LOG IN
Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
June 10-11, 2006
Foxwood Golf Club • Baden, ON
Ontario Juniors Qualify for MJT Team Canada to Mexico
BADEN, ON – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s only national junior tour run by Golf Professionals, stopped at Foxwood Golf Club in Baden last weekend. A strong field of juniors competed in the two-day tournament, which was also to qualify at least two players to join Maple Leaf Team Canada to Mexico, where they will defend their 2005 title in the 5th International Junior Golf Team Invitational in Cuernavaca this August. The rest of the eight-player squad is being selected from other qualifiers across the country.
First round leaders in each of the four divisions held on to their leads to all claim their respective victories in tough, windy conditions. Both Josh Bamberger, 16, of Waterloo, and Mike McKenzie, 18, of Cambridge, tied for the low overall tournament score (146) and won the Boys 14-16 and Boys 17 and up division titles respectively.
Bamberger, who traveled with Maple Leaf Team Canada to Scotland last year and who is competing in the 54th East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York State later this month after qualifying at the May 27-28 MJT stop at Rebel Creek, will now add a trip to Mexico on his MJT resume. “I didn’t have all parts of my game working but I managed to find a way to score,” he said, posting 75-71 on his home course to beat his co-leader on day one, William Thornburrow, 15, a Donalda Golf Club junior from Toronto, by four strokes. Thornburrow’s back-to-back 75’s placed him second in the 14-16 division, while Brent McKenzie, 14, of Galt Country Club and Cambridge, placed third with scores of 76-77 (153).
Mike McKenzie, 18, who is en route to University in South Carolina this fall on a golf scholarship, fired rounds of 73-73 to win the Boys 17 and up division by seven strokes. “I kept a positive attitude after terrible starts both days,” said McKenzie. “It was extremely windy and wasn’t very easy to go low. I grinded it out. Anytime you win it feels great – this win gives me confidence going into the All-Ontario High School Championships.”
Johnny Hall, 17, and Kyle Demeester, 18, both Delhi Golf Club juniors from Langton, tied for second spot behind McKenzie with scores of 79-74 and 78-75 respectively.
An excellent 71 on day two secured a five shot victory in the Girls division for Nicole Vandermade, 16, of Brantford, who plays out of Brantford Golf Club. “I didn’t get greedy and try to use driver every hole,” stated Vandermade. “I mostly hit irons or woods off the tee which set up well for my approach shots. This is my first MJT event and I am very pleased with the result.”
Runner-up among the girls was Meg Pototshnik, 15, of Stratford, who posted scores of 80-73 (153). Pototshnik recently qualified at the MJT Rebel Creek stop for a spot on Maple Leaf Team Canada to Scotland, where she will compete in the Kingdom of Fife Junior Team Matches in St. Andrews, August 22-24. Third place went to Sarah Steele, 16, of Fonthill, who shot 86-82 (168).
The Boys 13 and under champion’s trophy was won by Gajan Sivabalasingham, 12, of Markham, who closed with a fine 73 after his opening round 81 to finish with a 36-hole total of 154. “It means a lot to win this title at Foxwood,” he said. “The golf course was in good shape and it was tough, but I chipped and putted well.” Second place in the division went to Brad Burgess, 13, of Caistor Center and Southbrook Golf Club, (83-82=165), while third place was claimed by Truman Tai, 12, of Markham and Deer Creek Golf Club, (88-81=169).
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Jay Doherty, 13 of Cambridge, Mark Willms, 16 of Kitchener, Andrew Trotman, 19, of Port Elgin, and Meg Pototschnik. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Dylan Smallwood, 12, of Cambridge, Braeden Cryderman, 16, of Huntsville, and Meg Pototshnik.
The MJT continues its Ontario schedule on July 10th and 11th at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington – a qualifier for the CAN-USA Junior Team Matches at ASU Karsten Golf Club in Tempe, Arizona, USA, this December. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT
As a not-for-profit association, the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s only major junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The program helps develop Canada's junior golfers, offering clinics, tournaments, international competitions and more. From free introductory clinics sponsored by Ford to the major CPGA Zone-sponsored junior championships, the MJT offers a quality experience for players. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 1-877-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com