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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 13-15, 2007
Lethbridge, AB
WERRE AND CHONG TIE FOR LOW OVERALL AT MJT-AB PGA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Werre qualifies for China Junior Open; Shenstone scores $1,000 Hole-in-One
LETHBRIDGE, AB – A major event on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), endorsed by the Alberta Professional Golfers’ Association, played out Monday through Wednesday, August 13th to 15th, on Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge, AB. The 54-hole MJT-Alberta PGA Junior Championship was presented by 1st Choice Savings, and is part of a series of national events pioneered by the MJT in conjunction with the provincial CPGA zones. Up for grabs for the junior golfers was an exemption into the 2008 China Junior Open.
A great final round of 69 boosted Ryan Werre, 15, of Redcliff, to tie for low overall score for the tournament with Lewis Chong, 18, of Lethbridge, each taking the MJT-Alberta PGA Junior Boys 14-16 and 17 and up Champion’s trophies respectively. Werre, a Redcliff Riverview Golf Club junior, said that making a deuce on hole number 12 was the turning point for him. “Coming down the stretch I just thought to play it safe to the middle of the green and protect my lead,” he said, after shooting 72-75-69 (216) and claiming the spot to China as the age limit for players is 17 and Chong is already 18.
Lethbridge Country Club’s Chong believed that staying focused and hitting the shots under pressure when he had to helped secure him the Boys 17 and up title. “I had a birdie on 13 today – the momentum went my way, “ he said, after carding 70-73-73. “My thoughts were to focus on one shot, stay focused, and try not to think about winning.” Tied for second place in the division behind Chong at 220 total score were Blaine Kruger of Lac La Biche Golf Club in Lac La Biche (76-73-71), and Travis Kemp of Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge (71-75-74).
Runner-up to Werre in Boys 14-16 was Eric Allard, 16, of Calgary and Earl Grey Golf Club, who shot 75-70-76 (221). Chris Cooke, 16, of Canmore Golf Club in Canmore, scored the low round of the tournament together with Werre, and this 69 secured him third place spot just one stroke back of Allard at 222 total score (76-77-69).
A three stroke victory gave the MJT-Alberta PGA Junior Boys 13 and under crown to Brett Walsh, 13, of Calgary and Canyon Meadows Golf Club, who shot 80-79-78 (237). “Knowing I could recover after a bad shot was key to my win,” he said, citing the tournament highlight when Derek Rucki made a birdie after hitting the flag on the fly! Rucki, 13, of Chestermere and Lakeside Golf Club, ended up in fourth place (84-78-81=243) as Mack Penner, 13, and Ian Mmbando, 12, both of Lethbridge, tied for second in the division at 240 total score. Penner, a Lethbridge Country Club junior, carded 82-79-79 and Mmbando, of Henderson Lake Golf Club, 75-85-80.
Another tournament highlight was the hole-in-one shot by Will Shenstone, 15, of Calgary, who aced the second hole during the second round and receives a $1,000 R.E.S.P. courtesy of MJT sponsor, GPS Industries and Fire at the Flag.
In the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition, the divisional winners were Mack Penner, Chris Cooke and Blaine Kruger. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Jason Allard of Earl Grey Golf Club and Calgary, Jordan Gibson of Picture Butte Golf Club in Picture Butte, and Sean Crapo of Priddis Greens Golf Club in Calgary.
The MJT’s regular season comes to an end this August 28th and 29th with the invitation-only MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, BC. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT
As a not-for-profit association, the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s only major 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 aims to develop champions, in golf and in life. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com