Press Release - MJT Ontario Series at Osprey Valley GC - June 14-15, 2008

June 14-15, 2008
Alton, ON

For Immediate Release — June 16, 2008

HALL REPEATS AS MJT CHAMPION WITH SPOT TO TEXAS JUNIOR MASTERS

ALTON, ON: The Scottish style links course of Osprey Valley in Alton proved to be as challenging as ever this Father’s Day weekend for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) players on June 14th and 15th. Mild weather with very little wind factor was at least on their side as the field battled pot bunkers and fescue rough not to mention each other to secure spots to the Texas Junior Masters in San Antonio, TX, and the CKG Tour World Championships in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Chris Hall, 18, of Mississauga, ON, repeated as champion of the Boys 17 and up division with his second win on the MJT, also claiming low overall and an exemption into the Texas Junior Masters this August with his total score of 145. He started out strong finishing day one with a score of 71; day two proved to be slightly more challenging finishing with a 74, but it was still enough to hold on to the top spot. “It was a battle on the back nine. Coming down the stretch I was trying to stay focused,” he said. “Making birdie on the last hole was key. It feels great to win because I have worked hard to get here.”

Two strokes back, finishing second in the Boys 17 and up category, was Josh Bamberger, 18, of Waterloo, ON, who shot 74-73 (147). Third place went to Brendan Leonard, 17, of Cambridge, ON, who posted scores of 74-81 for a two-day total of 155, and also laid claim to his division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition. Mike Rizzetto, 17, of Brantford, ON, won the Boys 17 and up Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin (KP) Competition.

Qualifying for the CKG Tour World Championships was Boys 14-16 division winner Shyamal Nagindas, 14, of Aurora, ON. Nagindas, who qualified for MJT Team Canada to Scotland on the MJT in May, showed focus and determination with two days scores of 72-74 (146) to claim his second MJT division title. “My approach shots were key to my victory and my driving was great,” he said. “It feels good to win considering I was one shot back starting the round.” Brian Jurkiewicz, 15, of Hamburg, NY, finished second in the division with scores of 78-74 (152), one stroke ahead of third place finisher Chris Hemmerich, 15, of Kitchener, ON (71-82=153). Javier Diaz, 15, of Woodbridge, ON, won the division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive and Matt O’Reilly, 14 of Waterloo, won the Sundog KP competition.

The Boys 13 and under category showed some promising golf scores with Nicholas Crozier, 13, winning his first MJT event with scores of 82-80 (162). Ahead of the field by seven strokes, Crozier played steady and consistent golf, showing patience and tenacity to maintain his day one lead. “I made some key putts,” he said, “it feels good to win.” Second place came in the form of a tie at 169 total score between Matt LeMay, 12, of Waterloo (92-77) and Paulino Fernando, 12, of Mississauga (91-78). Fernando also won the Sundog KP competition for this division, while the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition was won by Matthew Scobie, 13, of Ajax, ON.

Meg Pototschnik , 17, of Stratford, ON, beat Candice Swartz, 16, of Georgetown, ON, to win the Girls first place trophy with scores of 81-89 (170). Pototschnik took the Long Drive prize while Swartz, who played consistently with scores of 92-92 (184), won the Sundog KP.

Next stop in the MJT Ontario Series is the MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Championship at Forest City National Golf Club in London on June 28th and 29th - a qualifier for the 2009 China Junior Open. For more information or to register, visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF.

About the MJT
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) is presented nationally by Boston Pizza and is Canada's premier and only 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.

Media Contact:
Elaine Denton
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 1-877-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com