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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

April 11-12, 2009
South Surrey, BC

For Immediate Release April 13, 2009

LI DEFIES DOWNPOUR TO WIN HSBC GOLF CLASSIC IN STYLE

South Surrey, B.C. – Despite shocking weather conditions that encouraged several players out of a packed field of 96 junior golfers to call it quits, Sunny Li, 14, of Surrey, defied the drenching downpour on Sunday to win overall low score in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s HSBC Golf Classic at Morgan Creek Golf Club this past weekend.

The South Surrey stop on the MJT endured some showers on Saturday which cleared as the afternoon progressed; however heavy rain poured down all day Sunday, forcing shortening of the competition to 27 holes for both the Boys 13 and under and Girls divisions in the two-day tournament.

The Boys 14-16 and 17-19 divisions soldiered through, with several fantastic results under the circumstances. Local boys claimed all three top positions in Boys 14-16, where a three-under-par total from Sunny Li (70-71) on his home course won him the division title and an exemption into the 57th annual East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York State this June. “It feels good (to win),” he said. Runner-up to Li was another Morgan Creek junior, Jay Kim, 16, also of Surrey and last year’s champion, who shot a solid even-par total score (69-75 =144). Third place was claimed by MJT veteran Adam Svensson, 15, who carded 72-76 (148).

Yohann Vora, 17, of Delta, pulled through to clinch the HSBC Golf Classic Boys 17-19 division title with scores of 70-80 (150), citing his putting on day one as key to his victory. “Coming down the stretch I was just thinking to do as well as I can,” he said. “I feel really good about winning since this is my first MJT win.”

Runner-up to Vora was Pureum Lee, 17, of North Vancouver, who finished two strokes back with scores of 76-76 (152). Devin Morgan, 17, of South Surrey, carded back-to-back rounds of 77 to place third in the division.

More great golf was delivered over 27 holes by veteran champion, Kevin Kwon, 13, of Pitt Meadows, who fired 68-34 (102) to run away with his last Boys 13 and under title, as he turns 14 in a few weeks. “I made a lot of important putts. I was driving and chipping very well. My irons could have been a lot better but no regrets,” he said. “It feels really good to win today because I wasn’t playing very well coming into the tournament but I still played well.” Runner-up was Matthew Davis, 13, of Tsawwassen, who posted fine scores of 76-39 (115), while Kevin Vigna, 13, of Burnaby, came in third with scores of 78-40 (118).

12-year-old Alix Kong of West Vancouver won the HSBC Golf Classic Girls division title with solid scores for 27 holes of 75-38 (113), edging Ji-Hyun An, 16, of Coquitlam, by one stroke. “The first day my irons and chips gave me great scores and on the second day my drives hit every fairway,” said Kong. “I didn’t think about golf when coming down the stretch and only concentrated on the shot I was about to hit. It makes me feel excited (to win).” Third place in the division went to Anica Yoo, 15, of Coquitlam, who shot 72-44 (116).

The divisional winners in the tournament’s Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Kevin Kwon, Andrew Rasmussen, 16, of Delta, Hiroki Kishi, 18, of Victoria, and Rochelle Rezansoff, 16, of Surrey. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Kevin Vigna, Brendan Southwind, 16, of Vancouver, Yohann Vora and Porsche Campbell, 16, of Vancouver.

The MJT continues it’s British Columbia schedule on May 2nd and 3rd with the Cattermole Group Classic at King’s Links by the Sea in Delta, a qualifier for MJT Team Canada to Scotland. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

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: 1-877-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com