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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
June 13-14, 2009
Medicine Hat, AB
WERRE’S RED HOT SEASON CONTINUES AT DESERT BLUME
Medicine Hat, AB. - (June 15, 2009) –The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) held its Srixon Series event for Alberta at the beautiful Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat this past weekend, where players competed for division titles as well as a spot into the Texas Junior Masters at the Hyatt Regency Hill Resort in San Antonio, TX.
Ryan Werre’s incredible season on the MJT so far continued, with a romp to victory as MJT Srixon Series Boys 17-19 champion, also winning the spot to Texas this July. Werre,17, of Redcliff, took command of the course and was the only player under par, patiently attacking the tough Desert Blume layout with precision irons and solid tee shots. Werre described himself as “being very patient over the two days. I lag putted well and hit a lot of good shots coming down the stretch. I knew that if I could break par the second day, Craig (Bloom) and Jordan (Gibson) would have a tough time catching me. I just hope that this continues into the Future Links next week and the Alberta Junior.” He ended the weekend shooting 68-70 (138). Finishing six shots back was Calgary’s Craig Bloom, 18, who finished at even par (73-71=144). Rhys Tosczak, 17, also of Calgary, carded a final round of one-under-par 71 to leapfrog a lot of players and get into the top three for the division with scores of 76-71 (147).
Terrific scores in the Boys 14-16 division made it an exciting day for the top three finishers in this event. Andrew Ritchot, 16, of Lethbridge, played steady golf carding back to back 73’s to finish one shot ahead of Dillon Batsel, 16, of Medicine Hat. Ritchot needed a birdie, par finish coming down the stretch to overtake Batsel and claim his first MJT title. “It’s a great feeling, and a weight lifted off me to get a win finally on the MJT,” said Ritchot, who has won locally but not at this level. “I hit a lot of good shots, but I knew that I needed to make birdie on one of the last two holes to catch Dillon (Batsel), and I made a great one on #17.” Runner-up Batsel ended up shooting 73-74 (147) in his hometown. Three shots back was Mac Keats, 16, of Cochrane, (74-75=149) in one of the tightest races seen this year on the MJT in Alberta.
In the Srixon Series Boys 13 and under division, Nolan Mastel, 12, of Medicine Hat, used a little local knowledge as he topped his division with solid play and `great putting` over the weekend. Mastel plays out of Desert Blume and knew that it would give him a little advantage, carding 81-90 (171). Finishing in second place with 92-90 (182) on this adventurous course was Will Pillman, 12, also of Medicine Hat, who was playing in his first MJT event. Rounding out the top three was Andrew Brown, 12, of Calgary, who scored 88-97 (185).
Kristen Jensen, 17, of Picture Butte, played steady golf all weekend to claim her third MJT Girls division title this year, posting 83-84 (167) and winning comfortably over Becky Martin, 16, of Medicine Hat, who shot 86-92 (178) for second place. Jensen “was worried after her practice round, which was terrible, but hit it straighter over the weekend and never hit it out of play much.” Jensen has had a great start to the season, and attributes her fine play to “putting better and not getting into too much trouble.” Evann Parker, 17, of Calgary, placed third after carding 91-88 (179).
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Will Pillman, Mack Penner, 15, of Lethbridge, Becky Martin and Connor Lunge, 18, of Medicine Hat. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Andrew Brown, Austin Laidlaw, 15, of Lethbridge, Kristen Jensen and Jason Thiels, 18, of Olds.
The MJT continues its Alberta schedule next month on July 27th, 28th and 29th with the three-day 1st Choice Savings Summer Series at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge. 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.
Contact:
Elaine Denton, Marketing & PR, MJT T: 1-877-943-1645 Email: edenton@maplejt.com