Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

March 16-18, 2013
Coquitlam, BC

Playoff on 102 Year Old Vancouver Golf Club highlights MJT’s BC Season Opener

For Immediate Release

Playoff on 102 Year Old Vancouver Golf Club highlights MJT’s BC Season Opener
Final round on Vancouver Golf Club, site of CN Canadian Women's Open in 2012

VANCOUVER, B.C. – (March 19, 2013) – A packed field of competitive young golfers from BC, Alberta and Washington State, teed off the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s BC season in a three-day tournament over March 16 to 18, playing two rounds on Mayfair Lakes Golf Club in Richmond, BC, and a third and final round on the 102-year-old Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, BC, site of the CN Canadian Women's Open in 2012 and a treat to play.

Intermittent challenges of rainy, windy and chilly weather were interspersed with sunshine and calm, and some excellent scores were recorded in what was the first competitive outing for many of the young players. The MJT low overall title had to be decided in a playoff when Marcus Brown, 17, of Surrey, BC, shot 72-73-73 (218) to tie for the lead in the Junior division (Boys 17-19) with Tony Mak, 17, of Richmond, BC, (70-70-78). Mak, who cited his personal best during the final round as his birdie on 17 and long par putt on 18 at Vancouver Golf Club, won on the first playoff hole, earning his pick of exemptions into either the FCG World Championship in La Quinta, CA, this July, or the FCWT National Championship at PGA West, FLA, this May. After carding the low final round for the tournament (82-71-69=222), Darren Day, 18, of Victoria, BC, tied for third in this division with Geoff Fry, 18, of Calgary, AB, who overcame an anaphylactic attack on the first tee to carry on and shoot 73-72-77 (222).

Firing a 69 in the first round helped boost Alexander Chen, 16, of Richmond, into the MJT Juvenile division lead (Boys 15-16) which he held wire-to-wire, winning the title by two strokes over Alex Francois, 15, of Burnaby, BC (76-70-77). “Shooting a 69 in the first round was my highlight,” said Chen. “My goals this season are to improve my driving to at least 10 out of 14 fairways and to improve my accuracy inside 110 yards.” Third place in the Juvenile division went to Ole Hatlelid, 16, of Delta, BC, who shot solid scores of 72-73-82.

The MJT Bantam division title (Boys 14 and under) was won in a close race by Roy Kang, 14, of North Vancouver, BC, after he fired 76-72-75 (223) to beat veteran rival Jae Wook Lee, 13, of Langley, BC, who shot 74-76-75 to fall short by two strokes. “I feel good (to win), I’d like to thank Jae Wook for being a nice kid,” said Kang. “My personal highlight was that I was fortunate to play a good golf course (Vancouver).” Taylor Patrick, 14, of Surrey, carded steadily improving rounds of 80-79-76 (235) to place third in the division.

14-year-old Ashley Cai of Vancouver, BC, managed to hold off Ashley Omidi, also 14, of Surrey, BC, to win the MJT Girls Division title by two strokes. Cai shot 84-84-87 (255) to Omidi’s 85-84-88 (257), and stated, “I was pretty surprised that I won. Honestly, I did not play well, but I was glad that I got the first place. It makes me feel pretty good.” Third place was claimed by Sarah Lawrence, 15, of Duvall, WA, who scored 85-88-86 (259).

Divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Ye Ji Lim of Langley, Roy Kang, Jordon Morford of Abbotsford, BC, and Nathan Haussman of Victoria. Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Rachelle Nielsen of Summerland, BC, Mathew McConnachie of Surrey, Charles Thompson of Delta, and Trevor Martensson of Calgary, AB. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Bethany Ma of Vancouver, Voncan Omidi of Surrey, Matthew McEachran-Law of Coldstream, BC, and Darren Day.

Results for the full field in the MJT Nationwide Series at Mayfair Lakes/Vancouver Golf Club in BC can be seen here.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop is the KIKKOR Classic at Morgan Creek Golf Course in South Surrey, B.C, April 6-7, a qualifier for the East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York. 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 number-one played Junior Golf Tour as well as the only national junior tour run exclusively by PGA of Canada Professionals and the ‘Road to College Golf’ in Canada. The organization is generously supported by Boston Pizza and Premier Partners Cleveland Golf, Srixon, Ford, Mr. Lube, Golf Town and Travel Underwriters, in addition to valued Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 60 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-12 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players which also qualify juniors for international competitions. The program 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.

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