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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
July 29-31, 2008
Cloverdale, BC
14-UNDER PAR VICTORY FOR MJT-BC PGA JUNIOR CHAMPION
Kwon qualifies for China Junior Open
CLOVERDALE, BC – A major event on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), endorsed by the Professional Golfers’ Association of British Columbia (PGA of BC) and British Columbia Golf Association (BCGA), played out Tuesday through Thursday, July 29th to July 31st, on Northview Golf Course in Cloverdale, BC. The 54-hole tournament, the MJT-PGA of BC Junior Championship, was presented by Odlum Brown Limited, and is part of a series of national events pioneered by the MJT in conjunction with the provincial CPGA zones. A full field of 97 junior golfers teed off on the superbly conditioned Canal Course, with a cut after 36 holes to the top 60 players on the Ridge Course.
Two-time defending champion, Dong Su, 18, of Richmond, BC, and Point Grey Golf Club, once again repeated as both Boys 17 and up and overall MJT-PGA of BC Junior Champion in outstanding fashion after a wire-to-wire victory with rounds of 69-65-68 (202) - a brilliant 14-under-par total score. “I told myself that I have to win this event and I did it,” he said. “Also this is my last junior event - thank you, MJT, because you guys (have been) watching me become a good player, good luck in the future, MJT!” Seven strokes back in this division was Ted Cho, 19, of Langley, BC, and Redwoods Golf Club, who shot 70-69-70. Third place went to Kelowna’s Brett Devries, 17, of Gallagher’s Canyon, who followed up his opening round of 69 with 74-70 to finish at 213.
A fine final round of 69 on the challenging Ridge course ensured victory for 13-year-old Kevin Kwon of Coquitlam, BC, and Swan-e-set Bay Resort, who ran away with the MJT-PGA of BC Boys 13 and under Champion’s trophy with his scores of 70-70-69 (209). “Going into the final round I had a six stroke lead and I was pretty relaxed,” he said. “Still I knew Sergio (Garcia) blew a six shot lead so I still had to play like the first two days.” Kwon has three wins and a second place finish so far during his third season on the MJT and now receives an exemption into the 2009 China Junior Open as the eligible qualifier.
Runner-up to Kwon was Sunny Lee, 13, of Surrey, BC, and Morgan Creek Golf Club, who shot 71-75-73 (219) while third place was a tie at 227 total score between Meadow Gardens junior Gunntas Sidhu, 13, of Port Coquitlam, BC, (75-78-74) and Vancouver Golf Club’s Lucas Gatto, 13, of Burnaby, BC (76-73-78).
The MJT-PGA of BC Junior Boys 14-16 Champion was once again Capilano Golf Club’s Matthew Hamilton, 16, of West Vancouver, BC, who closed with an excellent round of 70 to edge Pureum Lee by one stroke. “I knew I had won only when I putted in my last putt on 18 for birdie,” said Hamilton. Lee, 16, of North Vancouver and Seymour Golf Club, lead the first two days with scores of 70-72 before finishing with a 74 for a 216 total. There was a tie for third place in the division at 218 between Andy Yang, 15, of Coquitlam (71-76-71) and Jay Kim, 15, of Surrey and Morgan Creek Golf Club (74-71-73).
A playoff was needed in the Girls division to decide the MJT-PGA of BC Junior Girls Champion after Jamie Oleksiew, 13, of Langley and Hazelmere Golf Club, tied at 229 with Helen (Qian Hui) Qin, 18, of China. Oleksiew, who had recorded rounds of 73-77-79 in the competition, defeated Qin on the first playoff hole to claim the title. Porsche Campbell, 15, of Vancouver and Marine Drive Golf Club, tied for third spot with Taylor Kim, 13, of Surrey and Surrey Golf Club. Campbell shot 78-77-78 and Kim 77-76-80.
Tournament sponsor Odlum Brown Limited’s Vice President, Doris Gnandt, was on hand to present awards to the top finishers as well as to the skills competition winners. The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Edward Li, 13, of Vancouver, Chase Garisto, 15, of Langley, Dong Su and Porsche Campbell. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Logan Hallwas, 13, of South Surrey, Matt Matheson, 14, of West Vancouver, Jacob Davidson, 17, of Roberts Creek, BC, and Alice Nakamura, 15, of Maple Ridge.
Next stop in BC is the MJT Lindsay Kenney Classic at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, August 7th and 8th – a qualifier for the CAN-USA Team Matches in Tempe, AZ, this December. 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 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.
About Odlum Brown Limited
Odlum Brown Limited is an independent, BC based, full-service investment firm focused on providing professional investment advice, objective research and personalized client service. The firm offers equities, fixed income, mutual funds and GICs, as well as financial, retirement and estate planning, and a Young Investors Club for children. For more information visit - www.OdlumBrown.com
Media Contact:
Elaine Denton
Marketing & PR, MJT
T: 1-877-943-1645
Email: edenton@maplejt.com