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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
June 29-30, 2006
Picture Butte GC • Picture Butte, AB
Playoff Decides Team Mates for Scotland
PICTURE BUTTE, AB. – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s two-day stop in Picture Butte last week started out with Southern Alberta's reputation for wind holding true, with strong gusts up to about 70km/hr on Thursday June 29th when the players teed off. The condition of the Picture Butte Golf Club was fantastic, however, as it is set to hold the Canadian Senior Match Play Championship next week. The rough was long, the greens quick and true, and it was a perfect test for all the players heading into the provincial championships.
The MJT tournament was sponsored by 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union, and had qualifying spots for the final boy and girl team members on MJT Team Canada, the sole Canadian contingent in the 5th annual International Junior Golf Invitational in Cuernavaca, Mexico, August 14-18. The rest of the eight-player squad qualified at other MJT events across the country.
Eric Allard, 15, of Calgary won the Boys 14-16 division by blitzing the course on day two in the then perfect, hot conditions. “The highlight for me was shooting under par in a tournament for the first time,” said Allard after firing the low score of the day. He then waited to see if his 75-70 (145) was good enough for him to qualify for a team spot.
Craig Gibson, 17, from Brooks Golf Club, had an incredible start to the tournament and was seven under par after just 14 holes before stumbling on the remaining holes to shoot 70 (2-under par). In the Boys 17 and up division, he held a six shot lead over his next closest competitor going in to day two, where he was in the final group. He posted a final round of 75 to tie with clubhouse leader Allard, so the two went to the first hole for a sudden death playoff. Gerry Jensen, CEO of 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union was on hand to witness the playoff. "This is so very exciting for these boys - this is why we are involved with the MJT," he said.
Gibson made birdie on the first hole to Allard's par and joins MJT Team Canada to Mexico, which will be defending last year’s victory over the U.S. A. and Mexico.
Runner-up to Allard in the Boys 14-16 division was Dillon Robinson, 16, of Calgary, who shot a final round of 71 to make a giant move up the leaderboard (77-71=148). Third place was a tie at 150 total score between Scott Lowe, 14, of Calgary (76-74), and Jace Barros, 16, of Edmonton (74-76).
Runner-up to Gibson in the Boys 17 and up division was Corey Kristianson, 17, also of Brooks, who played well with scores of 76-74 (150). Casey Hiebert, 18, of Coaldale, placed third in the division with scores of 76-75 (151).
In the Girls division, Breanne Neufeld, 16, of Coaldale, finished the tournament at 150 (72-78) to edge out Mackenzie Renner, 18, also of Coaldale, by three shots, qualifying for the last girl’s spot on MJT Team Canada to Mexico. “This gives me such confidence going in to the provincials and nationals,” she said. Third place in the Girls division went to Kelly Amundrud, 15, of Calgary, who fired 79-76 (155). Another highlight during the tournament was a hole-in-one by Muriel McIntyre, 17, of Penticton, British Columbia, on the seventh hole. McIntyre ended up seventh overall among the girls with scores of 89-80 (169).
Carson Kallis, 13, of Red Deer, continued his fine play and ran away with the division title in Boys 13 and under with scores of 78-75 (153). “This is a good start to the summer and I look forward to continuing to play well,” he said. Second spot went to Jason Allard, 12, of Calgary (84-86=170), while third place was claimed by Riley Fleming, 12, of Airdrie (86-85=171).
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Carson Kallis, Dillon Robinson, Craig Gibson and Justine Stevens, 13, of Calgary. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Eric Allard, Chase Teron, 16, of Red Deer, Craig Keck, 17, of Calgary, and Breanne Neufeld.
The MJT continues its schedule on July 8th and 9th with the Kootenay Classic at St. Eugene Mission Golf Resort in Cranbrook, B.C. 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.
About 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union
1st Choice Savings is the sponsor of the MJT 1st Choice Savings Series in Alberta, encompassing the MJT tournaments at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge, Land-O-Lakes Golf Club in Coaldale, and Picture Butte Golf Club in Picture Butte. 1st Choice Savings provides the full financial services of a financial co-operative using innovative service delivery systems, through seven branches, Teleservice 24 hour telephone banking systems, and access through the cuanytime banking internet, ATMs and Interac direct payment system. For further information please visit www.1stchoicesavings.ca or visit www.1stchoicesavings.ca
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com