Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 30-July 1, 2012
London, ON

Four MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Champions Crowned on Canada Day

London, Ontario – (July 2, 2012) – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) PGA of Ontario Junior Championship welcomed nearly 100 players to the Golf Canada-ranked (on CN Future Links National Order of Merit) tournament at Forest City National GC in London, ON, over the Canada Day weekend. Near perfect weather and scoring conditions were enjoyed by the field which saw four division champions crowned, two of whom receiving valuable AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) Performance Stars as well as exemptions into the prestigious Beth Daniel Junior Azalea event this August in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nicklaus Kennedy, 17, of London, ON, won the MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Boys 17-19 title and Low Overall Honours on the very difficult Forest City National golf course, receiving AJGA Performance Stars and one of the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea spots together with some funding provided by Travel Underwriters, MJT Official International Events Partner. “I stayed calm after a few bad holes,” he said. “I bounced back. It was the start I needed as I have a lot of important tournaments this month.” Runner-up in this division with two solid rounds of 76-77 was Nicholas Ross, 17, of Dundas, ON, followed by Rhys Davies, 17, of Waterloo, ON, who carded 76-79 to place third.

In a record field size for Girls, Madison Easterbrook, 16, of Burlington, ON, had two solid rounds of 71-78 to win the MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Girls Champion title by one shot in a very close race with Rachel Pollock, 17, of Guelph, ON, (78-72). “I am very thankful for my win today,” stated Easterbrook, who also receives AJGA Performance Stars and a Beth Daniel event exemption. “It was also a personal highlight for me as I shot my lowest round ever.” There was a three-way tie for third place in the Girls division at 154 total score between Corrine Grans-Wood, 17, of Barrie, ON (78-76), Yoorim Kang, 17, of Toronto, ON (76-78) and Meghan Bennett, 17, of Pickering, ON (74-80).

MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Boys 14-16 Champion was Keaton Jones, 16, of Kitchener, ON (78-78), who beat 14-year-old Thomas Code of Dorchester (80-76) on the first playoff hole after they tied in regulation with their 156 total score. Jones, who had made a clutch bogey after hitting it out of bounds on the last hole in regulation to remain tied, said, “It feels great to win going into the Ontario Amateur and Junior over the next few weeks.” Finishing in third place was first-round leader Alim Ladha, 16, of Oakville, ON, who shot 76-81.

13-year-old Tyler Nagano of Toronto, ON, was crowned MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Boys 13 and Under Champion after firing rounds of 75-72 to edge out first-round leader Anthony Occhiuto, 12, of Guelph, ON (74-75), by two strokes. “It feels good to win my division title because I had played really well this week,” said Nagano of his victory. He added, “My key was making a lot of par putts over the two days.” Third place in the division was claimed by Mackenzie Raines, 13, of Kitchener, who carded 83-85.

The Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition in each division was won by Mackenzie Raines, Ian Anderson-McKenzie of Waterloo, Michael Starr of Cambridge, ON, and Yoorim Kang of Toronto, while the divisional Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competitions were won by Tyler Nagano, James Quinn-Rabot of Churchill, ON, Patrick Bourne of Caledon, ON, and Julie Whalen of London. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Jarrett Fitzpatrick of Caledonia, ON, Mitchell Hardy of Kitchener, Andrew Ellis of Waterloo, and Tatiana Hulan of London.

The MJT Ontario schedule continues on the July 14 and 15 weekend at BraeBen Golf Club in Mississauga, a qualifying event for the prestigious Future Collegiate World Tour’s (FCWT) Notre Dame University Championship in South Bend, Indiana. 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