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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
May 6-7, 2006
Land-O-Lakes Golf Club • Coaldale, AB
Funk Qualifies for 54th International Junior Masters
COALDALE, AB – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) held a two-day tournament at Land-O-Lakes Golf Club in Coaldale this past weekend, where one player would qualify for an exemption into the 54th East Aurora International Junior Masters in East Aurora, New York, June 26th to 30th, 2006.
First played in 1953, the EAIJM is part of the Polo Junior All-American Points Series and past contestants and winners of the event include PGA Tour regulars Billy Mayfair, Billy Andrade, Dudley Hart, Jeff Sluman, Joey Sindelar and Rory Sabbatini.
The field of juniors in the MJT event, which was sponsored by 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union, faced unbearable winds that gusted to 80 km/h, causing balls to move on greens and balls to be blown off a tee box while a player was trying to hit it.
Andrew Funk of Edmonton and Nolan Hamilton of Calgary played great golf in light of the viciously blowing weather conditions, tying for low overall in the tournament with 160 total score and first place in the Boys 17 and up division. Funk, 17, a junior member at Edmonton Petroleum Golf Club, shot 84-76 for 36 holes, while Hamilton, 18, who plays out of Strathmore Golf Club, shot 76-84. Funk receives the international exemption, which is for boys aged 14-17 only. “It means a lot because this is the first tournament of the year for me and I was able to prevail and perform well enough to win this week,” said Funk. “I was able to make the putts down the stretch when the tournament was on the line.” Casey Hiebert, 18, of Coaldale, placed third in the division with scores of 82-81 (163).
In the Girls division, Breanne Neufeld, 16, of Coaldale, took advantage of her home course to fire rounds of 86-87 (173), beating Anisha Chong, 15, of Lethbridge, by two strokes. Neufeld claimed the division trophy, stating that her highlight was her closest-to-the-pin (KP) shot (she also won the Sundog KP competition in her division). “Playing on the MJT builds my confidence and gives me tournament experience,” she said. “My goals this season are to lower my scoring average – consistency!” Chong shot 91-84 to finish at 175, edging third place finisher Juanita Rico, 16, of Calgary, by one stroke.
Champion of the Boys 14-16 division was Kyle Wilson, 14, of Chestermere and Lakeside Golf Club, who shot 86-84, a 170 total score for 36 holes and a four stoke victory. “The highlight for me was hitting a 40 foot putt to save par on 18 on Sunday,” he said, adding with wry humour after a day when players were lucky to even finish, “I survived Land-O-Lakes!” Taylor Colberg, 16, of Drumheller, and Andrew Opinko, 16, of Coaldale, tied for second in the division after shooting 97-77 (174) and 83-91 (174) respectively.
In the Boys 13 and under division, Evan Cowan, 13, of Coaldale, took home his second win in as many starts on the MJT this season after posting scores of 87-83 on his home course for a 170 total. “Making an eagle on the fourth hole was the best point in the tournament for me,” he said. Cowan beat runner-up Ryan O’Donnell, 13, of Lethbridge, who shot 90-87, by seven strokes. Dillon Batsel, 13, of Medicine Hat, took third place with scores of 91-90.
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Tim McGowan, 13, of Calgary, Dillon Robinson, 16, of Calgary, Trent Colberg, 17, of Drumheller, and Juanita Rico . The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Dillon Batsel, Ryan Werre, 14, of Redcliff, Corey Kristianson, 17, of Brooks, and Breanne Neufeld .
The MJT continues its Alberta schedule on May 20th and 21st at Lacombe Golf Club in Lacombe – a qualifier for Maple Leaf Team Canada to Scotland this August. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT
As a not-for-profit association, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s only national junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The program helps develop Canada's junior golfers, offering clinics, tournaments, international competitions and more. From free introductory clinics sponsored by Ford to the major CPGA Zone-sponsored junior championships, the MJT offers a quality experience for players. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com