LOG IN
  User:   Pass:
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 19-20, 2004
Winnipeg, MB

For Immediate Release ? June 20, 2004

MANITOBA JUNIOR MAKES MAPLE LEAF TEAM FOR INTERNATIONAL MATCHES IN MEXICO

WINNIPEG, MB. - The Boston Pizza-sponsored Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour held the season-opener of its three-event Manitoba series this past weekend at the Tuxedo Golf Club in Winnipeg.

The highlight of the two day junior tournament, which featured players from all over the province as well as from Ontario and Alberta, was the qualifying of one player to join the Maple Leaf Team to the 3rd annual International Junior Golf Team Matches at Las Colinas Golf Club in Cuernavaca, Mexico, August 4-6, 2004.

This spot was won by 18-year-old Scott Loewen from Winnipeg, who shot back-to-back rounds of 71 for a total of 142, the low overall score for the full field at Tuxedo which also secured Loewen the Boys 17 and up division champion?s trophy.

Four strokes back of Loewen in second place was Terry Reilly from Winnipeg (74-72=146), followed by a tie for third place between Brendan Young (73-74=147) and Andrew Gaudry (72-75=147), both also from Winnipeg.

?I honestly have to say if I didn?t putt and chip as well as I did this weekend, winning probably wouldn?t have been an option,? reflected Loewen. ?Coming in on the 18th hole I was one under for the day and hadn?t heard any scores that were great so I figured I had it. It feels great to win and does a lot for my confidence.?

Loewen unfortunately has a conflict with the International Matches in Mexico as he is scheduled to compete in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Vancouver that same week, so his spot defaults to the player with the second lowest overall score in the field, 16-year-old Kenny Keeler.

Keeler, from Portage La Prairie, was thrilled to join the six other young golfers on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour who have already qualified for the Team at tournaments in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

In the Boys 14-16, Keeler shot an outstanding two-under-par 68 in his second round to tie for first place with Joey McInnes from Red Lake, Ontario. Keeler, who shot 75-68=143 to McInnes?s 73-70=143, won the division title on the first play-off hole with a birdie.

?I missed only five greens in the two days,? said Keeler. ?I?ve been working on my putting and made some clutch putts for par. My game came together. It feels good to win.?

Nathan Wazney from Dugald placed third behind Keeler and McInnes at just one stroke back with scores of 73-71=144, followed by Jesse Skelton from St. Francois-Xavier in fourth place with 74-74=148.

In the Boys 13 and under division, Austin Steinberger from East Selkirk outstripped the rest of the field with scores of 75-73=148.

?I would like to say the staff that put on the tournament and the people at Tuxedo did a great job getting the course ready,? complimented Steinberger. ?What helped me win were my short irons and my putting. My driver struggled at times.?

Second place in this division went to Michael Siwicki from Winnipeg (83-82=165), with Cody East, also from Winnipeg, in third place (83-84=167). Brock Helgeson from Balmerton, Ontario, placed fourth (87-81=168).

A fine final round of 73 won the Girls Division title for Maple Leaf Tour veteran Kaitlin Troop from Brandon. Troop scored 82-73 for a 155 total score.

?I tried to stay positive and not worry about anyone else?s game but my own,? said Troop. ?The course was in good condition and the greens were nice to putt on. I am happy with the way I came back in the last round.?

Fellow Brandon resident Brittany Piche placed second to Troop with scores of 86-82=168, and Erin Goldberg of Winnipeg placed third (99-97=196).

Division winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition during the tournament were Austin Steinberger, Paul Kawchuk (Winnipeg), Terry Reilly and Erin Goldberg.

The Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competition division winners were Brock Helgeson, Spencer Harris (Winnipeg), Scott Williams (Winnipeg) and Kaitlin Troop.

The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, formerly the Western Canada Junior Tour, hosts tournaments for boys and girls aged 10 to 23 in four age divisions across Canada and is endorsed by PGA Tour veterans Dave Barr and Ray Stewart. It is the only major junior tour in Canada run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The next local MJT event is the BIEBER SECURITIES JUNIOR at THE BRIDGES GOLF CLUB in Winnipeg, June 26-27.

For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF