Team Golf Ontario Fires 299 for a four-shot lead after opening round; MacLean and McMurray lead individually
Niagara on the Lake, ON – (September 18, 2020) – Friday, September 18 marked the first day of the coveted 2020 MJT National Team Challenge presented by Freedom 55 Financial at Royal Niagara Golf Club in Niagara on the Lake, ON. A unique three-round event for junior golf hosted by Canada’s number-one played junior golf tour, 15 teams comprising of 90 competitors are competing in both team and individual stroke-play competitions. On the team side of the event, each team consists of six players in which the top four scores of each day will make up the team score. This MJT major junior golf competition features rankings from major organizations including the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Golf Canada, Junior Golf Hub, Junior Golf Scoreboard, and the Global Junior Golf Rankings.
Taking a four-shot lead after the first day of play was Team Golf Ontario with a score of 299.16-year old Ben MacLean, of Niagara Falls, ON, lead the way for Team Golf Ontario who carded a two-under 70 with an eagle and three birdies. MacLean currently sits in a three-shot lead in the individual competition in the junior boys division. Adding to MacLean’s performance were MJT veteran players Sarah Gallagher, 16, of Burlington, ON, and Hailey McLaughlin, 19, of Markham, ON. Gallagher fired an opening round of 75 with two birdies which puts her in second place individually in the junior girls division. McLaughlin currently sits third individually just two shots back of Gallagher after an opening round of 77. Rounding out Team Golf Ontario’s score was 16-year old Justin Matthews, of Little Britain, ON, who also fired a 77.
Team Quebec currently have a hold on second place after the first day with a team score of 303. The boys from Team Quebec took control as the team used all four scores from the junior boys to comprise their team score. Leading the way for them was 17-year old Felix-Antoine Levasseur, of Nicolet, QC, who fired a 74 and currently sits alone in fourth place individually, four shots back of the lead. 16-year old Samuel Breton Gagnon, of Quebec, QC, carded a 75 to sit tied for fifth while 17-year old Hugo Denis, of Saint Sulpice, QC, and 16-year old Mathieu Lafontaine, of Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC, both recorded 77s.
On the individual side of the competition, the junior girls division witnessed 17-year old Alexis McMurray record a round of 74 to take a one-shot lead after the first day. McMurray played a consistent round of golf making two birdies and few mistakes. The junior girls division has a jam-packed leaderboard with only four shots separating the top six competitors and will surely lead to an exciting finish.
To view individual results from the first day, please click here. To view team results, please click here. Tee Times for tomorrow’s round can be found here. For more information on the event, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.
About Freedom 55 FinancialTM: Freedom 55 FinancialTM, a division of London Life Insurance Company, offers financial security advice and planning to Canadians through its more than 3,700 financial security advisors across Canada. Freedom 55 Financial offers London Life’s own brand of life insurance, savings and investments, retirement income, annuities, and mortgage products to Canadians.
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 which also offer qualifiers for international tournaments. 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.