Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

September 21, 2013
Langley, BC

Great weather for MJT Lindsay Kenney One Day Fall Classic

Langley, BC – (September 23, 2013) – Unexpectedly fine weather was enjoyed by the packed field of 94 junior golfers in the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Lindsay Kenney One Day Fall Classic at Redwoods Golf Course in Langley, BC, which ran on Saturday, September 21, and featured competition in four age divisions.

The tournament was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 12th hole by 12 year-old Raymond Li of Vancouver, BC, who was the low overall Peewee-aged player, ending up tied for 7th place with a score of 76 in the Bantam Boys 14 and under division. First place in the division went to Roy Kang, 14, of North Vancouver, BC, who fired a great round of 70 to win by three strokes over Dillon Cooper, 14, of West Vancouver (73). “My back-to-back birdies on the back nine were a highlight for me,” said Kang, who rated the course and conditions as ‘good considering the weather that we had on Friday.’           

In the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 division, Owen Xiong, 15, of West Vancouver, shot 74 to beat joint runners-up Christopher Ballesteros, 14, of Burnaby, BC, and Brandon McManus, 15, of Surrey, BC, by two strokes. “I’m glad that I attended this tournament!” Xiong stated.  

Sophie Liu, 15, of Surrey, claimed her first MJT Girls division title after firing 75 to edge Keanna Mason, 17, of Maple Ridge, BC (76). “Having great company and just focusing on every shot,” said Liu when asked of her tournament highlight and key to victory. “I was nervous. I couldn’t think straight coming down the stretch and I was shaking, literally. It feels really weird since it’s my first win but I am also really happy that my hard work paid off.” Third place among a 28-player strong field of girl competitors went to Avery Struck, 16, of Halfmoon Bay, BC, who carded 77.

Encroaching darkness affected the tournament for the Junior Boys 17-19, where Connor McLellan, 17, of Chilliwack, BC, made a clean sweep of the prizes, winning first place (72) as well as the Mr. Lube Long Drive and Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competitions. “The course was very demanding off the tee – it’s a great track and the greens were perfect,” he said. “It feels great (to win). I played well and hope to continue playing well for the rest of the year.” Runner-up was Vancouver Island’s Michael Griffin, 17, of Victoria, BC (74), while there was a tie for third at 76 between Simon Blaker, 18, of Langley, and Jaesung Choi, 17, of Surrey.

Other divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Avery Struck (Sunshine Coast G&CC), Jaewook Lee of Langley (Redwoods GC), and Christopher Ballesteros of Burnaby, while the other Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Sharon Park of Surrey, Raymond Li, and Dobson Ironmonger of Langley (Redwoods GC).

Detailed highlights and a photo gallery of the MJT Lindsay Kenney One Day Fall Classic at Redwoods GC can be found online at http://www.maplejt.com/tour.php?id=2013005. The next and final event in BC is the MJT Nationwide One Day Fall Series at University Golf Club in Vancouver on October 5.  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.