Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 26-28, 2010
Cloverdale (Surrey), BC

For Immediate Release

GREAT SCORES AT MJT ODLUM BROWN CLASSIC- PGA OF BRITISH COLUMBIA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Cloverdale, BC – (July 29, 2010) – The Odlum Brown Classic, a major event on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), endorsed by the Professional Golfers’ Association of British Columbia (PGA of BC) and Golf British Columbia, played out in the heat over Monday through Wednesday, July 26th to 28th, on Northview Golf Course in Cloverdale, B.C. The 54-hole tournament is part of a series of national events pioneered by the MJT in conjunction with the provincial PGA zones. A field of top junior golfers teed off on the superbly conditioned Canal Course, with a cut after 36 holes for the final round on the Ridge Course.

For the third year in a row, tournament sponsor Odlum Brown Limited’s Vice President, Doris Gnandt, was on hand to present awards, which include exemptions into the relevant Golf British Columbia junior championships (Bantam, Juvenile, Junior Girls and Junior Boys) for 2011.

A brilliant opening round of 66 catapulted Kelowna’s William Deck, 18, of the Harvest Golf Club, into a commanding lead in the Boys 17-19 division which he held on to over the three days, ending up with scores of 66-70-74 (210) to win the Champion’s trophy by three strokes over Calum Miller, 19, of Grande Prairie and the Dunes Golf Club, who had blitzed into contention with a seven-under-par 65 on day two. Miller finished at three-under-par (74-65-75). “The key for me in this tournament was making some very timely putts and keeping mistakes to a minimum,” said Deck, who now has three wins on the MJT this season. “During the opening round of 66 everything was clicking. During the final round I tried not to let how others played get to me but I have to admit that when we were on 15 I started thinking a bit about their scores. It’s a great feeling to win the major MJT event and everything that comes with it.” Tae-In Lee, 17, of Maple Ridge and Swan-e-set Bay Resort, secured third spot in the division after shooting 75-70-74 (219) .

The MJT Odlum Brown Classic PGA of BC Junior Boys 14-16 Champion was Swan-e-set Bay Resort’s Oscar Baek, 14, of Coquitlam, who fired an outstanding opening round of 69 and followed it up with solid scores of 76 and 73 to finish at 218, pulling ahead of co-leader Gunntas Sidhu, 15, of Port Coquitlam and Meadow Gardens Golf Club, by four strokes. Baek repeats as a division champion as he won the 13 and under title last year. “I feel great on winning here at Northview Golf and Country club, with all my family supporting me and cheering me on! I also felt great to win two years in a row here,” he said. “The key to my victory was that I never gave up on my shots and I learned how to control my anger. Even though I made a triple and some doubles I came back with seven birdies on the last round of the tournament. My highlight of the tournament was when I birdied numbers 14, 15, and 16.” Kevin Vigna, 14, of Coquitlam and Vancouver Golf Club, carded 75-71-77 (223) to finish third, just one stroke back of Sidhu.

The division winners also included Port Moody’s Valentina Trillo, 16, of Westwood Plateau Academy, who was crowned MJT Odlum Brown Classic- PGA of BC Junior Girls Champion after a wire-to-wire victory with rounds of 68-74-80 (222). “My tournament highlight was probably the first day when I careered and shot four-under – my best score before then had been one-under-par 69,” said Trillo. “After such a great start, a lot of pressure was lifted. It feels amazing (to win). Winning back-to-back titles which would be the BC Summer Games and now here, it makes me feel more ready for the upcoming Canadian Junior Girls.” Three strokes back in this division was Porsche Campbell, 17, of Vancouver and Marine Drive Golf Club, who shot stellar scores of 75-74-76. Of special note is the amazing performance from 11-year-old Lily He of Pitt Meadows and Meadows Golf Centre, who carded 78-73-79, taking third place in outstanding fashion for such a young player.

A fine final round of 78 on the challenging Ridge course ensured another wire-to-wire victory in the Boys 13 and under division, where 12-year-old Henry Lee of Coquitlam, BC, and Swan-e-set Bay Resort, kept ahead of a fiercely competitive pack of players including four tied for second place after round two. “My 30 footer on hole 16 on the first day was a highlight,” said a ‘happy and excited’ Lee, who claimed the MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Junior Boys 13 and under title with his total score of 224 (72-74-78). Runner-up to Lee was Alexander Jewkes, 13, of Vancouver and Capilano Golf Club, who shot 75-78-75 (228), and third place went to Cole Briggs, 13, of Langley and Redwoods Golf Club (79-74-80=233).

The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Alexander Kwok of Richmond, Wyatt Racette of Burnaby, William Deck and Porsche Campbell. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Kevin Li of Burnaby, Kevin Vigna, Calum Miller and Porsche Campbell. Golf Town Comeback awards were presented to Harry Bains of Surrey, Tyler MacKay of Rossland, Taylor Callens of Surrey and Yena Lee of Vancouver.

The MJT now moves to Vancouver Island during August with two stops, one at Crown Isle Resort in Comox on August 9th and 10th and the next at Highland Pacific Golf Club in Victoria on August 30th and 31st. 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 presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s premier and only national junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The organization hosts more than 50 events across Canada and also qualifies players for spots to international events in England, Australia, Thailand and many cities in the USA. The MJT offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include PGA tour player Chris Baryla, players on the Nationwide and Canadian Tours, several Canadian National Junior Champions and many Future Links and Provincial Junior Champions. 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