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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 7-8, 2008
Abbotsford, BC
14-YEAR-OLD YANG WINS LOW OVERALL AT MJT LINDSAY KENNEY CLASSIC
Svensson Qualifies for CAN-USA Matches in Arizona
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – 14-year-old Taizhi Yang of Langley beat the entire field in the recent Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) Lindsay Kenney Classic at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, after firing outstanding rounds of 68-69 for a 137 total score.
Competitors in the two-day tournament were battling for division titles as well as an exemption for eligible members into the CAN-USA Team Matches at ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Arizona. Conditions were near perfect with good weather and a course in great shape. Yang won low overall and the Boys 14-16 division title by seven strokes. “Everyone knows Adam (Svensson) is a great player, he was in my group both days and I got some pressure from him,” said Yang. “I felt really happy because this is the first time I shot under-par in a tournament. My putting was very good.” Six-year MJT veteran, Svensson, 14, of Surrey, closed with a fine 68 to finish second at 76-68=144 and qualified as the eligible MJT member for the matches in Arizona. Brett Sherwood, 16, of Surrey, playing in his first MJT tournament, shot a great score of 69 on day two to take third place in the division (76-69=145).
Close competition in the Boys 17 and up division saw newcomer Hyunil Kim, 21, of Port Coquitlam, edge Jun Ho Lee, 17, also of Port Coquitlam, by one stroke to win with scores of 74-76 (150). “Key to my win was drinking lots of water and staying hydrated in order to stay focused all the time,” said Kim. “It feels good (to win), like having a birthday party twice.” Lee, who is playing his fourth season on the MJT, shot 78-73 (151) for second place while Nate Beauchamp, 18, of Burnaby, had his best finish on the MJT to date taking third place with scores of 78-74 (152).
A hard-charging Gunntas Sidhu, 13, of Port Coquitlam, shot a final round 72 to overtake Logan Hallwas and Lucas Gatto, winning the Boys 13 and under title with scores of 78-72 (150). “Logan and Lucas had me worried after 9 holes because they were right on my tail, and because they both made birdie on the 9th while I made bogey,” said Sidhu. “But every time I had a seven-foot putt I put it in – without that I wouldn’t have won. It feels great that I won today and even better to win with a great score.” Hallwas, 13, of South Surrey, carded rounds of 76-78 (154) to finish second while Gatto, 13, of Burnaby, finished third one stroke back (78-77=155).
In the Girls division, Linda Luo, 15, of Richmond, fired back-to-back rounds of 78 to win the title after edging first-round leader Jamie Oleksiew, 13, of Langley, by one stroke. “My family cheers me up even when I have a bad shot,” said Luo. “On the first day I was behind Jamie. Coming down the stretch I think I have to do my best and think before hitting any shots. To win feels great because this is my first win of 2008!” Oleksiew continued her great form on the MJT, carding 77-80 (157) to finish second. 12-year-old Alix Kong of West Vancouver finished third after shooting 81-80 (161).
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Oscar Baek, 12, of Coquitlam, Chase Garisto, 16, of Langley, Nate Beauchamp and Leilanie Kim, 15, of Surrey. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Teagan Casper, 12, of North Vancouver, Taizhi Yang, Jung-Sang Yu, 18, of Langley, and Keanna Mason, 11, of Maple Ridge.
The Lindsay Kenney Classic marks the end of the regular season multi-day event schedule in British Columbia for the MJT; a series of one-day tournaments run this fall. In the interim players will be receiving invitations to the MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, British Columbia, on August 25th and 26th. For more information 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 is also focused on providing 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.
Media Contact:
Elaine Denton
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 1-877-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com