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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
July 14-16, 2008
Vernon, BC
BRADY LEE WINS 2008 OKANAGAN JUNIOR CHAMPION TITLE
Brad Wahler sinks hole-in-one at world-class championship resort
VERNON, B.C. – Junior golfers and many spectators from across British Columbia and Alberta enjoyed pristine golf and weather throughout the 54 hole MJT Sun Mountain Okanagan Junior Championship at Predator Ridge Golf Resort in Vernon, BC, that was held earlier this week on July 14, 15 and 16, 2008.
The competition became a showdown of provincial pride with players facing challenging conditions worthy of the PGA champions who graced the course in June at the 2008 TELUS World Skins Games. Juniors experienced all 3 nines at the championship resort, playing the first 18 holes on Osprey/Redtail, then Peregrine/Osprey on Day 2 and Redtail/Peregrine for the final round. The tournament also offered MJT Team Canada spots to the Texas Junior Masters in San Antonio, Texas, and the Canada International Friendship Cup in Surrey, BC.
Albertan Brady Lee, 16, of Bearspaw GC and Calgary, claimed the 2008 Okanagan Junior Champion title with the low overall total score of 217 (72-74-71). The Boys 14-16 division winner maintained the lead on all three days and qualified for an invitation to the Texas Junior Masters this August for his fine performance. Darren Whitehouse, 16, of Langley, BC, and Redwoods GC, carded 226 (78-77-71) for second place, three strokes ahead of Mike Belle, 16, of Burnaby, BC, and Vancouver GC, who finished third with consistent scores of 76-77-76 (229).
Other notable highlights in the Boys 14-16 division was a hole-in-one shot by 16 year old Brad Wahler of Abbotsford, BC, and Ledgeview GC. Much to the delight of the gallery, this career first was captured on the 4th hole of the RedTail course during the final round. The Mr. Lube Long Drive was won by Kelowna GC member Justin Fram, 16, while the Sundog Eyewear Skills Competition went to Colin Hargrove, 15, of Morgan Creek GC and Surrey, BC.
2006 MJT National Champion and Team Canada player Andrew Funk, 19, of Edmonton, AB, returned to play the Tour while on a break from University in the USA and cruised to victory in the Boys 17 & up division with a total score of 220. Finding himself one stroke off the lead with 76 after the first round, Funk fired a 3-under-par round of 68 on the second day to take a commanding lead then closed with another 76 to win by three strokes over Jeff Wright, 20, Mission,BC, and Mission GC, who scored 76-75-72 (151). Tied in third place at 227 were Brendan Melanson, 19, of Granite Point GC and Nelson, BC, (80-72-75) and Morgan Decksheimer, 19 of Westbank, BC, and Two Eagles GC (77-74-76). Justin Jackie, 17, of Pitt Meadows GC and Coquitlam, BC, and local Predator Ridge member Sam Millette, 17, won the Mr. Lube Long Drive and Sundog Eyewear Skills competitions respectively.
Vernon junior golfer Danny Todosychuk,13, repeated a triumphant performance as the Boys 13 & Under Okanagan Junior Champion, which he also won in 2007. Todosychuk, who plays out of Vernon G&CC, carded an even par final round to finish at 232 (77-83-72) ahead of Lucas Gatto, 13, from Burnaby, BC, and Vancouver GC, (78-84-81=162). Edward B.X. Li, 13, of University GC and Vancouver, BC, finished two strokes behind Gatto for third place (88-76-81=164) and also collected the Mr. Lube Long Drive prize. Patrick Lee, 13, of Bearspaw GC and Calgary, AB, won the division's Sundog Eyewear Skills competition.
In the Girls division, Jamie Oleksiew, 13, of Langley, BC, and Hazelmere GC, surpassed first-round leader Goeun Lee, 17, of Richmond, BC, and Richmond CC, to win her inaugural division title with a three day total score of 239 (79-80-80). Lee finished just one stroke behind with scores of 77-83-80 for second place. New MJT player Haley Cameron, 17, of Kelowna, BC and Kelowna G&CC, finished 6 strokes off the lead for third (82-79-84=245). 11-year-old and two year Tour veteran Keanna Mason, of Maple Ridge, BC, and Swan-e-Set Bay Resort, won both the Mr. Lube Long Drive and Sundog Eyewear Skills competitions.
Oleksiew and Mason will join Todosychuk and Gatto in representing Canada at the International Friendship Cup in Surrey, BC, on August 20-22, after qualifying for invitations based on their scores and age division criteria.
The next stop in B.C. will be held July 29, 30 & 31 at Northview G&CC in Surrey. The MJT-PGA of BC Junior Championship presented by Odlum Brown Limited has been designated by the BCGA as only the second junior event to receive points on the RCGA National Order of Merit for junior golfers plus the tournament is an international qualifier for the 2009 China Junior Open.
A final stop at Ledgeview G&CC in Abbotsford on August 7-8 will round out the regular mulit-day tournament season in the province prior to the MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Nicklaus North GC in Whistler, BC, where 72 top-ranked MJT Cleveland Golf Order of Merit players will compete for national titles.
In addition, five more MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics are scheduled in B.C. to introduce players to the game with free instruction by PGA Professionals along with a series of one-day tournaments this fall at McCleery GC, Fraserview GC and Langara GC in Vancouver. Registration for all events is on-going - for more information please visit www.maplejt.com or call 604-943-1645 or 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