Over $70,000 bestowed by Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour with announcement of 2026 HFF Scholarship Recipients

Oct 19, 2026

Vancouver, BC – (October 19, 2026) – The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s leading junior golf tour, is proud to announce over $70,000 in financial assistance and scholarships awarded to members throughout the 2026 season, marking another milestone in the organization's commitment to making competitive junior golf more accessible across Canada.

Throughout the year, numerous MJT members from across the country benefited from financial support, with funding directed toward membership and tournament entry fees, travel expenses, and academic scholarships. While select scholarship recipients are being formally recognized below, the program's reach extends well beyond those named, helping many more young athletes access competitive opportunities and pursue their goals both on and off the golf course.

The MJT's comprehensive financial assistance program is supported by annual fundraising initiatives and the continued generosity of the Herrendorf Family Foundation (HFF), which has played an instrumental role in reducing financial barriers for junior golfers nationwide. Together, these contributions provide opportunities for athletes to compete, develop, and pursue their ambitions regardless of financial circumstances.

HFF Playing Scholarships

2026 Herrendorf Family Foundation Playing Scholars, receiving financial support to help cover MJT membership and tournament participation expenses, are Lucas Vizzutti (Powell River, BC), Luke Traverse (Revelstoke, BC), Brody Katers (Edmonton, AB), Dylan Matthews (Winnipeg, MB), Carter Lavigne (Moncton, NB), Liam Wheaton (Memracook, NB), Kale Higginson (Lethbridge, AB), and Kolten Cote (Winnipeg, MB).

These scholarships help ensure that promising young golfers can continue gaining valuable tournament experience, building their competitive skills, and pursuing their development without the added burden of membership and entry fees.

HFF Academic Scholarships

Recognizing that success extends well beyond the golf course, the MJT and Herrendorf Family Foundation are also celebrating 10 outstanding members through the 2026 Academic Scholarship program, providing financial assistance toward post-secondary education and supporting MJT members as they pursue their next chapter.

The recipients are Ilia Khademi (West Vancouver, BC), Tristan Howes (Lethbridge, AB), Lauren Mukai (Burnaby, BC), Kooper MacKay (Wolfville, NS), Ethan Swanson (Edmonton, AB), Jack Hargreaves (Edmonton, AB), Matty Schmiess (Swift Current, SK), Tyler Shum (Toronto, ON), Coen Lane (Cochrane, AB), and Drew Huston (Abbotsford, BC).

National Championship HFF Funding Recipients

Kobe Menzies (Vernon, BC), Ryker Gavelin (Rivers, SK), Jackson Wang (Langley, BC), Jack Hanna (Beamsville, ON), and Darren Hesom (Morden, MB) were each selected to receive financial assistance toward expenses of participation in the invitation-only season-ending MJT National Championship presented by adidas Golf at Orange Lake Golf Resort, taking place in Kissimmee, Florida, November 13-15.

This funding helps offset the costs associated with competing at the national level, allowing these talented junior golfers to take part in one of the most anticipated events on the MJT calendar.

Investing in the Future of Canadian Junior Golfers

“Distributing over $70,000 in financial assistance and scholarships to the above players as well as many others is a privilege for the MJT, with the true impact reflected in the opportunities these funds create for our members,” said Elaine Denton, MJT Director of Marketing and Administration. “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Herrendorf Family Foundation and our supporters, more young Canadians can pursue competitive golf, continue their education, and reach milestones that might otherwise have been out of reach.”

For more information on MJT funding opportunities and scholarship programs, visit www.maplejt.com. To learn more about the Herrendorf Family Foundation, visit www.herrendorf.org.

About Herrendorf Family Foundation: Hershel Herrendorf was born in Haifa, Israel on July 8, 1949. Following his family’s move to the United States in 1965, and a successful life in Chicago, Hershel passed suddenly in 2014, leaving his family with a foundation and legacy they hold dear. The Herrendorf Family Foundation invests in strategic partnerships with global change leaders. Together, they advocate for education, empowerment and generational resilience. In 2021, the Herrendorf Family Foundation launched their wrap-around umbrella “We Got You”, which includes scholarships, emergency grants, support for mothers, contributing partnerships and community engagement.

About Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT): The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is Canada’s number one 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 Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Partners. The MJT hosts over 100 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.

Media Contact: Jessica Parker

Marketing and Communications Manager, MJT