All golf fans will have their eyes glued to Montreal this week for the Presidents Cup. However, many people don’t know that before the professionals take on the fairways of the Royal Montreal, the best juniors on the planet will cross swords in Laval-sur-le-Lac, Monday and Tuesday, for the Junior Presidents Cup. Among them will be an 18-year-old Quebecer, Antoine Jasmin.
The format of the Junior Presidents Cup is modeled on that of the true Presidents Cup, that is, the 12 best American golfers under 19 will face a team bringing together the best hopes from the rest of the planet, except Europe. This competition will also be played in a team match-play format.
Led by their captain Charley Hoffman, the Americans arrive in Quebec with a few phenomena in their lineup. The privileged few who will have access to the course (the public will not be admitted for this competition) are particularly eager to see Floridian Miles Russell in action, who, at only 15 years old, has participated in a PGA Tour tournament and two Korn Ferry professional tour tournaments this season.
Russell didn’t make the cut on the PGA Tour in a tournament in Detroit, but he shot par. And according to observers, he never seemed intimidated by the environment. The slight teenager won the Junior PGA Championship and the Junior Players Championship at just 14. And last year, he ousted Tiger Woods as the youngest prospect to be named U.S. Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.
Open in full screen mode
Miles Russell is one of America’s greatest golf hopes.
Photo: Getty Images / Raj Mehta
The Americans will also be counting on the holder of the first place in their junior ranking, Blades Brown. Last May, the latter had not yet celebrated his 17th birthday when he made the cut in a PGA tournament held in Myrtle Beach.
A Nashville native, Brown also seemed right at home among the elite of professional golfers. Golf Digest reported that during that PGA Tour event, on his second shot on a par 4, Brown warned his caddie that he was about to make a special move (he used the phrase ” some sauce “) on the next shot and that, indeed, the ball had ended up in the bottom of the cup. Brown had finally signed two eagles during this round.
***
The international team, captained by Canadian Graham DeLaet, will be made up of a strong contingent of Asian players. There are three Chinese, two Vietnamese, two Thais, one Indonesian and one Indian. New Zealand, Colombia and Canada are also represented.
Originally from Blainville, Antoine Jasmin almost pinches himself at the idea of being able to compete in a competition of this magnitude about twenty minutes from home. This will also be his last junior tournament played in Quebec.
Jasmin, 18, is having an exceptional season that has propelled him into the world rankings (WAGR) and to the top of the Canadian junior rankings. It is for this reason that he has been chosen to participate in the Junior Presidents Cup.
I had the pleasure of walking a few holes with him last Friday on the blue course in Laval-sur-le-Lac. He was playing a practice round with a few of his new teammates. The quality of the course, by the way, was absolutely impeccable, even majestic.
I am the first Canadian and Quebecer to be part of the international team and it is an honour for me. We will be facing some of the best players in the world so I will try to represent Canada and Quebec as best as possible.
said Jasmin, who displays impressive presence, maturity and eloquence for her age.
It is difficult for him, he admits, to set expectations for a tournament of such magnitude.
In a match-play format, you either win or lose. You also have to expect your opponents to play near-perfect golf. Out of the three matches I’m going to play (two team and one individual) I’d like to win a few to contribute to the team’s success and win the cup.
he said.
***
Antoine Jasmin grew up on the edge of the Blainvillier course. He started hitting balls around the age of 6. His parents then enrolled him in the day camp of this club on the north shore.
Antoine spent all his days at the club. He also played hockey, but golf was clearly his favorite sport.
recalls the professional who introduced him to golf, Alexandre Ouellette. A dozen years later, Ouellette is still among the few coaches who help Jasmin refine his technique and game.
Over the past two years, Antoine has gained physical maturity and has made huge progress. He has started to gain distance and develop consistency, and this has been reflected in his scores. The quality of his ball striking is clearly better. Not to mention the fact that his short game has always been incredible. When the ball is less than 100 yards, his game is really very good. He also does very well on the greens. All this means that he is able to compete with the best juniors in the world.
estimates the professional associated with Blainvillier.
***
The year 2024 is the year of great blossoming for Antoine Jasmin.
After signing a third place in December 2023 in an international tournament presented in Nevada, he followed up last May with a victory in a junior competition supervised by Purdue University, in Indiana. Then in June, he won the title of the Killington Junior Championship in Vermont.
In Quebec, he notably won the Provincial Championship as well as the Graham Cooke Invitational Tournament.
He also recently committed to Oregon State University, where he will join the golf team in 2025.
Antoine has participated in Team Canada’s selection camp twice in recent years. He did well, but he wasn’t selected. I think he has a very good chance this year.
adds Alexandre Ouellette.
In the meantime, all he has to do is make the most of the experience he will have at the Junior Presidents Cup.
The main goal is to get as much out of an opportunity like this. Antoine will meet world-class players, he will be able to make friends and he will meet captains who have had great careers on the PGA Tour. There is a lot to learn from this.
says his father, Dominic Jasmin.
The golf week is therefore starting off strong in the metropolitan region.
