Rooted in Onion Lake Cree Nation, Ada Dillon is breaking new ground on golf courses this summer.
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Dillon, who turns 16 this month, was the lone female participant from the Lloydminster area playing at home last week as the Border City hosted the Saskatchewan junior golf provincials.
As she completed her third and final round Thursday, July 10, Dillon reflected on what her participation means for female golf in the Lloyd region and notably for youth back home in Onion Lake.
“It makes me feel proud,” she said. “Proud to be where I’m from, honestly.
“A lot of kids aren’t as fortunate to do this. I try my best to push them to do more sports, because they’re all talented. It can be any sport.”
Dillon has played defence with her hockey team in Onion Lake. For the past four years, she’s also been immersed in competitive junior golf, taking lessons and travelling for tournaments.
“I’ve been a big fan of hockey,” Dillon said. “But my dad pushed me into playing golf, so I started competitive golf four years ago and kept playing even more.”
She has developed into a trailblazer of sorts, especially within her
Indigenous community.
“I’ve never thought of it that way,” Dillon humbly said with a smile.
PURSUING ACADEMY ROUTE
She’s turning another corner this summer as Dillon and her family make the move to Lloydminster in time for the school year. Going into Grade 11, she’s bound for the new Pursuit School of Sport, enabling her to golf and study in a multi-sport academy setting and focus on both academic and athletic progress.
Before then, Dillon travels to Kahnawake, Que., to compete in the Notah Begay III national junior golf championship, which runs Aug. 3-5.
“It’s a par-4 challenge,” said Dillon, who qualified at an Alberta tournament in Stony Plain.
Last week in Lloydminster, she was among just 20 girls in the 110-plus field of junior golfers who tackled Lloyd’s city course.
“It was pretty tough, honestly,” Dillon said. “The conditions here are pretty challenging. But I feel I pushed through it to the best I can.”
Indeed, she showed composure down the stretch and parred 10 holes
during her final round.
“It felt good to finish that way,” said Dillon, whose tournament highlights included a birdie on the 16th hole in opening-day action July 8.
“I’d say putting is the strongest part of my game.”
Dillon recorded rounds of 85, 91 and 88, respectively, for a 264 total. She placed fourth in the U17 girls’ category, which included the overall U19 girls’ provincial junior champion, Grace Odnokon of Saskatoon.
Dillon finished eighth overall among junior women.
On her way to the Lloyd Ex fair last Thursday, Dillon said she can’t get enough golf. She even has a new summer job working at Rolling Green
Fairways.
LLOYDMINSTER BOYS
On the boys’ side at the Saskatchewan junior provincials, five of Lloyd’s
up-and-coming golfers continued their development on a big stage on their home course:
UNDER-19 (JUNIOR)
36. Carson Mazzei: 88-94-85—267.
UNDER-17 (JUVENILE)
16. Drew Mazzei: 89-85-86—260.
18. Graydon Moore: 89-84-89—262.
UNDER-15 (BANTAM)
13. Cooper Roberge: 87-84-88—259.
17. Charlie Kappel: 97-91-97—285.
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