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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

May 30-31, 2009
Okotoks, AB

For Immediate Release


SCORCHING SCORES AT MJT’S AUSTRALIA QUALIFIER IN OKOTOKS

OKOTOKS, AB - (June 1, 2009) – Steven Scheidt was as hot as the weather this past weekend, firing scorching rounds of 68-69 to win the Boys 17-19 division and low overall in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Alberta Series at River's Edge Golf Club in Okotoks. Scheidt, 17, of Calgary, played “two solid rounds, back to back in the 60's” and putted beautifully. "Conditions were tough in the wind, I tried to play smart golf but putting was the key," he said. Finishing well back in this category and tying for second place were Connor O’Reilly, 17, of Edmonton, (75-73=148), and Matt Whittaker, 17, of Lethbridge (74-74=148).

Players were also vying for a spot on MJT Team Canada in the 2009 Jack Newton International Junior Classic in Australia, hosted by the Oaks Golf Club in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales during October 13th to 16th. This long-standing seven-day event is run by the Jack Newton Foundation, whose mandate since 1986 has been ‘to introduce more young people to the game and to nurture their skills and enjoyment of the sport.’ Although Scheidt was lowest overall, come October he will be over the age limit of 17 set for the event, leaving the spot open to the Boys 14-16 division winner, red-hot Riley Fleming, 15, of Airdrie, who claimed his second tournament victory in a row this weekend.

Fleming finished the River’s Edge tournament at one-under-par, carding 72-69 (141) on the challenging par 71 layout. “I hit a lot of greens in regulation. The course was great, and conditions were tough in the wind,” he said. “I knew that Jason (Fritz) and Hayden (Holick) were going to play well today so I just wanted to play well and make them come and beat me.” Fritz, 16, of Lethbridge, finished second in the division with back-to-back 75’s for a score of 150. Third place went to Derek Rucki, 15, of Chestermere, who shot 80-72 (152) over the two days.

In the Boys 13 and under division, Nolan Mastel, 12, of Medicine Hat, shot a career best 73 on the first day and followed it up with a solid 77 on day two. His 150 total was his “lowest score ever and my first career win.” Mastel never made more than bogey over his two rounds, and attributes this to his victory. Finishing second in the division was Lachlan Spriddle, 11, of Lethbridge, who carded fine rounds of 84-81 (165), while one shot back in third place was Derek Roach, 13, of Calgary, 84-82 (166).

In the Girls’ division, Kristen Jensen, 17, of Picture Butte, made an incredible comeback as she overcame a two shot deficit, firing three birdies on the front nine for a tournament best 76 to beat first round leader Becky Martin, 15, of Medicine Hat, by a single shot. Martin played solid golf all the way around and came in with 79 on the second day, but was bested by Jensen’s hot final round. Jensen noted “it’s a tough course, you have to hit it straight and not get into trouble” which she managed to do with confidence through 36 holes to win the division. Finishing in third was Candace Dechant, 16, of Edmonton, who played two consistent rounds of 86-86 (172) for the weekend.

The divisional winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Mastel, Mac Keats, 16, of Cochrane, Jensen, and Corbin Adams, 18, of Edmonton. The Sundog Skills competition divisional winners were Andrew Brown, 12, of Calgary, Bobby Simmons, 16, of Calgary, Jamieson Smeaton, 16, of Lethbridge, and Sean Sinclair, 20, of Cochrane.

The MJT continues its Alberta schedule in Medicine Hat on June 13th and 14th with the Srixon Series - a qualifier for the Texas Junior Masters at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas, USA. 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 presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s premier and only national junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals. The organization hosts more than 50 events across Canada and also qualifies players for spots to international events in China, Scotland, Australia and many cities in the USA. The MJT offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include several Canadian National Champions and many Future Links and Provincial Champions.

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