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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 28-29, 2007
Whistler, BC
WORLD CLASS SETTING FOR MJT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
WHISTLER, BC – Junior golfers from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia qualified all season-long on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour for the 9th annual MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship in the superb setting of Whistler, BC, this past week. The elite field of 72 invited players from across the country played August 28th and 29th on Nicklaus North Golf Club in a 36-hole stroke play format, with division winners receiving exemptions into the 2008 Future Collegiate World Tour (FCWT) National Championship in Florida, USA.
Mitchell Zaba, 18, of Deer Valley, SK was crowned Boys 17 and up MJT National Champion, citing his main reason for victory was due to his previous experience of being in high level competition golf. “Knowing that I have been in this situation before gave me an edge and the confidence to post a low score on the final day”, he said, after shooting six birdies to post a brilliant 5-under-par 66 on day two, following up his opening round of 73 for a 139 total score.
Runner-up to Zaba in the division was Cornel Smith, 18, of Vancouver, BC, formerly of Regina, SK and now attending the University of Victoria, BC, who shot 70-71 (141). Johnny Hall, 18, of Langton, ON, once again placed third in the National Championship (71-71) tying with Craig Gibson, 18, of Brooks, AB (68-74) with combined total scores of 142.
In the extremely competitive Boys 14-16 Division, five players were tied for the lead at 71 going in to the final round. A blazing score of 67 vaulted Chris Cooke, 16, of Canmore, AB, to the top and he claimed the Division’s National title by one stroke. “I could have shot even lower today, I was on fire,” said Cooke of his 4-under par final round. “It feels great to win and a huge boost in confidence.” Just one stroke back was David Mathers, 16, of Kitchener, ON, who fired 71-70 (141), followed by third place finisher Eric Allard, 16, of Calgary, AB, who shot 73-69 (142).
12-year-old Kevin Lee of Surrey, BC, repeated as MJT Boys 13 and under National Champion after winning his division by an amazing 13 strokes, firing 68-70 (138) for the lowest score overall, in all divisions. “On my second round my long putts were going in! And I made three long putts!” he exclaimed. “It feels really great (to win again) – thanks MJT!” Second place in the Boys 13 and under division went to Kevin Kwon, 12, of Coquitlam, BC, who shot 78-73 (151). Third place was shared by 13 year-olds, Truman Tai of Markham, ON (77-77) and Brett Walsh of Calgary, AB (75-79) each scoring 154.
Another 12-year-old - Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, BC - was crowned MJT Girls National Champion after posting excellent scores of 70-74 (144), edging runner-up 17-year-old Kristina Gargaro (74-71) of Port Moody, BC, by one stroke. “I was making three to six foot putts for par during the first round, so I shot really good,” said Keel. “My highlight was on the 12th hole when I had a really hard chip and I put it close and saved par. It feels really good to win this because this is my first time being here.”
After a successful five-year stint on the MJT, Kristina Gargaro is heading to the University of Eastern Washington, USA, on a full- ride scholarship next week. 2007 MJT Cleveland Golf Player of the Year for the Girls Division, Soo Bin Kim, 14, of Port Coquitlam, BC, shot a brilliant final round of 69 to place third with a total score of 146.
The other divisional MJT Cleveland Golf Players of the Year were also recognized at the tournament: Kevin Lee for Boys 13 and under, Jesse Gibson of Saskatoon, SK, for Boys 14-16, and Scott Thompson of St. Walburg, SK, for Boys 17 and up. These players all had the lowest stroke average nationally for their divisions this season, based on the award’s criteria and each receive a full set of Cleveland irons courtesy of Cleveland Golf.
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Ian Mmbando, 12, of Lethbridge, AB, Brad Burgess, 14, of Caistor Centre, ON, John Koo, 17, of Langley, BC, and Soo Bin Kim. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Mack Penner, 13, of Lethbridge, AB, Chris MacDonald, 16, of Calgary, AB, Eric Edelman, 17, of Paris, ON, and Jisoo Keel.
Team BC, consisting of Steven Nakajima of Delta, Jun Ho Lee of Pitt Meadows, Kevin Kwon and Kevin Lee, won the inter-provincial competition at the championship after beating defending Team Champions, Ontario, by five points.
The OGIO Ironman awards were also announced at the MJT National Tour Championship, and went to one boy and girl in each province who had played in the most MJT events and had the highest Order of Merit points. Eligible recipients were Danelle Girard of Coquitlam and Steven Nakajima of BC, Breanne Neufeld of Lethbridge and Zak Griffiths of Red Deer in Alberta, Kaitlyn Blackmer of Swift Current and Nathan Corrin of Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, Chelsea Hummelt of East Selkirk and Connor Shaw of Thompson in Manitoba, Taylor Prilisauer of Cambridge in Ontario and Sean Fraser of Sackville in Nova Scotia.
The MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship concludes the regular multi-day season for the non-profit program. One-day post-season tournaments run in BC this fall. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com.
About the MJT
As a not-for-profit association, the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s only national junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The program helps develop Canada's junior golfers, offering clinics, tournaments, international competitions and more. From free introductory clinics sponsored by Ford to the major CPGA Zone-sponsored junior championships, the MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com
Contact:
Elaine Denton, Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com