LOG IN
  User:   Pass:
Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

July 23-24, 2007
Pitt Meadows, BC

For Immediate Release — July 25, 2007

11-YEAR-OLD GIRL WINS LOW OVERALL ON MJT AT SWAN-E-SET


PITT MEADOWS, BC – Very wet conditions prevailed during the first round, and improved on day two, at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) stop at Swan-e-set Bay Resort in Pitt Meadows, B.C., this July 23rd and 24th. None of this seemed to affect the performance of young phenomenon Jisoo Keel, an 11-year-old from Coquitlam, however, who played exceptional golf.

Keel, who began competing on the MJT at age seven, fired impressive rounds of 71-72 to finish at one-under-par for the tournament – capturing the Girls division title as well as the low overall score for the field. “My best highlight was when I was one-over-par on the front nine and put my second shot really close to the pin on seven and made a birdie,” she said. “My putter was the main reason for my win. I was just thinking about playing my best and trying to get first place for the Olympus camera prize.” Keel will now go on to compete in the Canadian Women’s Amateur in Ontario next week. Runner-up among the Girls was Goeun Lee, 16, of Richmond, who shot 75-78 (153). Third place was a tie at 154 total score between Emily Kim, 16, of Port Coquitlam (78-76), and Sylvia Park, 14, of Vancouver (74-80).

13-year-old Taizhi Yang of Langley shot 72-73 (145) to win the Boys 13 and under division by five strokes. “I was practicing my game almost every day and when my dad was working, he would drop me at Northview (golf course) and I would practice all day long,” said Yang, when asked for reasons for his win. “I feel very happy about winning because it is the first time I have won on the MJT.” Second place finisher was Kevin Kwon, 12, of Coquitlam, who carded back-to-back rounds of 75 for a 150 total score, and third place in the division went to Danny Yu, 13, of Surrey, who shot 75-78 (153).

Another first time winner on the MJT was Scott Cameron, 17, of Langley, who closed with a sizzling 69 to finish at 145 total score, capturing the Boys 17 and up title in fine style. “It makes me feel pretty good to win, to finally get it out of my way,” he said. “Coming down the stretch I was thinking ‘just hit the green and give yourself a chance for birdie!’ I birdied the last three holes.” Runner-up to Cameron was Han Baek, 18, of Maple Ridge, who posted scores of 76-74 (150), and third place in the division went to John Koo, 17, of Langley, who shot 74-77 (151).

In the Boys 14-16 division, Matthew Hamilton, 15, of West Vancouver, fired rounds of 73-76 (149) to win by three strokes. “This makes me feel really good because I usually play really bad when I play this course,” he said. “I struck the ball well both days and I hit a lot of fairways.” Yohann Vora, 15, of Delta, earned his best finish on the MJT to date by placing second with scores of 78-74 (152). There was a three way tie for third place in the division at 156 total score between Zack Duan, 15, of Vancouver (80-76), Spencer Lightburn, 16, of Abbotsford (78-78), and Steven Nakajima, 16, of Delta (78-78).

In the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition, divisional winners were Mason Pimentel, 13, of Richmond, Steven Nakajima, Nick McKnight, 18, of North Vancouver, and Sylvia Park. The Sundog Skills Competition divisional winners were Danny Yu, Steven Nakajima, Brett Standerwick, 17, of Tsawwassen, and Sylvia Park.

The next local stop on the MJT is the 54-hole Odlum Brown Limited PGA of British Columbia Junior Championship at Northview Golf Club in Cloverdale, July 31st through August 2nd – a qualifier for the China Junior Open. This is the final regular season tournament prior to the Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, BC, on August 28th and 29th . 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 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