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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
Coaldale, AB
Zaba and Chong win spots to Florida in MJT’s Alberta season-opener
COALDALE, AB - The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) opened its Alberta season with a 1st Choice Savings-sponsored tournament at Land-O-Lakes Golf Club in Coaldale on April 21st and 22nd, a double qualifier for two major international events. Exemptions were to be won in the Future Collegiate World Tour (FCWT) National Championship at PGA National Golf Club in Florida, and the World Youth Team Challenge (WYTC) at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Illinois, USA.
Both mornings started out cool and overcast but the sun was out by noon and great spring temperatures prevailed, with no wind. Mitchell Zaba, 18, of Deer Valley, SK, made the trip worthwhile by firing back-to-back rounds of 71 to claim low overall score with 142 and the Boys 17 and up division title. Zaba, who plays on the MJT citing ‘better competition’, said it was nice playing in Alberta. The highlight, he said, was “winning the first tournament of the year and qualifying for the FCWT. Coming down the stretch, I was trying to make pars and stay in the game. Lewis (Chong) was making birdies all over – he’s a good player.”
Lewis Chong, 18, of Lethbridge, AB, played very well on day two to put the pressure on Zaba, and finished second with scores of 73-71 (144) for the tournament. Both players earned exemptions into the Florida event this May. Corey Kristianson, 18, of Brooks, AB, carded 75-72 (147) for third place.
Local Breanne Neufeld, 17, put together two fine rounds to win the Girls division (72-75=147). “I was three-under (par) on the last four holes,” she said. “I just wanted to finish well. My goals this season are to play well and get ready for school.” Runner-up to Neufeld was Anisha Chong, 16, of Lethbridge, who shot 86-70 (165). Justine Stevens, 14, of Calgary, AB, placed third with scores of 97-91 (188).
In the Boys 14-16 division, Chris Cooke, 16, of Canmore, AB, was the only player to break par on day one to post scores of 70-78 (148) for the win by two strokes over runner-up Ryan Werre, 14, of Redcliff, AB, (73-77=150). Third place in the division went to Dallas Mengel, 15, of Saskatoon, SK, who fired 75-77 (152).
New MJT member Mack Penner, 13, of Lethbridge, came out of the gates after a hard off-season for his first tournament win. Solid from tee to green, he walked away from his closest rival, Riley Fleming, with solid play on the front nine holes, to score 76-81 (157) for the Boys 13 and under title. “Finishing birdie-birdie on day one was the highlight for me,” said Penner, who earns a spot in the World Youth Team Challenge (WYTC) in Illinois for boys aged 13. Fleming, 13, of Airdrie, AB, finished second with 77-92 (169) while Patrick Murphy, 10, of Crossfield, AB, placed third with scores of 88-82 (170). Murphy and Nathan Corrin, 10, of Moose Jaw, SK, both received exemptions into the WYTC for boys aged 10, and will join Penner in Illinois.
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Corrin, Connor Lunge of Medicine Hat, AB, Sean Sinclair of Cochrane, AB, and Breanne Neufeld. The Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competition divisional winners were Mack Penner, Jack Forbes of Calgary, AB, Craig Gibson of Brooks, AB, and Anisha Chong.
The MJT’s 1st Choice Savings Series continues on April 28th and 29th at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge, where players in an already wait-listed field can qualify for the 55th East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York, USA. For more information, 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