Playoff ignites first MJT BC Mini Tour stop at Greenacres Golf Course
Richmond, BC – (June 23, 2020) - Canada’s number-one played junior golf tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, opened its 2020 Mini Tour season in Richmond, BC, on June 22, where young athletes between the ages of six and 12 participated in the MJT Mini Tour at Greenacres Golf Course. With great anticipation for the return to competition, the MJT Mini Tour witnessed a new look which included revised health protocols, keeping the event safe for all participants.
An exciting playoff finish took place in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division between Vancouver-golfer Jerry Li, 12, and Richmond-player Alex Zhang, 11. Both players recorded scores of 76, but it was Li who dropped a 13-foot putt in the first playoff hole to win the division title. “I had to stay confident during the whole round,” mentioned Li. “I hit my approaches close and made the putts when I needed to.”
The Boys 9-10 Division also saw a tie at the top of the leaderboard with scores of 73 carded by both Surrey’s Jonathon Xia, 10, and Burnaby’s Matthew Cui, 9. Taking the division title by retrogression was Cui, who had a very consistent round making 14 pars at Greenacres. When asked about what got him the win, Cui commented, “I think it was because I tried really hard to concentrate on each shot, from my very first drive to the very last putt.”
The Boys 8U Division saw West Vancouver-golfer Rickie Wang, 7, win his first career MJT Mini Tour event after firing a score of 75, which included an impressive even-par back nine. “This (win) will inspire me to keep going and try my best in the next tournament,” Wang said.
The spotlight shone on Surrey’s Ha Young Chang, 12, champion of the MJT Girls 11-12 Division, who fired a tournament-low round of 72 (-1) including an eagle and two birdies. Chang, who had an excellent season last year on the MJT Mini Tour, said, “It feels amazing to win. It makes me feel that all the practice I did paid off!”
Kathleen Dunn, 9, of Surrey, captured the title in the MJT Girls 9-10 title with a score of 79 which included two birdies in her final six holes for a solid finish to her round. “This win means so much because of all the hard work I’ve put in,” said Dunn. “While I was playing, I tried not to think too much and just have fun.”
Wrapping up the event in the MJT Girls 8U Division was Vancouver’s Chloe Zhang, 8, who recorded a score of 83. Zhang, who had a solid round in her first ever MJT Mini Tour event, will be looking to continue that fine play for the rest of the condensed season.
Full results of the competition can be viewed here. The next stop in BC will be the MJT Mini Tour Summer Series at Musqueam Golf Course in Vancouver on July 6.
About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour as well as the only national junior tour run exclusively by PGA of Canada Professionals and the ‘Road to College Golf’ in Canada. The organization is supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts close to 90 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 12U and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11-19. The program has annual awards, scholarships and incentives to help reward performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include many Professional Tour players and PGA of Canada Professionals, as well as Canadian Amateur, National and Provincial Junior Champions. The MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life, promoting the game from grassroots through to the provincial, national, university and professional levels.