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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

June 2-3, 2007
North Battleford, SK

For Immediate Release — June 4, 2007

Thompson Cream of the Crop in MJT Stop Presented by FINORA at North Battleford
Gibson Wins Team Spot To Texas

NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK. – Great weather greeted players from parts of Manitoba and Alberta as well as from all over Saskatchewan in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) tournament at North Battleford Golf and Country Club this past weekend. The two-day MJT-ACT/UCT Junior Classic presented by FINORA was also a qualifier for certain age divisions for the Texas Junior Masters at Colovista Country Club in Bastrop, Texas, USA, this July.

Finora, a substantial Canadian-based supplier and processor of beans, peas and lentils, has sponsored the MJT in Saskatchewan for the past three years, and the cream of the crop in the North Battleford event was Scott Thompson, 18, of St. Walburg, SK, who defeated local Tim Acaster in a playoff to win the Boys 17 and up division title. “It was my first playoff win which was really exciting,” said Thompson (69-73), who had tied with Acaster (68-74) for the lead at two-under-par total score of 142 after 36 holes. Taylor Smith, 17, of Swift Current, SK, took third place in the division with scores of 73-74 (147).

The spot for a 14-15 year old boy on MJT Team Canada to Texas was awarded to Jesse Gibson, 15, of Saskatoon, SK, who fired 71-72 (143) to win the Boys 14-16 division by eight strokes. Gibson cited his putting and short game as the keys to his victory, and rated the golf course and conditions of play, “10 out of 10 – the greens were awesome.” The remaining players on the nine-player team to Texas are qualifying at other MJT tournaments across the country. Jason McKinlay, 16, of Consort, AB, claimed second place in the division after firing 75-76 (151) to edge third place finisher Jordan Arndt, 14, of Furdale, SK, by one stroke. Arndt shot 74-78 (152).

Kyla Reay, 18, of Saskatoon, who is going to Alabama State University in the USA on scholarship this August, continued her solid performance on the MJT and overtook first round co-leader Crystal Weiss, 18, of White City, SK, to win the Girls division. “Coming down the stretch I was thinking about trying to finish strong,” said Reay, who shot 80-81 (161). Weiss shot 80-84 (164). Kaitlyn Blackmer, 16, of Swift Current, SK, finished in third place with scores of 85-88 (173).

Tyler Puetz, 13, of Melfort, SK, ran away with the Boys 13 and under champion’s trophy after carding 74-83 for a 157 total score. “I was feeling very confident,” he stated, adding that he thought North Battleford is ‘one of the best courses in the province.’ Taylor Cook, 13, of North Battleford, shot 86-84 (170) to place second in the division. There was a tie for third place at 176 total score between Connor Shaw, 11, of Thompson, MB, and Conley Kriegler, 10, of Saskatoon.

The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Tyler Puetz, Mark Kosteniuk, 15,of Saskatoon, Scott Thompson and Crystal Weiss. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Travis Busch, 13, of Lloydminster, AB, James Walker, 16, of Riverside Estates, SK, Cory Southam, 17, of Strongfield, SK, and Kaitlyn Blackmer.

The MJT continues its Saskatchewan schedule on June 16th and 17th at Perdue Oasis Golf Resort in Saskatoon with the MJT-CPGA of Saskatchewan Junior Championship presented by FINORA. This tournament is also a qualifier for the China Junior Open in 2008. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About the MJT
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) is presented by Boston Pizza, and is 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