MJT 1st Choice Savings Summer Series at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort - July 27-29, 2009

July 27-29, 2009
Lethbridge, AB

BATSEL STILL 1ST CHOICE AT PARADISE CANYON GOLF RESORT

Lethbridge, AB - (July 30, 2009) – The three day Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) 1st Choice Savings Summer Series played out Monday through Wednesday, July 27th to 29th, on the challenging Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge, where players in four divisions battled each other plus the chance to qualify for a open invite to a Future Collegiate World Tour (FCWT) event in the USA.

Dillon Batsel, 17, of Medicine Hat, won his second MJT title this year in the Boys 17-19 Division to go along with his recent Alberta Junior Golf Championship title less than a month ago, after firing an even-par total score of 213 which included a career round of 63 (8-under-par) on day two. This score matched the lowest round ever recorded in an Albertan MJT event, and Batsel was “truly excited about my 63, the highlight of my tournament.” As most people who have recorded a career low, it is very difficult to follow this up the next round as Batsel had “very little in his tank” the next day. “I had great irons play, I drove the ball well and made some crucial putts,” he added, listing the factors needed en route to winning the title and FCWT exemption.

Batsel bested a great field, where Gage Murphy, 19, of Rosebud, who had stumbled the first round with an 80, followed up with rounds of 70-70 to finish at 220 total score and move into second place. Ryan Werre, 17, of Redcliff, carded rounds of 75-75-71 (221) to finish third, and commented on Batsel, “Dillon never missed a shot out there, it was great to see!” Lethbridge boys Matthew Whittaker and Jace James won the Boys 17-19 Mr. Lube Long Drive and Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competitions respectively.

Hayden Holick, 16, of High River, outlasted Ian Mmbando, 14, of Lethbridge, to win the Boys 14-16 Division title after carding rounds of 75-82-80 (237). Mmbando held the lead over the first two days, but stumbled on the final day to allow Holick the opportunity to sneak in for his first win by one shot. “It feels great!” said Holick, who also cleaned up in his division by winning the Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin competitions. “It’s a nice middle of the year finish to keep me excited for the rest of the year.” Three shots back of the lead was Mack Penner, 15, of Lethbridge, (80-85-75=240), who fired the low final round of the Boys 14-16 Division to get into the prizes.

Photo Gallery

All Photos

Top Finishers

Place	Name	City	Sex	Age	Scores	Total
Boys 13 & Under Par 71, Yardage 5832, Slope/Rating 121/68.3
1	Thomas Le	Brooks, AB	M	13	78, 83, 84	245
2	Mason Gibb	Lethbridge, AB	M	12	83, 82, 86	251
3	Lachlan Spriddle	Lethbridge, AB	M	11	88, 85, 94	267
Boys 14-16 Par 71, Yardage 6330, Slope/Rating 129/70.6
1	Hayden Holick	High River, AB	M	16	75, 82, 80	237
2	Ian Mmbando	Lethbridge, AB	M	14	76, 78, 84	238
3	Mack Penner	Lethbridge, AB	M	15	80, 85, 75	240
Boys 17-19 Par 71, Yardage 6330, Slope/Rating 129/70.6
1	Dillon Batsel	Medicine Hat, AB	M	17	70, 63, 80	213
2	Gage Murphy	Rosebud, AB	M	19	80, 70, 70	220
3	Ryan Werre	Redcliff, AB	M	17	75, 75, 71	221
Girls Par 71, Yardage 5842, Slope/Rating 133/74.9
1	Becky Martin	Medicine Hat, AB	F	16	82, 83, 84	249
2	Emma Degenhardt	Lethbridge , AB	F	15	97, 83, 89	269
3	Devon Spriddle	Lethbridge, AB	F	13	96, 97, 98	291

Full Results
Order of Merit Standings