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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

July 24-25, 2008
Warren / Selkirk, MB

For Immediate Release — July 25, 2008

NAGLE LOW OVERALL AT MJT’S MANITOBA STOP
Helgeson and Ward qualify for international spots


WINNIPEG, MB – Junior golfers successfully completed the final round of a two-day Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) tournament today at Selkirk Golf Club in Selkirk, after playing out round one on South Interlake Golf Club in Warren. This was a quick re-schedule of venues after heavy rains closed Sandy Hook Golf Club in Sandy Hook – the original host for the event which was a double qualifier for the Texas Junior Masters and the Canada International Friendship Cup (CIFC).

Burke Nagle, 20, of Winnipeg, cited focus and ‘keeping it simple’ as keys to his victory in the Boys 17 and up division where he fired strong rounds of 70-75 (145), also claiming low overall score for the field. “I was trying not to let bad thoughts or shots drag me down,” he said, “It feels good to win knowing that I can grind it out even when things aren’t going my way.” Runners-up to Nagle in his division were Brock Helgeson (76-71), Brenden Ward (70-77) and Lyle Mackenzie (70-77) who were all eligible to enter a play-off for the international exemptions after tying at 147 total score. Helgeson, 17, of Balmertown, ON, won the play-off and receives a spot on MJT Team Canada in the Texas Junior Masters in San Antonio this August. Ward, 17, of Winnipeg, received the spot in the CIFC in Surrey, British Columbia, where Team Canada will compete against teams from Mexico and the USA.

Another play-off determined the division winner for Boys 14-16, after Aaron Cockerill, 16, of Stony Mountain, MB, and Steve Minion, 16, of Winnipeg, tied for the lead at 149 total score. Cockerill triumphed to take his first MJT title, saying, “Steve played great today and made a great putt to force the playoff. It feels good to finally win in a playoff and win when I gave myself the chance.” Third spot in the division went to to Scott Mazur, 15, of Winnipeg, who shot 77-75 (152).

12-year-old Connor Shaw of Thompson, MB, edged Brenden Setter, 13, of Selkirk, and Peter Takis, 13, of Winnipeg, to claim victory in the Boys 13 and under division. “Today at Selkirk I just put every chip within tap-in range to give me the easy pars,” he said, after posting scores of 78-81 (159). “It feels so awesome to win my first tournament on the MJT.” Runner-up Setter shot 79-81 (160) while first-round leader Takis shot 75-86 (161) to place third.

Local Lindsay Stewart, 17, who won the Girls division by three strokes after shooting 76-83 (159), commented, “Jessie Choi and Bri-Ann Tokariwski played really well and they pushed me to play good. I really like these tournaments and its always fun to win.” Tokariwski, 16, of Winnipeg, shot 79-83 (162) to place second, while Choi, 16, also of Winnipeg, placed third with scores of 79-84 (163).

The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Peter Takis, Jeff Boulet, 16, of Calgary, AB, Kody Fawcett, 18, of Selkirk, and Lindsay Stewart. Stewart also won her division’s Sundog Skills competition, along with Connor Shaw, Emerson Green, 14, of Winnipeg, and Lyle Mackenzie.

The MJT wraps its Manitoba schedule next month on August 18th and 19th at Transcona Golf Club in Winnipeg with the MJT-Manitoba PGA Junior Championship presented by Bieber Securities – a qualifier for the China Junior Open. 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 nationally by Boston Pizza and is Canada's premier and only 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.

Media Contact:
Elaine Denton
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 1-877-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com