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Core Golf’s Chase Thurston notches second consecutive win

Fellow Academy student Brogan McKinnon finishes second among girls

ORLANDO, Florida (March 10, 2009)—Golf Core Junior Academy student Chase Thurston won his second consecutive junior tournament in Florida, while fellow academy student Brogan McKinnon lost on the first hole of a playoff.

Thurston, 18, of Haliburton, Ont., won the Future Collegians World Tour event at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida this past weekend for his second straight win. Last week, Thurston won a Florida Junior Tour event in TallahasseeAt Saddlebrook on Saturday, Thurston opened with one-under par 70 to share the lead with John Hayes of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. On Sunday, Chase fired a 76 for a 146 total to win by a stroke over Sebastian Fernandez of Guatemala.

In the Girls 13-18 division, Core Golf’s Brogan McKinnon of Mississauga, Ont., rebounded from an opening 74 with a 67—low round of the day—to force a playoff with Xin Wang of China. Wang prevailed on the first playoff hole.

Core Golf graduate Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., shot 75 and 69 to finish three strokes out of a playoff and T3. Kirby, who attended the Core Golf Junior Academy as a post-graduate student in 2007-08, earned a scholarship this year to the University of Alabama.

Core Golf was well represented in the Boys 16-18 Division. Luke Ovenden of Georgetown, Ont., shot 73-79 and Sam Jackson of Toronto fired 79-73 to finish T5. Kyle Sayani of Toronto was T16.

"Chase, Brogan and our other students are really coming into their own," said Jeff Hay, Director of Operations at Core Golf Junior Academy in Orlando, Florida. "It’s gratifying to see our athletes enjoy the fruits of their labor at the academy."

Competing on the top Florida junior tours is a key part of the Core Golf Junior Academy program, providing students with opportunities to showcase their talent for university coaches and scouts and to develop their tournament skills.

Led by PGA Tour coaches Sean Foley, Dr. Craig Davies and Neale Smith, the Core Golf Junior Academy provides intensive instruction, coaching and private education for young golfers who are determined to fulfill their dreams on and off the golf course.

The junior academy is part of the Core Golf Academy which provides high-quality instruction to all levels of players at three Greater Toronto Area facilities: Core Golf Downtown Academy in Toronto, The Academy at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Oakville  and the Core Golf Academy at Physiomed-Premier Fitness Oakville.

Nike Golf Canada is the official sponsor of the Core Golf Academy and supplies apparel, equipment, balls and footwear to Core Golf Academy instructors and to Core Golf Junior Academy students.

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