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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
July 22-23, 2007
Winnipeg, MB
MacKenzie Wins Spot to China in Playoff at
MJT Bieber Securities Manitoba PGA Junior Championship
WINNIPEG, MB – The MJT-Manitoba PGA Junior Championship, part of the national series of Canadian PGA Zone Junior Championships pioneered by the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), finished July 23rd at Transcona Golf Club in Winnipeg. The two-day tournament, which is presented by local firm Bieber Securities, showcased the skills of top junior golfers from parts of Ontario and all over Manitoba, and was also a qualifier for a boy aged 17 or under to the 2008 China Junior Open.
On day two in 25km winds, Lyle Mackenzie of Winnipeg shot 68, the low round for the tournament, to follow up a first round 75 and tie for the lead in the Boys 14-16 division at 143 total score with Scott Mazur, also of Winnipeg. who played steady golf (72 -71). On the first playoff hole, Mackenzie, 16, beat 14-year-old Mazur for the spot to China. Mackenzie drove the 289 yard par four hole and two-putted for a birdie and victory over Mazur, who had an eight-footer for birdie slip by. “I maintained a strong mental game throughout both rounds,” said MacKenzie, when asked what was key to his win. “Making a 30 foot eagle putt on the 17th hole during the tournament was key, as when I made a birdie on the first playoff hole and my opponent missed his attempt at three.” Burke Wiebe, 16, also of Winnipeg, finished three strokes back of the division leaders in third place with scores of 75-71 (146).
MJT Team Canada member Matt Loewen, 18, of Winkler, was crowned MJT-Manitoba PGA Junior Boys 17 and up champion after firing 70-74 (144) to beat runner-up Kody Fawcett, 17, of Clandeboye, by three strokes. “I made a couple of long putts,” said Loewen, who cited his putting and pre-shot routine as reasons for his win. “Coming down the stretch I was thinking to stay positive and trust myself.” Fawcett, who is also a member of MJT Team Canada heading to Mexico in August, shot 74-73 (147). Third place in the division was claimed by Tyler Friesen, 19, of Kane, who shot 70-78 (148).
Selkirk’s Brenden Setter, 12, won another MJT division title as the Manitoba PGA Junior Boys 13 and under champion. “I did not lose any balls and had no three putts in the first round,” said Setter, who shot 79-87. “Chipping in on the 36th hole was a highlight for me.” Chris Kim, 13, of Winnipeg, took second place in this division with scores of 82-91 (173), and third spot went to Brendan Baldwin, 13, of St. Adolphe, who shot 89-85 (174).
Netting her first win on the MJT and the Manitoba PGA Junior Girls champion title was 17-year-old NaEun Park of East St. Paul and The Meadows Golf Club. “I controlled my mind well and if I shot badly on a hole then I just forgot about it before the next shot,” she said, after carding 86-83 for a 174 total score. Jenna Roadley, 13, of Winnipeg, shot 92-89 (181) to place second, and Bri-Ann Tokariwski, 15, also of Winnipeg, came third (90-94=184).
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Ryley Pace of Red Lake Golf Club in Red Lake, Ontario, Steve Minion of Breezy Bend Country Club in Winnipeg, Bryan Giesbrecht of Rossmere Country Club in Winnipeg, and NaEun Park. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Austin Dueck of Steinbach, Brock Helgeson of Balmertown, Ontario, Matt Loewen and Chelsea Hummelt of East Selkirk.
This tournament concludes the MJT’s Manitoba schedule; players will now be invited, based on their MJT Cleveland Golf Order of Merit rankings, to the MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, British Columbia, this August. 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 also provides 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