First came Amsterdam, Paris, London and Brussels for Coquitlam's Kevin Vigna. Next will come New York.
Not long after returning from a European tour via a spring-break trip via his high school, Burnaby's St. Thomas More Collegiate, Vigna shot a sizzling 70-71-141 total to claim the low overall crown and Junior Boys 17-19 division title at the MJT KIKKOR Classic tournament last weekend at Surrey's Morgan Creek course.
Vigna, 17, edged Victoria's Darren Day by a single stroke in the 19-finisher division to receive an exemption into the 61st East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York state. The June 24-28 tournament is one of America's oldest and most prestigious junior events, attracting players from South Africa, Mexico, France, Scotland, Japan, Colombia, Peru, Canada and the U.S.
"I was actually surprised at how well I was hitting the ball," Vigna told The Tri-City News in a telephone interview Monday.
Vigna said he hadn't so much as picked up a golf club in his 11 days overseas and for a couple days after his return, then got in about five practice rounds before tournament play began Saturday.
"That's the longest I've gone without playing since I can remember," Vigna said. "It was hard not to but I think it actually helped a bit. I was just trying to hit the fairways and greens [at Morgan Creek] and everything worked out."
Vigna, who is a three-time competitor in the Junior Worlds in San Diego, said he wasn't even aware last weekend's tournament was a Junior Masters qualifier.
"Two ladies at the end told me," he said. "It was nice. I was really surprised really happy."
Another Coquitlam golfer, Myles DeBrincat showed very well in the 17-19 boys' bracket at the Classic, following up his 74 Saturday with a superb 71 Sunday for a 145 total, good for fourth spot in the division's 19-finisher field.
Coquitlam's Shayne LaRochelle placed ninth (82-75-157), while Port Moody's Nick Krystal finished 12th (85-79). Also, Coquitlam's Carson Spooner, 19, was last but received consolation by winning the division's Mr. Lube Long Drive prize.
In the 22-shooter Open Girls category, Coquitlam 10-year-old Euna Han placed a very respectable 14th with a 90-83-173 score.
The next stop on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is May 18-19 at Langley's Pagoda Ridge, where a Junior Worlds qualifier will take place.
