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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
April 21-22, 2007
Richmond, BC
Sizzling 6-under Par Captures Low Overall at MJT’s Mayfair Stop
RICHMOND, B.C. - The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) held the 3rd annual MJT Canadian University Coaches Classic at Mayfair Lakes Golf Club in Richmond, B.C, this past weekend, a qualifier for Maple Leaf Team Canada to both Mexico and Scotland, as well as for the World Youth Team Challenge (WYTC) in Illinois, USA.
Head Golf Coaches from the Universities of British Columbia (UBC) and Victoria were on-site to observe juniors playing under good conditions with no wind and quick greens, although Mayfair Lakes still proved difficult with water coming in to play on every hole. Players also received information packages on college golf from the MJT and some were paired up with players from the UBC Golf Team as mentors for the first round.
Dong Su, 17, of Richmond, blasted a 6-under 65 on day two to win the Boys 17 and up division, low overall score, and a spot on MJT Team Canada. Coming down the stretch, where he went birdie, birdie, par, eagle to finish with a 138 total score, Su said his thoughts were just to 'play the best I can’. “Nelson (Yang) played really well today. I was one shot behind him after 14, but he made a double on 17,” said Su, who will play some Asian Tour Events and spend time in the United States this year.
Nelson Yang, 17, of Coquitlam, BC, had his best tournament rounds ever of 71-72 (143) to edge out Mitchell Lock, 19, of Mission, BC, for second place and a spot on MJT Team Canada. Lock shot back-to-back rounds of 72 for a 144 total score.
The rest of the eight-player squads on MJT Team Canada to Scotland and Mexico are being selected from other qualifiers across the country.
Two 16-year-old Delta boys, Steven Nakajima and Brett Standerwick, placed 1,2 in the Boys 14-16 division, shooting scores of 74-76 (150) and 75-76 (151) respectively. This was the first win on the MJT for Nakajima. “Brett and I were tied going in to the 18th so I was pretty nervous on my approach shot and birdie putt,” he said. “My putting helped me a lot. I was able to save par at many key moments. My goals are to play golf at the university level.”
In the Girls division, Young Soo Kim, 16, of Port Coquitlam, BC, fired 81-82 (163) to beat Sylvia Park, 14, of Vancouver, BC, by one stroke. “I drove the ball well this weekend,” she said. “I needed a birdie on the 18th hole which I got, thanks to a bunker shot that hit the pin and stopped 1 inch away!” Kim added that her goals are to get a scholarship and become a great golfer for university. Park shot 85-79 (164) and Linda Lou, 14, of Richmond, carded 87-81 (168) to place third in the division.
Mason Pimentel, 13, also of Richmond, fired consistent rounds of 78 for a total score of 156 on his home course, to run away with the Boys 13 and under title and a spot in the World Youth Team Challenge in Illinois. “The keys to my success was being very familiar with the course and sticking most of my shots in the green – something I don’t usually do!” he said. Kieran Barill, 13, of North Vancouver, BC, placed second with scores of 88-86 (174) and Chan Poonian, 13, of Surrey, BC, took third place (95-91=186).
Pimentel, Dong Su, Young Soo Kim and Zack Duan of Delta were the divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition. Barill, Standerwick, Keith Martin of Kelowna and Keanna Mason of Maple Ridge were the Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competition divisional winners.
The MJT continues its British Columbia schedule on May 5th and 6th at Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey, a qualifier for the Texas Junior Masters. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT
Boston Pizza is the Presenting Sponsor of the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada's premier and only national junior golf tour run exclusively by Golf Professionals. The MJT is proud to play a role in developing young players, including several Canadian National Champions and many Future Links and Provincial Champions. The MJT is also focused on providing opportunities for young Canadians to learn how to golf and introduces players as young as four years old to the game via free instructional clinics. In addition, the MJT encourages young players to further their education with scholarship awards. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF. MJT - developing champions, in golf, in life.
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com