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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 21-22, 2008
Hamilton, ON

For Immediate Release — July 24, 2008

PLAYOFF AT MJT’S WILLOW VALLEY EVENT TWO JUNIORS QUALIFY FOR INTERNATIONAL MATCHES

HAMILTON, ONTARIO – A brief rain delay failed to dampen the mood at Willow Valley Golf Club in Mount Hope as the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) Ontario Series continued with a double qualifier on July 21st and 22nd, with spots up for grabs into the Canada International Friendship Cup (CIFC) in British Columbia and the CAN-USA Team Matches in Arizona.

The field of young golfers faced tough competition with some fine scores recorded, both on paper and by Olympus, the official camera of the MJT. “The special offering on site by Olympus of top camera equipment for use by the spectators was a huge hit,” said MJT Tournament Director, Dave Smallwood, “especially with the parents being able to take home memory cards of their recordings.”

The Boys 13 and under division proved exceptionally exciting with Ryan Borg, 13, of Mississauga, ON and Matt LeMay, 12, of Waterloo, ON, going head-to-head both days, each carding 78-71 (149) to force a playoff. Borg prevailed, winning the division title as well as the Sundog skills competition. When asked how the win felt, Borg responded, “It feels awesome. It is my first win of the season and first under-par in a tournament, plus my first playoff win. Matt was up most of the final round and almost had me ‘til the end.” LeMay settled for second place but took the top spot for the division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive competition as well as the spot for 11-12 year olds in the CIFC Matches. Nicholas Crozier, 13, of Unionville, ON, took third place shooting 84-76 for a two day total score of 160.

Shyamal Nagindas, 14, of Aurora, ON, finished day one in the top position for the Boys 14-16 category shooting 70, two strokes ahead of the entire field. Round two proved to be a more challenging day on the course as he temporarily lost the lead to Javier Diaz, 15, of Woodbridge, ON, but managed to regain the top spot after shooting 75 for a two day total of 145. “Javier had taken the lead for a while which was cause for some concern,” said Nagindas, who continues to show fine form on the MJT. “It feels good to win my third straight MJT event.” Diaz (72-76) and Michael Blair, 16, of Burlington, ON (74-74), kept the gallery on the edge of their seats finishing in a tie for second place in the division at 148 total score. Another tie for fourth place at 154 total score was between Gregory Cooke, 15, of Cambridge, ON (74-80) and Blake Thompson, 15, of North Listowel, ON, (73-81). Thompson won his division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive competition while Truman Tai, 14, of Markham, ON, won the Sundog Skills competition.

The Boy’s 17 and up category was won by Chad Currie, 17, of Owen Sound, ON, who fired 72-73 (145) and receives the exemption for boys 16-18 to the matches in Arizona. “The key for me was hitting fairways and greens,” he said. “I was worried on the 11th hole when Andrew Smith was only three shots back, but it feels great to win my first MJT event and also to win away from my home course, Grey-Bruce.” Theo Agathos, 19, of London, ON, overcame a shaky start to shoot 77-71 (148) and scoop second place in the division, while Jordan Ryan, 17, came in third with scores of 74-76 (150). Smith, 17, of Kitchener, ON, shot 74-79 (153) and ended up tied for fourth spot with Mike Rizzetto, 17, of Brantford, ON (73-80). Nick Halliday, 17 of Caledonia, ON, won the division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive competition and the Sundog Skills competition winner was Luca Salvador, 17, of Brampton, ON.

The MJT Ontario Series continues with the MJT Ontario Tour Championship at Mystic Golf Club in Ancaster on August 4th, 5th and 6th, 2008. This will be a 54-hole qualifier for the FCWT National Championship in Florida, 2009. For more information or to register, visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF.

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