Nick Taylor Opens Big Lead
at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship
Sussex, New Brunswick (RCGA) – Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. is in position to capture his first career national title after opening up a seven-stroke lead during the third round of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship conducted by the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

Taylor registered a two-over par-72 putting his total at 71-69-72--212, two-over for the week. Matt Hill of Bright’s Grove, Ont., who recorded a four-over 74, is the closest rival, seven-strokes back at 219. Propelled by an eagle on five, Taylor looked poised to open up an even bigger lead on the rest of the field, going one-under on the front nine but carded three bogeys on the back. “I opened with a lot of stress free pars, but on the last nine, I started to scramble.” said Taylor. “It was a struggle. There was no wind and the greens were soft today, but the pins were in tough locations.”

The 17 year-old Taylor, is aiming for his first ever national title when he tees it up in the final group at Sussex Golf and Curling Club tomorrow. “I’ve got to play my game tomorrow and try not to come back to the field,” said Taylor, a member of the National Junior Boys Amateur team. “I don’t want to be in a position where Matt can put pressure on me. I’m trying to block the lead out my head.”

The race for third is much closer with Kevin Spooner of West Vancouver, B.C., currently at 222 while 2004 juvenile champion Greg Doherty of Mississauga, Ont. is one stroke back at 223. Doherty also carded the low round of the day shooting an even par 70. Included in the top-30 are six members of the National Junior Boys Amateur team as well Sebastian Pinzon of Columbia and J.P. Solis of Mexico.

In the 16 and under juvenile competition, the standings are much tighter with Brett Cairns of Courtland, Ont. leading the way at 224 just one-stroke ahead of Mathieu Rivard of Granby, Que. at 225. Rivard and Cairns have traded places a top the standings all week with Rivard holding down the lead yesterday and both tying for the lead during the opening round.

Following play the field was cut to the low 70 players and ties for tomorrow’s final round. It took a score of 243 to make that cut, with 76 players advancing. Play of the 2006 Canadian Junior Boys Championship concludes tomorrow with final group teeing off at 11:15 a.m.