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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

June 16-17, 2012
Lacombe, AB

Saunders and Creaser shortlisted for MJT Team Canada

Lacombe, AB – (June 18, 2012) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) Alberta Series held the two-day Brandt Levers Memorial tournament at Lacombe Golf Club in Lacombe over the Father’s Day weekend, which was a qualifier to shortlist players for MJT Team Canada in the SRIXON International Junior Classic in New South Wales, Australia, this October, as well as the inaugural MJT Alberta Interclub Match, which pits different golf clubs from across the province competing in a net team event, claimed by Montgomery Glen Golf and Country Club (Brett Hawken, Namir Moussa, and Alex Philipp). The weekend was highlighted by 12-year old Brayden Malley of Calgary making a hole-in-one on the third hole, while just the day before his father, John, made an ace back in Calgary.

Tyler Saunders, 16, of Sturgeon County, AB, fired a four-under-par closing round of 67 to win Low Overall Honours and his second MJT Boys 14-16 title this season to qualify for the shortlisted spot on MJT Team Canada. The final team selection is made end July after qualifiers across the country are completed. “I wasn’t thinking about much coming down the stretch,” stated Saunders (76-67). “I just tried to stay patient, play conservative and keep the big numbers off the card.” Runner-up in this division with two solid rounds of 76-72 was Jared Nicolls, 15, of Ponoka, AB, while MJT newcomer Matt McCount, 16, of Drayton Valley, AB, finished in third place and took home the bronze medal.

The Boys 17-19 Division gold medal went to Brett Hawken, 17, of Wetaskiwin, AB, who won his first MJT title with rounds of 73-72. “I was just trying to make some pars coming in. There are two very difficult three’s to finish coming in,” stated Hawken. Runner-up was John McKiernan, 18, of Calgary, who carded solid rounds of 78-72, while finishing in third place was Stony Plain’s Tom Fuhr, 18, who fired 77-78 on the difficult Lacombe Golf Course.

12-year-old Brendan Brown of Calgary once again took home the MJT Boys 13 & Under gold medal after firing two great rounds of 74-74. “It feels great to win again, and I am proud to win at Brandt Levers’ Memorial tournament,” said Brown of his victory. He added, “It is just an awesome feeling.” Runner-up was Fort McMurray’s Eric Chantler, 13, who scored 82-83, while third place went to Michael Valk, 13, of Medicine Hat, AB, who carded 83-84.

Emily Creaser, 15, of Edmonton, AB, had two solid rounds of 95-87 to win the Girls Division title over Rayna Oosterhuis, 16, also of Edmonton. “It feels great,” stated Creaser, who joins the shortlist to Australia for the girl’s spots on the team. “I just tried to get the ball on the green and get out of there.”

The Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition in each division was won by Michael Hoang of Calgary, Austin Biletsky of Strathmore, Alex Philipp of Wetaskiwin, and Rayna Oosterhuis, while the divisional Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competitions were won by Michael Valk, Matthew Jackson of Edmonton, John McKiernan and Emily Creaser. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Michael Hoang, Tyler Saunders, Brandon Shokoples and Emily Creaser.

Next up on the MJT Alberta schedule is a MJT Mini Tour event for players 7-12 years old at Evergreen Golf Centre in Lethbridge on June 23, followed by the MJT Prodigy Series at Carnmoney Golf Club in DeWinton on July 16-17, a qualifying event for the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour Championship (CAN-USA Team Matches) this December in Arizona. For more information 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 PGA of Canada 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 7–12 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.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Elaine Denton, MJT edenton@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF www.maplejt.com