SMGCC hosts midwestern Junior Optimists district golf championship

Avalina Flick chips onto the green during the Midwestern District Junior Optimists Championship golf tournament at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club on Aug. 5. Flick won the 10-14 girls’ division championship and qualified for the 2026 International Junior Optimists Championship in Florida with a score of 75, the best score out of the 72 young golfers who competed across six divisions.

By Spencer Seymour

A whopping 70 young golfers came to the St. Marys Golf and Country Club (SMGCC) on Aug. 5 for the annual Midwestern Ontario District Junior Optimists Championship tournament.

Rachel Skillen, the Midwestern District golf chair for the Optimist Club, expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make the tournament run smoothly.

“I want to share my thanks to the staff at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club for being wonderful hosts; to the Optimist members for their help in planning and executing the day; and to our starter, rules officials and marshals for assisting our golfers throughout the day,” Skillen said. “A big shout-out to the parents of our younger golfers who were kind enough to assist with the scoring. I’m not sure it was worth the free cart ride, but it was very much appreciated to keep them moving along. Thank you also to the parents and grandparents who provided transportation or came to be spectators during the round.”

Skillen also noted a significant increase in both the number of competitors at the tournament and the number who advanced to next year’s world final in Florida.

“We had 72 golfers this year, which is an increase of 30 golfers from last year. Our district had four golfers play at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Florida this past July, and 12 have qualified to play next year. We had a new qualifier in London this year, which added to the numbers, as well as increased numbers at some of our existing qualifiers in Seaforth, Walkerton and Exeter.

“We also have many kids qualifying for the tournament and coming back each year with the goal of qualifying for Florida again,” Skillen continued. “We are doing more to support the families going to Florida, including hosting a virtual information session where past participants can share their experiences and give advice to golfers going for the first time.”

In the 10-11-year-old boys’ division, Jace Dietrich of Exeter finished as the Midwestern District Champion for his age group, shooting a score of 88. Dietrich, along with fellow Exeter native Ty Mason, who shot 93, and Luke McLlwain of Egmondville, who scored 96, all qualified for next year’s international championship.

The 12-13 boys’ bracket also saw three competitors qualify for the 2026 international championship, including Kincardine native Hendrik McDougall, who finished first in the division with a score of 83. Rory Magee from Listowel and Egmondville’s Jake McLlwain both posted 84 to qualify to go to Florida next year.

A 77 scorecard for Kallen Grant made the Exeter native the champion in the 14-15 boys’ group and qualified Grant for next year’s internationals. Atwood’s Knox Harrison also qualified to go to Florida with a score 81.

Michael Locky of London narrowly missed qualifying to go to Florida but did leave the St. Marys-hosted tournament as the 16-18 boys’ district champion after scoring 79.

In the 10-14 girls’ bracket, Avalina Flick, a London native, ended the afternoon with the best score out of all golfers in attendance, shooting a stellar 75 to win her division’s district title and qualify for next year’s international championship.

Mackenzie Coleman from Tara scored 92 in the 15-18 girls’ division to win the district’s top prize, but did not qualify to go to Florida in 2026.