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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
Niagara Falls, ON
RIZZETTO ARIZONA-BOUND AFTER MJT’S GRAND NIAGARA STOP
First time winners dominate event
NIAGARA FALLS, ON – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s only national junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals, held a three-day tournament at Grand Niagara Resort in Port Robinson, Ontario, on August 13th through 15th, which was also a qualifier for the CAN-USA Team Matches at ASU Karsten Golf Club in Tempe, Arizona, this December.
Both Mike Rizzetto in the Boys 14-16 division and Ryan Borg in Boys 13 and under shot the low overall score of 227 for 54 holes, but from different tees, winning their first MJT division titles. “I think my key to victory is that I had three solid rounds of ball striking, which helped out my first two rounds of poor putting,” stated Rizetto, 16, of Brantford and Paris Grand Golf Club, who shot 79-75-73 to win his division title in the MJT Ontario Tour Championship at Grand Niagara and a spot on MJT Team Canada to Arizona. “I thought that my time to win might happen with a birdie late in the back nine, but I really just wanted to play 18 holes of decent golf and improve my course management out there.” Both Glendale Golf Club’s Jacob Ohanian, 15, of Winona, ON (81-78-74), and Westmount Golf Club’s David Mathers, 16, of Kitchener, ON (75-78-80), were runners-up in Boys 14-16 at 233 total score.
Borg, 12, of Mississauga, ON, fired 78-77-72 to claim the Boys 13 and under title over runner-up Truman Tai, 13, of Markham, ON, and Deer Creek Golf Club, who finished just two strokes back (77-78-74=229). Borg believed the main reasons for his win were not giving up and staying patient, and making clutch putts when he needed them. “With four holes left to play Truman and I were tied. He made a birdie on the short par 5 (15) and I had to get up and down from the bunker to do the same, “ said Borg. “I sank a 20 foot putt to stay tied with three to play. That gave me confidence and I went on to birdie 16 and 18. I didn't try to force anything, I just tried to stick to my game plan.” Christian Jeffery, 13, of Burlington Golf Club in Burlington, ON, placed third in the division with scores of 85-78-77 (240).
Another first time win on the MJT was in Boys 17 and up, where Chris Hall, 17, of Lionhead Golf Club and Mississauga, fired 77-77-79 (233) to beat runner-up Ben Deignan, 18, of Cambridge, ON, by five strokes. Deignan, a Galt Country Club junior, shot 80-81-77. Quebec’s Jean Francois Godbout, 17, of St-Nicephore and Heriot Golf Club, carded rounds of 80-82-80 (242) to finish third in the division.
Kathryn Corbiere, 18, of Brookwood Brae Golf Club and Manitoulin Island, ON, shot 91-90-86 (267) to win the Girls division title over Meghan MacPherson, 15, of Guelph Lakes Golf Club and Fergus, ON, who shot 90-101-96 (287). Kaitlin Marrin, 16, of Rattlesnake Golf Club and Oakville, ON, carded 110-105-104 to take third spot.
The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Nav Bains of Surrey, BC, and Jkn. Golf Club in India, Mike Rizetto, Chris Hall and Kaitlin Marrin. The Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competition divisional winners were Christian Jeffery, Ian Fowler of Cambridge and Galt County Club, Saber Kanwar of Hornby, ON, and Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, and Kaitlin Marrin.
The MJT’s regular season comes to an end with the invitation-only MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North Golf Club in Whistler, BC, August 28th and 29th. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT
Boston Pizza is the Presenting Sponsor of the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada's premier and only national junior golf tour run exclusively by Golf Professionals. The MJT is proud to play a role in developing young players, including several Canadian National Champions and many Future Links and Provincial Champions. The MJT also provides opportunities for young Canadians to learn how to golf and introduces players as young as four years old to the game via free instructional clinics. In addition, the MJT encourages young players to further their education with scholarship awards. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF. MJT - developing champions, in golf, in life.
Contact:
Elaine Denton,
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 604-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com