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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

July 15-16, 2008
Picture Butte, AB

For Immediate Release — July 17, 2008

COOKE CAPTURES LOW OVERALL AT PICTURE BUTTE GC
Four more players qualify for international events


PICTURE BUTTE, AB – Junior golfers from across the province were once again faced with challenging weather conditions as the MJT 1st Choice Savings Series stopped at Picture Butte GC on July 15th and 16th in Picture Butte. Players narrowly missed a hail storm that closed the course just after they completed the first round, then faced howling winds on the second day with only one player, Craig Klassen, 18, of Calgary, carding an even par round of 72.

Despite the unpredictable conditions, Chris Cooke, 17, of Canmore G&CC, managed to post back-to-back scores of 74 to take low overall honours and one of two exemptions to the Texas Junior Masters that will be held August 13-15 in San Antonio. The Boys 17 & Up division champion finished 3 strokes ahead of Edmonton's Corbin Adams, 17, of Jagore Ridge GC, who made a birdie on the final hole for second place with scores of 76-75 (151) over Travis Kemp, 18, of Lethbridge CC, (77-75=152).

Three year MJT veteran competitor Jordan Gibson, 16, blitzed his home course with a three-under-par round of 69 on the first day then managed to drop a birdie on the 18th hole to win his first division title in the Boys 14-16 division by a single shot ahead of Taylor Drolet, 16, of Calgary and Valley Ridge G&CC who scored 71-79 (150). Gibson, who carded 80 on the second round and receives the final MJT Team Canada spot to Texas, said the key to his victory was "being resilient and not giving up". Drolet's scores also earned him third lowest overall for an invitation to the Canada International Friendship Cup in Surrey, BC. Will Wood, 16, from Medicine Hat, finished in third place with 153 (77-76).

Ian Mmbando, 13, of Lethbridge and Henderson Lake GC, kept a commanding lead in the Boys 13 & under division throughout the competition, finishing with a final score of 149 (74-75) from the white tees. Mmbando, who was happy to capture his first divisional title and an invitation to the Canada International Friendship Cup for his fine performance, said "hitting a lot of greens in regulation" helped him win over fellow 13 year olds Nick Scrymgeour, of Glencoe G&CC in Calgary (86-86=172) and Brett Sheridan, of Lethbridge and Magrath GC (82-91=173).

In the Girls division, Rosie Jeon, 13, of Calgary, shaved 5 strokes off her first round score of 83 to close with a 78 and 161 total for her first win on the Tour, over first round leader and Picture Butte GC member Kristen Jensen, 16, who finished with 164 (80-84). Jeon – a Hampton CC member - was proud to break 80 for the first time and said she kept "remembering that consistency was the key" as she headed down the final stretch. Laura Jensen, 19, also of Picture Butte GC, finished in third place with 167 (86-81).

The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition included Brett Sheridan, Matthew Whittaker, 16 of Lethbridge and Henderson Lake GC, Corbin Adams and Laura Jensen. Whittaker and Jensen also won the Sundog Skills competition in their respective divisions along with Nick Scrymgeour and Kevin Kang, 17, of Calgary and Earl Grey CC.

The MJT 1st Choice Savings Series continues with a FCWT National Championship qualifier on July 28th and 29th at Land-O-Lakes GC in Coaldale. Additional events on the Alberta schedule include an August 5th and 6th stop at McKenzie Meadows in Calgary and the MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Championship presented by Macleod Savings & Credit Union at Nanton GC in Nanton on August 5th and 6th. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

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