Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

April 2-3, 2011
South Surrey, BC

For Immediate Release

PRODIGIOUS 6-UNDER WINS MJT PRODIGY SERIES AT MORGAN CREEK

Surrey, BC – (April 4, 2011) – A full field of 78 young golfers, some from as far afield as Alberta, turned out to compete in four divisions at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) Prodigy Series at Morgan Creek Golf Club in South Surrey, BC, on April 2-3, where some outstanding scores were recorded including a six-under-par total from Vancouver Golf Club’s Kevin Vigna, 15, who claimed low overall score (138).

Three international exemptions were available for eligible finishers, into the Future Collegiate World Tour (FCWT) National Championship in Florida, USA, a US Junior Sectional Qualifier, and the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, CA, subject to the other qualifiers on the MJT.

Vigna, of Coquitlam, BC, shot 68-70 to edge last year’s champion, Kevin Kwon, 15, of Pitt Meadows, BC (68-71). “This win feels great, Kevin Kwon is an outstanding player and it could have gone either way. We had a battle,” said Vigna, who added, “Chipping in on 18 to win was probably the highlight.” He earns the Boys 14-16 gold medal and his choice of either the FCWT or US Junior sectional qualifying spot, together with the chance to attend the Junior Worlds once the other qualifiers across the country are completed. Donald Qui, 14, of Surrey, BC, fired stellar rounds of 71-70 to take the bronze medal with his three-under-par total (141).

An excellent closing round of a four-under-par 69 from 11-year-old Lily He, of Pitt Meadows, vaulted her into a tie with Ally Shin, 14, of Coquitlam(74-71), for first place in the Girls division. Lily He claimed the gold medal based on retrogression (76-69), and added to her haul the Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competition and Golf Town Comeback Award, saying, “I chose to play because I knew that MJT is a fun golf event that will help my tournament skill. After I won I felt very happy, excited, proud - it’s just indescribable!” Alix Kong, 14, of Vancouver, BC, shot 77-72 (149) to take the bronze medal.

There was a tie for the lead in the tightly contested Boys 17-19 division at 148 total score, with MJT newcomer, Ben Froese, 17, of Kamloops, BC, making his trip to the tournament worthwhile by winning the gold medal based on retrogression (76-72). “I struggled with putting today but my highlights of the tournament were my birdie putts on holes seven and eight, and my third and second last holes,” he said. Tae-In Lee, 17, of Maple Ridge, BC, had to settle for silver with his great back-to-back rounds of 74. Just one stroke back was Sean Gill, 17, of Vancouver, whose scores of 72-77 gave him the bronze. Ryan Grill of Abbotsford won both the division’s Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin competitions.

Henry Lee, 12, of Coquitlam, who stated that his “putting and irons” were his key strengths, carded consistent, excellent scores of 72-72 (144) to win the Boys 13 and under gold medal by six strokes after first round leader, Patrick Tan, 13, of Vancouver, who shot two-under on day one, struggled with an 80 on day two to finish second. The bronze medal was awarded to Roy Kang, 12, of North Vancouver (78-74=152), who also won the division’s Closest-to-the-Pin and Comeback awards.

Other Skills competition winners in various divisions were Rios Do of Vancouver and Oscar Baek of Coquitlam in the Mr. Lube Long Drive; Tom Bang of Coquitlam for the Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin; Sean Park of Coquitlam and Dylan Reichelt of Langley, BC, for the Golf Town Comeback awards.

The MJT continues its British Columbia schedule on April 23rd and 24th at Vancouver Island’s Arbutus Ridge Golf Club in Cobble Hill, site of the Future Links Pacific Championship and a qualifier for the East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York State, USA. For more information, 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 and the ‘Road to College Golf’ for aspiring young players. The organization hosts more than 60 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-13 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players which also qualify juniors for international competitions. The MJT offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include many Professional Tour players and Canadian PGA Professionals, as well as Canadian Amateur, National and Provincial Junior Champions. The MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life, promoting the game from grassroots through to provincial, national, university and professional level. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: MJT - Elaine Denton - edenton@maplejt.com - 1-877-859-GOLF