Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 29-30, 2011
Surrey, BC

Great Junior Girls Golf with 5-under-par Final Round Victory for Kapchinsky on MJT

For Immediate Release - Surrey, BC – (August 31, 2011) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) hosted their final multi-day tournament of the season at the well-conditioned Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club in Surrey, BC, on August 29th and 30th, where juniors were challenged by ironman-like pin locations on day one but still managed some impressive scoring that produced great champions in each division.

Exciting to see were the strong turnout and fine performances in the Girls Division, where Kelowna’s Madison Kapchinsky managed one of the best comebacks and lowest round by a girl nationwide on the MJT this season. The 17 year old managed a blistering five under par final round 67 to come from behind and win the Girls Division title by one (80+67=147), stating, “I really focused on the shots I had and putted very well – it feels great to come back and win.” Also firing a great round was runner-up Brooklyn Kraakman, 17, of Deroche, who tallied scores of 77+71=148. In third place was 14 year old Michelle Kim, of Surrey, who carded 76+79=155. There were several impressive comebacks in the sizeable Girl’s Division, including fourth place, Michaela Abey, 18, from Abbotsford, who shot a one under 71 to finish, but the Golf Town Comeback award went deservingly to Sarah Nishide, 17, from Qualicum Beach, for her 23 stroke recovery.

Only 12 years old, Jae Wook Lee, of Langley, scored an outstanding 72-73 (145) to edge Roy Kang, also 12, of North Vancouver, by a single shot to win the Boys 13 and Under Division title. Lee, who has been an impressive force on the MJT this season and a well-deserving champion, said afterwards, “I tried my best during the two days of the tournament and I think that my chipping and putting were brilliant. It was really hard to believe that I won. It was a great moment.” Third place prize was collected by Burnaby’s Edward Chen, 13, who shot 80+79=159.

The Boy’s 14-16 Division yielded another top champion in Oscar Baek (72+75=147). The 16 year old from Coquitlam has won two of three MJT events he played in this year and commented, “I feel like it is a good learning experience and I feel like there is still a lot to learn with my golf game. Key to my victory was putting and ball striking.” He added, “I choose to play MJT because it is a great organized tournament, and I like the pizza on the last round!” Runner-up and home course player, Edward Metcalfe, 15, of Surrey, was two strokes back with scores of 73+76=149. Rounding out the top three was Burnaby’s Lucas Gatto, 16, who shot back-to-back rounds of 75+75=150. Of note is the three-hole putt-off for the Boys 17-19 division’s Golf Town Comeback Award, after two players both improved their second day score by nine strokes, which was won by Tom Bang, 17, of Coquitlam, over Ryan Brown, 17, of Surrey.

A first time win is always an exciting feat and to have players develop over the years on the MJT is very rewarding. This was the story with Ryan Saran, 19, of Langley, who has competed in dozens of tournaments each season over the past three years on the program and won his first event at Hazelmere, the Boy’s 17-19 Division title, with solid scores of 75+74=149. Saran cited his four birdies on the last six holes as key to his win, “plus I finally turned my putting around on the back nine,” he added. “The course and conditions were mint – it’s my home course. It feels awesome, great, to finally have my first win.” It was also a Langley-sweep in the division as Callum Robinson, 17, won second place (78+73=151) and Dylan Reichelt, 18, took third in retrogression (76+77=153) over Coquitlam’s Myles DeBrincat (75+78=153).

In the Mr. Lube Long Drive contest, winners for each division were Jae Wook Lee, Alexander Kwok of Richmond, Joel Robertson of Coquitlam, and Annie Yang of Delta. The Sundog Eyewear Closest to the Pin division winners were Roy Kang, Jordan Emerman of Surrey, Tyler Roope of Langley, and Madison Kapchinsky. The other Golf Town Comeback Award division winners were Joel Shin of Port Coquitlam and Andrew Metcalf of Surrey.

With the multi-day schedule at an end, players are waiting for notice on qualification for the MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship presented by Callaway Golf at ChampionsGate Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, November 18-20. The Fall One-Day series now commences in BC with the first event on September 24th at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, and the entire season will wrap up on October 15th with the Fall One Day Series at University Golf Club in Vancouver. Registration is open and spots are limited; for full details 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 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