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Keaton Gudz is getting his kicks on route 66.
The Royal Colwood junior golfer captured the first leg of the Bayview Place Vikes Performance Tour with a 4-under 66 10 days ago on his home course.
Gudz, 17, then recorded two more 6-under 66s, sandwiched around a 75 for a 9-under 207 total, to claim the Canadian Junior Golf Association鈥檚 Western Junior Championship title at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey over the weekend.
Gudz, who is off to Oregon State University this summer, edged Golf sa国际传媒 development team member Chandler McDowell, of Red Deer, by one shot after the Albertan had matched Gudz鈥檚 scores the first two days.
A bogey-free final round, which included six birdies and four on the back nine, gave Gudz the win while McDowell eagled the first hole and had four birdies, but a bogey at No. 11 was ultimately the difference.
鈥淚t was awesome. I鈥檝e played really well. It鈥檚 been a lucky number, I guess,鈥� Gudz said of the recent trio of 66s.
鈥淭he golf I鈥檓 playing right now is awesome and it was great because my coach at Oregon State came to watch me play at Northview, and I think he was happy with the scores I put up.鈥�
It鈥檚 been an amazing start for Gudz, who looks like he hasn鈥檛 been affected by the dreadful winter local courses have experienced.
鈥淚n a way it has set me back a bit because I haven鈥檛 been able to play much, but it鈥檚 almost lit a fire underneath me because I鈥檓 excited to just go out and play. We鈥檝e had so much time off,鈥� said the Grade 12 student at Spectrum.
Gudz, who spent Monday assisting with a junior golf day at Royal Colwood in which youngsters were introduced to the sport, has about 10 days off before he competes at an American Junior Golf Association Open event in Arizona.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fully exempt field, so it will be strong,鈥� said Gudz, who has established goals of getting into the top 1,000 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and playing in the U.S. Junior.
Nolan Thoroughgood, also of Royal Colwood, was tied for fourth at Northview with a 4-under 212 total while 13-year-old Jeevan Sihota, of Gorge Vale, shot a final round 3-under 69 to finish tied for eighth at 2-under 214. Aidan Goodfellow of Parksville was 18th with a 226 total.
The tournament featured golfers from across sa国际传媒, including Cameron McCord of Cole Harbour, N.S.
Euna Han of Coquitlam won the junior girl鈥檚 portion of the event with a 6-under 210 total, four shots better than Tiffany Kong of Vancouver. Nanaimo鈥檚 Shirin Anjarwalla was tied for 12th at 227.
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