Skip to content

Sihota, Lovan capture B.C. Juvenile Championships

The pair dominated the field at the provincial tournament hosted by Granite Pointe
8168967_web1_copy_170823-KWS-Golf1
Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota dominated play en route to his first title at the B.C. Juvenile Championships held at Granite Pointe. Photo: Tyler Harper

All Jeevan Sihota and Claire Lovan had to do was keep their nerve after opening the B.C. Juvenile Championships with statement rounds.

The pair were crowned Friday after flying out to early leads and never dropping back during the three-round provincial tournament for players 16 and under at Granite Pointe.

Sihota stunned the field Wednesday with a 7-under 65 for a five-stroke lead. From there, the 13-year-old Victoria native fired an even-par 70 on Thursday and finished with 74 Friday to win his first provincial title by an incredible 11 strokes.

“That was a good round. …,” he said of the first day. “It was a disappointing finish, but at the end of the day it got the job done.”

Sihota’s best moment was an eagle on No. 5 during the final round, when his drive put him within eight feet of the hole. “The course was shorter than what I’ve been playing. It’s quite tight,” he said. “I’d say the tough part about it was the walk. That was brutal.”

The low Kootenay player was Castlegar’s Nic Jenner, who finished tied for sixth at 9 over. Other local players included: William Watt of Castlegar (32 over), Castlegar’s A.J. Roberts (40 over), Rossland’s Xander Bankes (48 over) and Nelson’s Brendon Makeiv (91 over).

It was a similar result on the girls side.

Lovan used a 3-under 71 in the first round to establish a four-stroke lead. The 15-year-old Surrey native stumbled with a 77 on Thursday and a 76 on Friday, but her opponents never challenged and she finished ahead by four strokes.

“I was feeling pressured,” she said after winning her first provincial championship. “I didn’t expect to shoot under on a course like this, because it’s very challenging. So I surprised myself when I shot 3 under.”

Fifty-seven boys and 16 girls took part in the tournament, which showed the 97-year-old Granite Pointe is worthy of the provincial spotlight.

That spotlight won’t include Lovan for much longer — she’s got her eyes on even bigger stages.

“It feels good to win one,” she said. “I feel my game is slowly improving.”

That much, everyone who played at the tournament will agree, was an understatement.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the final scores for William Watt, A.J. Roberts, Xander Bankes and Brendon Makeiv.

8168967_web1_170823-KWS-Golf2
Surrey’s Claire Lovan kept opponents at a safe distance to win the girls trophy. Photo: Tyler Harper
8168967_web1_170823-KWS-Golf3
Sihota’s opening-round 65 gave him a seven-stroke lead after the first day. Photo: Tyler Harper
8168967_web1_170823-KWS-Golf4
Lovan stares down the final hole on Friday. Photo: Tyler Harper
8168967_web1_170823-KWS-Golf5
Castlegar’s Nic Jenner was the low Kootenay player at the tournament. He finished in a tie for sixth. Photo: Tyler Harper


Tyler Harper

About the Author: Tyler Harper

I’m editor-reporter at the Nelson Star, where I’ve worked since 2015.
Read more