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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
June 12-13, 2004
Picture Butte, AB
PICTURE BUTTE, AB ? Thunderstorms with heavy rain on the first day and 110 kph winds on the second could not deter Medicine Hat?s Dale Vallely from posting two outstanding rounds on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in the 1st Choice Savings Series at Picture Butte Golf Club in Picture Butte this past weekend.
Vallely, fresh off a second place finish in the Future Links Prairie Championship in Manitoba, was undeterred by the difficult weather conditions and shot 69-72 to claim the Boys 17 and up division trophy in the third event of the MJT?s 1st Choice Savings Series.
?It was unbelievable to get those scores,? said Dean Spriddle, Maple Leaf Tour Director and past Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year, ?This tournament on Picture Butte Golf Club was a spring preview for the Provincial Championships which are coming here this summer, and Dale won by six strokes against a top class field in bad weather.?
?I?m hitting the ball so good right now I knew I was going to play well,? said Vallely.
Tied for second were Trevor Edwards and Michael Knight, both of Calgary, who shot rounds of 72-75=147. Fourth place went to Ryan Haskins of Edmonton, who shot back-to-back rounds of 76 for a total score of 152.
In the Boys 14-16 division, Mitchell Fox of Okotoks (76-73) and Judd Blackwater of Lethbridge (74-75) tied for first place with total scores of 149, with the champion?s trophy awarded to Fox based on his best second day score.
?I always play well in poor conditions,? said Fox, who recently secured an exemption through the Maple Leaf Junior Tour into the Future Collegians World Tour?s National Championship at PGA West Golf Club in La Quinta, CA, where he placed tie-8th out of 185 competitors.
Brandon Markiw of Sherwood Park placed third behind Fox and Blackwater with scores of 76-76=152, with a fourth place tie between Connor Elekes of Calgary (78-75=153) and Jesse Galvon of Dewinton (74-79=153).
In the Girls division, Kari Broshko of Calgary edged Breanne Neufeld of Coaldale by one stroke to win the title with scores of 82-85=167. Broshko, who is currently attending college, was pleased to be allowed to play as an intermediate age player on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour.
Neufeld shot back-to-back rounds of 84 for a 168 total and second spot. In third place was Mackenzie Renner of Coaldale with scores of 83-86=169, and fourth spot went to Bari-Lynn Erais of Lethbridge (87-83=170).
The Boys 13 and under division witnessed a battle between first round leader Nicholas Morelli of Red Deer and Neil Pulongbarit of Edmonton, with Pulongbarit clinching the victory by one stroke after 36 holes.
?It was so close between Nick and I it?s a shame one had to lose? said Pulongbarit, who shot rounds of 84-80 for a 164 total score. Morelli shot 77-88 for a 165 total score.
Scott Lowe of Calgary (85-83=168) and Carson Kallis of Red Deer (80-88=168) tied for third place.
Division winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive competition were Brock Robillard (Calgary), Brandon Markiw, Bari-Lynn Erais and Chris MacDonald (Calgary).
Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competition division winners were Mike Crisanti (Calgary), Rhys Royer (Calgary), Neil Pulongbarit and Nicole Zhang (Calgary).
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, formerly the Western Canada Junior Tour, is presented by Boston Pizza and hosts tournaments for boys and girls aged 10 to 23 in four age divisions. It is endorsed by PGA Tour veterans Dave Barr and Ray Stewart and is the only major junior tour in Canada run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals.
The next local Maple Leaf Tour event is on July 6-7 at the qualifying site for the Alberta Junior Provincials - Riverview Golf Club in Medicine Hat. For more information or to register please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF.