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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2008
MJT PLAYERS BATTLE THE BEST AT ASU
Team meets Morgan Pressel at Can-USA Team Matches
TEMPE, AZ: The CAN-USA Team Matches at the ASU Challenge in Tempe, AZ, finished on Sunday, December 14th after three days of tough competition for the contingent from the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT). The four junior golfers, who represented Canada in the team element at the Future Collegiate World Tour's (FCWT) tournament on ASU Karsten Golf Course, played singles matches on day one, after which their individual scores from day two and three in the stroke play event were posted individually and as a team.
Lucas Gatto, 14, of Burnaby, BC, Adam Knudson, 17, of Calgary, AB, Tyler Roberts, 17, of Calgary, AB, and Chad Currie, 18, of Owen Sound, ON, were beaten by their USA counterparts James Feutz of University Place, WA, Chun Ji Kim of Chandler, AZ, Mike Basco of Scottsdale, AZ, and Kevin Dougherty of Murrieta, CA, with Currie the only player to win his singles match (defeated Basco 2 & 1).
Team captain, Perry Gatto, said, "The highlight of day one was Chad Currie's win over Mike Basco with a birdie on the 498 yard par 4 ,10th hole. Driver, 5 iron, 10 foot putt. On day two the Canadian boys played well but the American team played "lights out" . Kevin Dougherty led the American team with a 69 in the 16-18 age group. James Feutz carded a 72 to lead in the 15-13 age group. On day three our boys played okay but the Americans were very strong again. Closest match came down to the final holes but American James Feutz prevailed over Lucas Gatto by two strokes."
The four USA team members cleaned up the whole competition, winning both the boys 13-15 individual title (Feutz) and 16-18 individual title (Dougherty), as well as placing third (Basco) and fourth (Kim) in the latter division. Gatto, the youngest member of MJT Team Canada, finished in 5th place at 160, just 6 strokes off the pace among boys 13-15.
Two other longtime MJT members placed well in the individual tournament: Travis Kemp of Lethbridge, AB, who is currently living in Phoenix and was an alternate for the Canadian team, ended up as the top finishing Canadian among boys 16-18 with rounds of 74-77 (151) for T12th. Nicole Zhang of Calgary, AB, took second place among the girls 13-18 with a score of 71-72 (143).
The MJT Team Canada players, outfitted by Official International Events Partner, Travel Underwriters, enjoyed a highlight of meeting LPGA Tour star, Morgan Pressel, who took time for a photo session with the teams. For more information and full results, please visit www.fcwtgolf.com.
About Travel Underwriters
Travel Underwriters knows travel is a big part of any young, competitive sportsperson's life and that travelling abroad helps junior golfers develop as players and as people. As Official International Events Partner, Travel Underwriters is excited to partner with the Maple Leaf Junior Tour to benefit junior golfers and their families travelling to international events. Travel Underwriters is a third-party administrator (TPA) of travel insurance products and services for Canadian leisure and business travelers. Our plans are found at automobile associations, insurance brokerages, banks, credit unions, travel agencies, tour operators and airlines across Canada. Travel Underwriters has protected Canadian travelers for over 42 years. For more information please visit www.travelunderwriters.com
About the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour:
As a not-for-profit association, the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) is presented by Boston Pizza and helps develop Canada's junior golfers, offering clinics, tournaments, international competitions and more. Now entering its 11th season, the MJT is proud to provide juniors with high level international opportunities that take the game far beyond the course and highlight the program's purpose of developing champions - in golf and in life. From free introductory clinics sponsored by Ford to 45 tournaments in 7 provinces across Canada including the major CPGA Zone-endorsed junior championships, the MJT offers a quality experience for players. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.
Contact:
Elaine Denton
Director of Marketing and PR, MJT
1-877-859-GOLF
edenton@maplejt.com
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