Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 22-23, 2013
Kelowna, BC

Lee beats the heat, firing 10-under at MJT Ford Series in Kelowna - Kelowna Team wins Interclub Competition

Kelowna, BC – (July 23, 2013) – Searing temperatures up to 36 degrees Celcius brought out scorching scores from local junior Steven Lee, 18, who blitzed The Harvest golf course in Kelowna, BC, with an incredible 10-under-par total score during the two-day Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Ford Series on July 22nd and 23rd.  The tournament at The Harvest, which was also the site of the MJT’s Orchard Ford Go Golf! Free Junior Clinic on July 21st, is part of the Ford-sponsored series of tournaments on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in 2013.  The tournament was also a qualifier for the Texas Junior Golf Tour’s Holiday Classic at Barton Creek in Austin, Texas, this December.

In addition to competing for gold medals in four divisions, players had the opportunity to showcase their local club and compete through a net score component in a MJT Interclub Competition, where this year’s winners were the Kelowna Golf Club (1) Team of Davide Kaiser, Philipp Kaiser, Steven Lee and Casey Sullivan, who receive free entries into the MJT Prodigy Series at Predator Ridge Golf Club in Vernon, BC, August 26-27.

Steven Lee, of Kelowna, claimed the Low Overall and Junior Boys 17-19 gold medal with his outstanding scores of 68-66 (134) and cited his highlight as “walking off number 18 at minus 10 and being greeted by the boys.” He added, “It feels great! I medalled in every MJT I have entered but was never able to win. I just want to keep a solid summer going and hopefully sign with a university this fall.” Kelowna players claimed the top three spots in the division with the silver medal going to Lionel Taylor, 17, (72-74=146) and the bronze to Casey Sullivan, 17, (73-74=147).

Christopher Ballesteros, 14, of Burnaby, BC, playing up a division, won the Juvenile Boys 15-16 gold medal with excellent scores of 73-70 (143). “I was trying to stay focused, make birdies when I can and had awesome group mates that made this game fun,” said Ballesteros. “It feels good to win my division title and a confidence booster as well.”  Finishing in a tie for second place at 151 total score were Matthew Kreutz, 16, of Coldstream, BC, (78-73), and Adam Veenstra, 15, of Smithers, BC, (78-74).

In the MJT Girls Division, Madison Kapchinsky, 18, of Kelowna, shot 76-74 (150) to hold on to a three shot victory over Mackenzie Barrie, 17, of Vernon, BC. “Coming down the stretch, I knew I needed to make some birdies to have a chance,” said Kapchinsky, who has now racked up her sixth MJT Girls division title. “My goals are to win as many MJT’s as I can and do well in Nationals.” Barrie shot 76-77 (153) and claimed the silver medal while Jessica Claggett, 18, of Kelowna, shot 76-78 (154) to round out the top three.

14-year old Samuel Su of Surrey, BC, shot back-to-back even par rounds of 72-72 (144) to win the MJT Bantam Boys 14 and Under Division by a one shot victory.  “It feels good,” said Su of his performance. “I just want to keep trying my best for the remainder of the year.”  Finishing in the division’s second place was Thomas Verigin, 14, of West Vancouver, BC, who carded fine scores of 75-70 (145) while Cameron Welch, 14, of Kelowna, scored 77-73 (150) to place third. The low PeeWee-aged player in this division was Carter Graf, 12, of Red Deer, AB, who shot (83-80=163).

Divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Emery Bardock of Armstrong, BC, Mitchell LaBossiere of Williams Lake, BC, Christopher Ballesteros and Matthew McEachran-Law of Coldstream. Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Madison Kapchinsky, Phillip Kaiser of Kelowna, Tyler Robertson of Prince George, BC, and Jacob Vanderpas of Vancouver, BC. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Belinda Lin of Surrey, BC, Owen Bowers of Edmonton, AB, Morgan Benko of Cloverdale, BC, and Adam Yasunaga of Merritt, BC.

Detailed highlights of the MJT Ford Series at The Harvest Golf Club can be found at here. 

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in British Columbia is the MJT Ford Series at Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey on August 12th and 13th.  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.