Kamloops golfer Niles hoping to build on successful season at B.C. juniors

Jul 4, 2018 | 2:46 PM

KAMLOOPS — Adam Niles is trying to win on his home soil at the B.C. Junior Boys Championship and ultimately build on what has been a great season so far. 

“It’s gone pretty well. Would have liked to have won a few more Zone 2 mini events as the year was going, but it’s been pretty good so far this year,” says the 16-year-old Niles. 

Niles won the Zone 2 Tour Championship last month and finished second overall on the Zone Tour, giving him confidence coming into the provincial championship. 

“Me driving the ball. I’ve hit a lot of fairways this year, keeping it in play, not hitting it a lot in the rough, so just keeping it in play has been my key,” he notes. 

But Niles never expected to play so well this season. 

“No, I was hoping to maybe win one event and just be up in the order of merit — third, fourth or fifth, somewhere right around there,” says Niles. “Never really expected to be second behind Matt [Hopley from Kelowna]. Never expected it, but it was good.”

Niles open the B.C. Junior Boys Championship at the Kamloops Golf and Country Club with a three-over 75 on Tuesday and headed into the second round tied for 31st — nine shots behind the leader. 

Niles is familiar with most of the golfers out this week, and while he’s had success in the Okanagan he know there’s stiff competition. 

“They’ll all a little bit better than me,” he notes. “They’re all really good and they all hit it a little bit better. Just hope to keep up to them and play with them, too.”

Niles says he wants to play well enough to earn a spot at the Canadian Junior Golf Championship, which is in Medicine Hat from July 30 to Aug. 2. 

“Main goal is just get top 10 so in Medicine Hat. That’s been my goal all year, just qualify for the Canadian junior event this year.”

Beyond this year, Niles says he’ll focus solely on golf with no plans to return to the crease next season as an accomplished goalie with Kamloops Minor Hockey. He would like to play college golf once he graduates.

“Probably just go to a university down in the States, hopefully get a scholarship there and keep it going from there. Get my education,” says Niles.