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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

August 6-7, 2011
Caledon, ON

For Immediate Release

French Fends off Field in Difficult Test at MJT’s Caledon Stop

Caledon, ON – (August 8, 2011) –
Warm muggy weather and a difficult test of golf greeted juniors from across Ontario as they teed it up over the weekend in Caledon. The MJT Ontario Series at Caledon Country Club was the latest stop on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s “Road to College Golf” and featured three boys divisions and one girl’s division in 36 holes of competition over two days. The players were competing for prizes in the top three for each division as well as an overall low gross exemption to attend the Florida Winter Golf School next February.

Camlachie’s David French, 16, was the low overall champion, winning not only his division, the Boy’s 14-16, but also grabbing the international qualifier to attend the MJT Winter Golf School at Old Corkscrew in Fort Myers, Florida. Battling on a difficult course with elevation changes that tested the field all weekend, French was the first round tournament leader and never looked back (73+80=153). “Keeping my ball in play during day one set me up for the entire tournament. My tournament highlight had to be my sand save on hole eight in round one. I play MJT because the tournaments are well run with great competitors” said French after his win. In second place, only four strokes behind, was 16 year old Michael Richards of Cobourg, ON (75+82=157). Third place was captured in an impressive comeback; worthy of the Golf Town Comeback Award, Daniel Knapp, 15, of Burlington, ON would also collect the Mr. Lube Long Drive in his final round recovery (85+81=166).

In the older Boy’s division, the 17-19 year olds, Colin Abbot, of Port Stanley was the winner, finishing only one stroke out of low overall gross (77+77=154). The 17-year old also attributed his win to managing the difficult golf course, “keeping it in play off the tee and consistent putting were my keys to victory.” Abbot continued, “The MJT has good competition, good prizes and good pizza.” Giving us a highlight for the weekend, Abbot notes “birding the 15th hole today after my bogey on 14.” The runner-up for the Boy’s 17-19 Division was Ryan Tsang. Tsang, 18, of Thornhill, ON was the leader after round one but would finish two strokes back to collect second place (74+82=156). Rounding out the top three and only one additional shot behind was Michael Starr, 17, of Cambridge, ON (76+81=157).

A player who has become familiar with top three in MJT events, Madison Easterbrook, finally broke through this season for her first win. With a definitive twelve stroke victory in the Girl’s Division, the 15 year old from Burlington, ON displayed the experience she gained throughout the season on the MJT. “I really trusted my yardages out there” and it paid off by “making three straight birdies to start the tournament” commented Easterbrook. On playing in the event she summarized, nice course, great prizes, nice people and good competition.” Included in those great prizes for Easterbrook was also a pair of Sundog Eyewear shades for winning the Closest to the Pin competition. In second place was Maddy Piccininni, 17, of Toronto, ON (85+88=173) and in third was Lorelle Weavers, 17 of Burlington, ON (88+89=177) who also won the Mr. Lube Long Drive.

It was a tight race in the MJT’s youngest division, the Boy’s 13 and Under, where a playoff was needed to break the tie at the top. It took two extra holes, but 12 year old Tyler Nagano of Toronto would win his first MJT and claim the title for his division (89+84=173). “I play the MJT because of how much fun I have in these events” said Nagano, who had plenty of it as he birdied the last hole of regulation to get into the playoff. The tournament highlight however would be saved for “winning the playoff on the second hole for my first win” said Nagano. Just coming up short in the playoff and settling for second was 13 year old Nick Hofland of Ancaster, ON (86+87=173). Hofland however did pick up an extra prize by winning the Mr. Lube Long Drive. Only three shots out of the playoff, but taking third place, was Nicholas Russell, 13, of Mississauga, ON (81+95=176).

Various skill competition winners for the weekend included: Colin McCoy (Highland G&CC) and Lorelle Weavers (Glendale G&CC) for the Mr. Lube Long Drive; Nathan Douglas (Thornhill GC), Kyle Waters (Trafalger G&CC) and Jordan Gregoris (Station Creek GC) for the Sundog Skills Competition; as well as Braeden Heffernan (Caledon GC), Lucas Nonni (St. Andrews Valley GC) and Kimberly Risulmi (IMG Academies G&CC) for the Golf Town Comeback Award.

The Boston Pizza presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour continues its Ontario schedule in Cambridge, August 13-14 with the MJT Ontario Series at Whistle Bear GC. This 36 hole event is another opportunity to qualify for the Florida Winter Golf School. Registration is still open and spots are limited. For full details and online registration, interested juniors can 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 and the ‘Road to College Golf’ for aspiring young players. The organization hosts more than 60 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-13 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players which also qualify juniors for international competitions. The MJT offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include many Professional Tour players and Canadian PGA Professionals, as well as Canadian Amateur, National and Provincial Junior Champions. The MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life, promoting the game from grassroots through to provincial, national, university and professional level. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: MJT - Elaine Denton - edenton@maplejt.com - 1-877-859-GOLF