RYAN BORG takes a swing at the NIKE golf junior championship in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Orangeville’s Ryan Borg won the Nike Golf Junior Championship boys 15-19 division after finishing with a 78-76-75 +13 in the final round.

The three day event took place at the Royal Niagara Golf Club in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was the final Canadian tournament of the Canadian Junior Golfers Association summer tour.

The 15 year-old junior won after going into a playoff round and squeezing out Napanee’s Josh Whalen on the first hole.

The final day of the tournament had ideal conditions after the event started with a steady downpour on the first day resulting in some tough conditions for all the players.

“The first round it was freezing cold, it was raining and windy,” Ryan said. “So it was very tough. I was two over on the front, but I was just trying to stay warm. It was tough to stay focused for four and a half hours. You have to accept the fact that it's this weather for everyone and you've just got to play the best you can.”

He finished one back at the end of the first round.

But at the end of the second round he was tied for the lead after shooting a 76.

By day three he was confident going into the final round.

“I birdied the first hole. I had a three shot lead after two holes.” he said. “The back nine, I was two down, and I was really never down during the tournament. It hit me then that I had to start making shots up.”

On the eighteenth hole, his opponent missed a seven foot put that placed the two leaders in a tie, and that led to a playoff round starting on the five par tenth hole. Ryan birdied the hole to take the win.

Playing golf since he was old enough to swing a club, he started playing in tournaments at six years old.

He has plans to make a career of it and is now heading to Orlando, Florida to attend the Core Golf Junior Academy will complete his grade ten education at a private school.

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to practice and learn from a great group of golf professionals including Jeff Hay, Tom Jackson and Sean Foley.”