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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

May 18-19, 2013
Spruce Grove, AB

Pasula sets the pace on MJT at The Links McKiernan and Stewart both presented with the Tyler Tomasceski Sportsmanship Award

SPRUCE GROVE, AB – (May 20, 2013) –The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Nationwide Series at The Links at Spruce Grove in Spruce Grove, AB, was a huge success, with perfect weather for the players and a golf course that was in phenomenal shape.  Gerry Collett, Head Professional at The Links, commented, “We have had a great start to the year here, it has been warm and we had a lot of moisture this spring.” The MJT’s two-day tournament, a Golf Alberta Order of Merit ranked event, ran over the May long weekend and saw Brett Pasula of Red Deer, AB, hold on to qualify for the Future Champions Golf World Championship in La Quinta, CA, this July.

A feature of the tournament was the presentation of the Tyler Tomasceski Sportsmanship Award by Myles and Heather Tomasceski, in memory of their son Tyler, to both John McKiernan of Calgary and Jacob Stewart, also of Calgary.

As the wind came up on the second day, so did the scores.  Low Overall and MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 winner, Brett Pasula, 16, shot 69-76=145 and held on to defeat both Alex Corrigan, 15, of Calgary, AB (75-71=146), and 15-year old newcomer Noah Lubberding of St. Albert, AB (74-72=146), by one shot.  When summing up his round, Pasula said that he kept pulling all his shots on the back nine and started to miss the key putts, ‘but somehow got it done.’  Corrigan was low in the entire field on day two with a one-under par 71 to apply the pressure.

Brett Hawken, 18, of Wetaskiwin, AB, made birdie on the final hole to claim the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 title at 70-77=147.  Hawken said ‘grinding it out’ was his key and it was ‘great to win on the MJT.’ “I had a pretty good first round, but the second round was tough for all of us as the wind came up.” First round leader, Patrick Gobran, 17, of Edmonton, AB, shot 68-80=148, to place second in the division, while Michael Harrison, 18, of Camrose, AB, shot 77-74=151 to round out the top three.

Brianna Carrels, 17, of Lethbridge, AB, carded 76-79=155 to win the MJT Girls Division title while overcoming a small asthma attack at the start of the second round.  Carrels said she ‘will continue to work hard at my game.  I just want to shoot in the low 70’s consistently this year.’ Finishing five stokes back in second place was Kimberly Risulmi, 18, of Lloydminster, SK, who carded 75-85=160, while Gina Kowalchuk, 17, of Lethbridge, shot 81-86=167 to come third.

MJT veteran Brendan Brown, 13, of Calgary, claimed yet another MJT Bantam Boys 14 and under title with solid rounds of 76-78=154. Brown credited ‘staying focused and clam while coming down the stretch’ as a key, and added that ‘to polish my game this year’ was his very reachable goal.  Claiming the second place silver medal in the division was Ben Farrington, 12, of Fort McMurray, AB, who shot 84-79=163 and was also recognized as the low Pee Wee-aged player (12 and under) in the tournament.  Rounding out the top three was Eric Chantler, 14, also of Fort McMurray, who carded rounds of 82-83=165.

Divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Gina Kowalchuk, Eric Chantler, Brett Pasula and Pieter Peskins of Leduc, AB. Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Brianna Carrels, Brendan Brown, Alex Corrigan and Brett Hawken. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Rachel Clark of Edmonton, AB, Ryan Verburg of Priddis, AB, Kyle Kimmie of Taylor, BC, and Doug Whitten of Medicine Hat, AB.

Results for the full field in the MJT Nationwide Series / Golf Alberta OOM Series at The Links at Spruce Grove can be seen here.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Alberta is the MJT Bow Valley Credit Union Classic at Banff Springs Golf Club in Banff, a qualifier for a shortlisted position on MJT Team Canada to the Srixon International Junior Classic in New South Wales, Australia. 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.