By Mitch Bach

Hodgins plans to ‘attack’ in final round of Alberta Junior Golf Championship

Jul 4, 2019 | 4:46 PM

HIGH RIVER, AB — Medicine Hat’s Ryan Hodgins put himself in a good position heading into the final round of the 2019 Alberta Junior Boys Golf Championship at Highwood Golf Course.

Battling steady rainfall and chilly temperatures, the 17-year-old carded a respectful 75 to sit sixth place — five shots back of leader Carter Graf.

“I started off with a couple pars,” said Hodgins. “I was pretty consistent, not a lot of birdies out there with the conditions. I tried to just keep it going but I made a couple mistakes.”

After going two-over on his opening nine, Hodgins wrapped up his third round with a 38 on the back nine. Considering the wet, rainy conditions, he says he’s pleased with his performance.

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“It is soaking wet, it dumped on us for all five hours,” he said, noting the rain was soaking through his equipment as the round progressed. “I was definitely looking for a little bit better number, but I’m still in a good spot for tomorrow and I’m happy with that.”

Hodgins made huge headway in his position in the second round, signing off on a three-under 67 which included seven birdies. He jumped eight positions to sit third place heading into Thursday’s 18.

Having already found his touch on a water-logged Highwood track, Hodgins says he’s confident in his ability to go low in the final round.

“I’m going to be attacking almost everything to start off with at least,” he added. “I’ll see how the round goes from there, but I think I need to be aggressive to an extent.”

Friday’s forecast calls for much of the same playing conditions with a high of 16 degrees in High River.

Other local products competing include Nolan Burzminski and Caleb Kinch. Burzminski followed up an impressive second round of 73 with a 77 to sit tied for 32nd. Kinch smoothed out some struggles on the front nine to post 36 on the back nine and sit tied for 45th.

Hodgins tees off at 9:00 a.m. in the second last group on Friday, while Kinch goes out one hour earlier on hole 10 and Burzminski has the earliest tee-time in the final round at 7:30 a.m.

Full leaderboard can be viewed here.