North Battleford local, Colby Friedrich will play his first tournament of the season in Swift Current this week, as the 94th Junior Boy's Championship will run from July 14 to 16. (Submitted photo/Clark Stork)

By Martin Martinson

Tee off Time

Battlefords golfer confident heading into first tournament of season

Jul 14, 2020 | 1:29 PM

Following months of anticipation, local golfer, Colby Friedrich returned to the tee box Tuesday morning, for his first tournament of the abbreviated golf season.

Taking part in the 94th Junior Boy’s Championship at the Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current, Friedrich said he was as ready as he possibly could be to return to a competitive setting, and excited to get back to tournament play.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said. “It’s pretty windy today here in Swift Current, but it’s a nice day out here and I got a few practice rounds in, so I’m feeling good.”

While wind may be a less than ideal from a golfer’s perspective, Friedrich who is now in his final year of play at the Junior Boy’s level, said it’s something all Saskatchewan golfers have experienced.

“It’s nice obviously to get a break from the rain, but as we are in Saskatchewan the wind is up again so that’s a bit unfortunate,” he said with a laugh. “But that’s the province we live in.”

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Friedrich placed just outside the top 10 at last year’s Junior Boy’s Championship, finishing 20-over-par at Nipawin’s Evergreen Golf Course. It was a solid finish he will look to build on this season.

Friedrich has been to the Elmwood Golf Club a handful of times previously, and now in his third year of junior-aged play, he will be looking to use that experience to his advantage. Especially as each year it seems the competition pool gets bigger, making a quick start is all the more important.

“It might take a few holes to get back to tournament level, but it really shouldn’t take too long,” Friedrich said. “I have played in enough of them that I should be alright standing on that first tee today. You just have to hit your shots out there. There are lots of young guys who are out here and they play well, so anything can happen.”

If keeping a calm, cool demeanor ahead of the tournament is a key to success, Friedrich has put himself in an optimal situation. Remaining level-headed but confident, he said he’s just happy to get back on the course with all the ingredients in place for a great week ahead.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve played pretty well here in the past, and I’ve got three of my good buddies out here too,” he said. “It’s a really good group of guys and hopefully it will be easy for us to all feed off each other’s good play.”

The 94^th Junior Boy’s Championship will run in conjunction with the 70^th Junior Girl’s, in Swift Current. The Juniors are the first stop on the 2020 provincial championship schedule.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1