Oakville, Ont. - Four young golfers received the chance of a lifetime Friday as they won the honour of representing Canada in World Junior Team competition. The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) today announced J.C. Deacon, Kevin Blue and Richard Scott, all of Ontario, and James Lepp of B.C. will compete for Canada at the World Junior Team Qualifier April 10 -12, 2001, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, BC. The winning team earns a spot at the World Junior Team Championship in Hyogo, Japan June 14 - 17, 2001. Brooks Blackmer of Alberta was named an alternate to the Canadian team.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for these young golfers and I know they will represent the country well," says Doug Roxburgh, RCGA Director, Player Development. "There is a great depth of talent among junior golfers in Canada and they need the opportunity to train and compete at an elite level to develop their full potential. Our Player Development Program is helping them do just that."

Deacon, Blue, Scott and Lepp were the top finishers at a 54-hole tournament held last week at Bay Tree Golf Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Fifteen of Canada's top junior golfers competed in the tournament as part of a week-long RCGA player development camp. RCGA National Coach Henry Brunton led the group with instruction on tournament preparation, mental skills, goal setting, equipment, and statistics. A highlight of the week was the opportunity to interact with Canadian pros who were finishing up four weeks of Canadian Tour competition in South Carolina. Eight of the young Canadians also played a Ryder-cup style match on Saturday and Sunday against some of South Carolina's top-ranked junior golfers.

"The player development camp has been a wonderful opportunity for all our players," said Brunton. "They've learned a lot, both on and off the course, and should feel well-prepared going into the tournament season at home."

The RCGA's Player Development program was started in 1999 with the mission to improve the performance of Canadian golf. The program is sponsored by Spalding / Ben Hogan equipment company.

The RCGA, the governing body of men's amateur golf in Canada, determines national policies and standards relating to the game on behalf of its almost 300,000 members. In addition to conducting Canada's six national amateur championships, the RCGA also conducts three professional tournaments: the Bell Canadian Open, the AT&T Canada Senior Open and the new Bank of Montreal Canadian Women's Open. Information about all RCGA events and programs can be found on the Internet at www.rcga.org.

Tournament Results: Bay Tree Golf Plantation, Myrtle Beach, S.C. March 13 - 16, 2001

*Although a 72 hole tournament was originally scheduled, play was cancelled
on Thursday, March 15, 2001, due to inclement weather. 

JC Deacon, Unionville, ON 
74-72-74-220

Kevin Blue, Don Mills, ON 
79-70-75-224

James Lepp, Abbotsford, BC 
75-76-74-225

Richard Scott, Kingsville, ON 
77-74-77-228

Brooks Blackmer, Magrath, AB 
80-73-76-229 (won playoff for alternate spot)

Andrew Ross, Dundas, ON 
79-72-78-229

Ron Harvey, Picadilly, NB 
75-77-77-229

Ryan Vallely, Medicine Hat, AB 
79-76-77-232

Shawn Lafontaine, Cobourg, ON 
82-77-74-233

Barrett Jarosch, Edmonton, AB 
76-76-82-234

Michel Landry, Tracadie, NB 
82-78-79-239

Charlie Woo, Toronto, ON 
79-83-79-241

Peter More, Winnipeg, MB 
82-79-82-243

Brodie Flanders, Petitcodiac, NB
81-79-84-244

Brent Marsh, Orillia, ON 
86-83-81-250

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Chad Schella
RCGA Manager, Communications
Phone: 905-849-9700 Ext. 227