Peter Blazevic (10) Becomes Two-Time CJGA World Junior Challenge Champion

10-year-old Canadian-Croat Peter Blazevic has made it back-to-back title wins at the Canadian Junior Golf Association’s (CJGA) World Junior Challenge after winning the Boys 9-10 Division at Innisbrook, Palm Harbor in Florida this week…

Under sunny skies on day one of the tournament, Peter fared well but the 3 months of fall/winter and little playing time on real grass certainly played a role in his standings at the end of the day. Blazevic, from Burlington Ontario, shot a 73 (+2), but it was a Floridian native, Ty Kaufman, who quickly took the lead on day one with a 72 (+1).

Peter remembered the words from his coach Doug Lawrie and his indoor training at FGG these past couple of months and that helped him on day two take a different approach to his game. The course played difficult with wind and green speeds picking up, so Peter had to play strategy in order to win. He shot 5 birdies in his round and on the holes that challenged him on day one, and decided to play more conservatively, taking out a hybrid instead of a driver and ensuring he landed green in reg to give himself a chance to play for birdie.

This strategy provided Peter with 5 birdies through 10 holes and this helped him take the lead. He shot a 70 (-1) and the only player in his division to shoot under par for one round. He was able to win with a two-day total of 143 (73,70) , winning over two Floridian natives, Alex Ogle of Palm Harbor (77,72) and Ty Kaufman of Naples 72,77) who both shot a two-day total of 149 and tied for second.

Earl Fritz, CJGA founder and 2014 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame inductee, with CJGA World Junior Challenge Champion Peter Blazevic

The field also included other notable Canadians and the next best showing was from Justin Bjornson of Winnipeg, Alberta ( 77,73) 150. The win was Peter’s second World Junior challenge championship title presented by CJGA and Golfweek and was his last tournament for the 2014 season. Blazevic, a name to watch in the future, also won the CJGA Jr Linksters National Nationals championship with a 65,63 total 128 (-16 ) in August, and came 11th at the U.S. Kids World Championship in Pinehurst North Carolina in a field of 150 players ( boys 10) and having a three-day total of ( 73,73,70) totalling 216 ( E ).