Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

April 6-7, 2013
Surrey, BC

Kudos to Juniors and James Lepp at MJT KIKKOR Classic

VANCOUVER, B.C. – (April 8, 2013) – It took playoffs in two divisions and some outstanding scores among 100 junior golfers to produce the top finishers in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT KIKKOR Classic at Morgan Creek Golf Club in South Surrey, BC,  which played out in tricky spring conditions over the April 6th and 7th weekend.

A highlight for participants was having James Lepp, Canada's Top Amateur Male Golfer in 2005, 2004, and 2003, Canada’s first-ever NCAA Champion, two-time winner on the Canadian Tour, four-time All American, Medallist at the 2005 U.S. Amateur, star of the recent Big Break Greenbrier and KIKKOR Golf founder, present every player with a pair of KIKKOR golf shoes, and provide individual ‘saucer pass’ lessons after the final round.

The Low Overall and MJT Junior Boys 17-19 title was won by Kevin Vigna, 17, of Coquitlam, BC, who fired brilliant rounds of 70-71 (141) to edge Darren Day, 18, of Victoria, BC (72-70=142), by just one stroke. Third place in the division went to Steven Lee, 17, of Kelowna, BC, who carded similarly excellent scores of 71-72 (143). Vigna now receives an exemption into the 61st East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York State, June 24-28, one of America's oldest and most prestigious junior events, attracting players from South Africa, Mexico, France, Scotland, Japan, Colombia, Peru and the United States.

A playoff in the Girls Division led to Alix Kong, 16, of West Vancouver, BC (76-71), beating Keanna Mason, 16, of Maple Ridge, BC (79-68), after both girls had tied for the lead with total scores of 147. Mason’s outstanding final round of 68 earned her the Golf Town Comeback Award among the Girls due to her 11 stroke improvement, while Kong claimed the Mr. Lube Long Drive prize. “It feels really good (to win),” said Kong. “I had some putting issues, however my ball striking came through.” Third place went to Hannah Lee, 13, of Surrey, BC, who shot 76-75 (151).

A marathon playoff in the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 Division between tied top finishers Ole Hatlelid, 16, of Delta, BC (78-71), and Michael Griffin, 16, of Victoria, (75-74), went on for five holes before Hatlelid made a hat trick and won the title together with his division’s Mr. Lube Long Drive and Sundog Eyewear Skills Competitions. There was a tie for third place at 151 total score between Alex Francois, 15, of Burnaby, BC (79-72), and Edward Metcalfe, 16, of Surrey (77-74).

Morgan Creek Golf Club juniors, all 14 years old and all from Surrey, enjoyed their home course advantage and owned the podium in the MJT Bantam Boys 14 and under Division, where Taylor Patrick dominated with fine scores of 75-73 (148), saying, “It feels great (to win) after waiting so long and getting the win on my home course makes it that much better.” Mathew McConnachie (79-76) and Seo Ho Choi (78-77) tied for second place at 155 total score. Capilano Golf Club juniors from West Vancouver took over the division’s Skills Competitions, however, where Ben Basran, 14, won both the Sundog Eyewear Skills and the Golf Town Comeback Awards, and Dillon Cooper, 14, won the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition. Jerry Liu,  12, of West Vancouver, received a prize for being the top 12 and under-aged player in the Bantam division.

Lauren Rutherglen, 16, of Kelowna, and Darren Day, were their divisions’ Sundog Eyewear Skills Competition winners; James Baker, 18, of Maple Ridge, won the Junior Boys Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition, and other Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Mathias Labonte, 15, of Rocky View County, Alberta, and Carson Spooner, 19, of Coquitlam.

A special prize went to MJT newcomer Evan Merrier, 14, of Surrey, who had to withdraw from his very first tournament after watching his entire golf cart, golf bag and set of clubs roll down an embankment and sink in a 25 foot deep lake on the course.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in BC is the MJT Junior Worlds Qualifier at Pagoda Ridge Golf Club in Langley, May 18th and 19th. 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.

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Reminder: Results for the full field in the MJT KIKKOR Classic at Morgan Creek Golf Club in Surrey, BC, Click here...