’s 76 in the lone round proved enough as he edged out the 12 other (12 to 16 year old) golfers competing.
But Bennett’s victory didn’t come without its share of turbulence. On a par three, in the third hole, Bennett dug himself a hole as he carded an eight to set him back.
As the round progressed, Bennett recovered from the third hole blunder and carded four birdies while shooting a one-under 35 on the back nine to close the round on top of the leaderboard.
“I’m predicting a bright future in golf for this young man,” said tournament organizer Ken Porteous. “Yes, he can hit it a ton. Yes, he has a great swing, but it was his demeanour on the course that caught my attention. He was not too high when he made birdies, and he was not too low when he made a quad 8 on the third hole. He accepted it and moved on. You can’t teach that kind of stuff. In the golfing world, Erik Bennett is a name you’ll want to remember.”
Aside from Bennett’s victory, other golfers were able to keep the competition close right to the end.
Porteous highlighted Tyler Michaluk’s par on hole seven, Emma Flasha’s birdie on 12, Nathan Ortynski’s birdie on 17, and Tanner Humniski driving the green on the par four hole 10 as the only ones who accomplished those individual feats on Wednesday.
