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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 19-20, 2008
Winnipeg, MB
MAZUR WINS SPOT TO CHINA IN PLAYOFF AT MJT MANITOBA PGA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
WINNIPEG, MB: What a day it was at the Transcona Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg on Tuesday August 20th - winds were gusting up to 60km/h making the second round of play in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) Manitoba PGA Junior Championship a day of survival. And that is just what Scott Mazur, 15, of Winnipeg, did. Playing on his home course in this Bieber Securities-sponsored 36 hole tournament, Mazur was able to play well enough to get into a playoff with Garrett Neiles, 15, also of Winnipeg. Mazur had revenge on his mind as last year he lost to Lyle MacKenzie in a playoff at this same event. This year he changed the story, winning an exemption into the 2009 China Junior Open on the third playoff hole with a par while Neiles made bogey.
Mazur and Neiles had shot 72-79 and 75-76 respectively to tie for the low overall score of 151 with Riley Unger of Plum Coulee, MB, who at age 18 is not eligible for the China Junior Open. Mazur, who was crowned MJT-Manitoba PGA Junior Boys 14-16 Champion, said, “It feels good and Garrett made me earn it. I made a lot of putts for par that held me in. The course was in great shape but the second round was in a hurricane wind.”
Matt Dodds, 16, of Brunkild, placed third in the Boys 14-16 division behind Neiles after firing the low round of the day with a 74 – which probably would have been a 69 in normal conditions – finishing with a total score just one stroke back of the leaders (78-74 =152). The 14-16 division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive winner was Kevin Hicks, 16, and Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin winner was Bret Thompson, 14, both from Winnipeg.
Riley Unger was the MJT-Manitoba PGA Junior Boys 17 and up Champion after he followed up his great play on day one with a 75 for a two day total of 151. “The conditions were extremely hard – it feels great to win – I’m very relieved,” he said. Lyle Mackenzie, 18, of Winnipeg, a veteran to this tour, played some steady golf to capture second place with scores of 74-79 (153). He was also his division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive winner, hitting a monster of a drive. Brendan Ward, 17, of Winnipeg, rounded out the top three after firing 79-75 (154). Ryan Dirr, 17, of Winnipeg, won the 17 and up division’s Closest-to-the-Pin contest.
Peter Takis, 13, of Winnipeg, cleaned up in the Boys 13 and under division, winning the Champion’s trophy with scores of 74-89 (163) as well as driving the ball the furthest on the Mr. Lube Long Drive Hole. “I shot a 74 on day one – a record of mine!” said Takis. “The course is awesome, I really like Transcona, and I was playing well in the wind. My highlight was hitting the pin on 8. This win is a good confidence boost for Whistler (site of the MJT National Tour Championship) this week.”
Selkirk residents Nigel Hoydalo, 12, and Brandon Sutherland, 12, finished runner-up and third with scores of 82-90 and 88-91 respectively, with Sutherland winning the division’s Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin contest.
Breanne Fredette, 14, of Winnipeg, had a six shot lead in the Girls division heading into the final day and she cruised to victory with scores of 99-98 (197) while also winning the Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin competitions. “It feels amazing because I haven’t ever won my own division,” she said. Amy Cerasani, 15, of Winnipeg, finished second while Kaleigh Henrikson, 17, of Selkirk, came in third.
The MJT’s Bieber Securities-sponsored event marks the end of the regular schedule in Manitoba. Next week players who qualified over the course of the season will be competing in the MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, British Columbia, 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