Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

November 19-20, 2011
ChampionsGate Golf Club, Orlando, Florida

Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Boston Pizza National Tour Championship Wraps Up In Florida

For Immediate Release - Orlando, Florida - (November 23, 2011) – Junior golfers from across the country qualified all season long on Canada’s only national junior tour run exclusively by PGA of Canada Professionals and the ‘Road to College Golf’ for aspiring young players - the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) - for the 13th annual MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship presented by Callaway Golf, which played out under warm, sunny skies on November 19-20 at ChampionsGate Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The demanding International Course, famed for hosting the PGA Tour’s Father/Son Team Challenge, was very long, incredibly challenging and a true test for the 70 invited players who competed for national division titles in four age divisions. Tournament exemptions into the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) - arguably the most watched and highly scouted junior tour in North America - were also up for grabs for the top Boy aged 14-18 and top Girl. Players were treated to a PGA Tour-like experience at this crown jewel event on the MJT’s 2011 schedule with a guest appearance from renown Sports Psychologist, Dr. Bob Winters of the Golf Channel, who has mentored LPGA star, Michelle Wie, and many more, as well as a talk from Dr. Bruce Fleming of Play Collegiate Golf.

Keaton Jones, 16, of Kitchener, Ontario, claimed Overall Champion Honours and the MJT Boys 14-16 Division National title, after he played flawlessly on the second day, taming the 6700 yard bear of a course by firing rounds of 75-68 (-1) to secure a Callaway Driver, Boston Pizza gift card, and the paid entry into an AJGA event. “Making many key putts at crucial moments was key,” he said. “It feels great to win the national title and finish a great year strong. The (MJT) tournaments are a lot of fun, playing against good competitors and friends.” Runner up in the 14-16 Division was Evan DeGrazia, 16, of Thunder Bay, Ontario, who carded rounds of 73-77 to finish nine strokes back of Jones, followed by Jared Du Toit, 16, of Kimberly, British Columbia, who finished at 74-77.

Madison Easterbrook, 15, of Burlington, Ontario, built on an already impressive year and claimed the Overall Champion in the Girls Division, carding rounds of 80-79 to seal first place plus the coveted AJGA entry. “The reason for my victory was staying in it on the back nine and not giving up,” said Easterbrook, who is off to Puerto Rico with Team Ontario and then on to a MJT Winter Golf Camp in Florida this off-season. “It feels great (to win) because I know I gave it everything I had and kept my cool.” There was a three-way tie for second place in the Girls Division between Annika Haynes, 15, of Oakville, Ontario (84-79), Gina Kowalchuk, 15, of Lethbridge, Alberta, (82-81), and Kat Kennedy, 17, of Okotoks, Alberta (79-84), and who were all deadlocked at 163 to close out a very tight division.

The MJT Boys 13 and under National Champion was Max Clift, 13, of Kitchener, Ontario, who shot great scores of 71-75 (146). He was tied with Jae Wook Lee, 12, of Langley, British Columbia, going into day two after both carded one-under par 71’s during the opening round, before Clift closed the championship out on the second day. “My highlight was having a 14 hole par streak on the final day,” stated Clift, who says he enjoys playing the MJT because of the stiff competition and excellent prizes. “It feels great to win my third national championship which also includes two Optimist nationals, and this is my tenth win this year so a nice way to finish my best golf season so far!” Finishing in third place was Brendan Kesterke, 12, of Headingly, Manitoba, who shot 79-85.

In the Boys 17-19 Division, ultimate champion Brett Geiser, 17, of Markham, Ontario (77-72), closed his tournament with a fine even par round on day two to defeat Matthew Chaisson, 17, of Cambridge, Ontario (74-78), by three shots. Geiser, who despite having planned surgery on both his ankles this off-season, will play in the Golfweek Championship in Arizona in December after qualifying for the event via the MJT, and said the key to his national MJT title was ‘definitely keeping a strong mental approach on Sunday and hitting my drives straight both days.’ He added, “The highlight for me was my birdie on the very tough 7th hole on Saturday. It feels amazing to win such a big tournament as this and I’m very happy I was able to pull out the win.” Finishing in third place was Lucas Gatto, 17, of Burnaby, British Columbia, who carded rounds of 74-80.

The divisional winners in the daily Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Max Clift, Tyler Nagano of Toronto, Ontario, Nick Kennedy of London, Ontario, Brayden Brown of Calgary, Alberta, Dylan Hamara of Cambridge, Ontario, JP Holliday of Calgary, Alberta, Madison Easterbrook and Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, Alberta.

The daily Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competition divisional winners were Tyler Nagano, Cameron MacIntyre of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ontario, Chris Wilson (both days) of Toronto, Ontario, Mitch Taylor (both days) of Calgary, Alberta, Maddy Piccininni of Toronto, Ontario, and Gina Kowalchuk.

Golf Town Comeback Awards were won by Tyler Nagano, Joel Albany of Georgetown, Ontario, Rylan Visser of Lethbridge, Alberta and Winnie Hyun, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who has recently moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Numerous players also won Golf Town gift cards as “Skins” in the tournament, and there were many draw prizes for all in attendance.

Staff and players paid tribute to the memory of MJT member Dylan Reichelt, 18, of Langley, British Columbia, who was tragically killed in a car accident the weekend before he was due to play in the tournament.

This event concludes the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s program for 2011; another major schedule of over 60 junior competitions across Canada will roll out in 2012. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com.

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