Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 6-8, 2013
Chestermere, AB

Gretton, Grosart, Risulmi and Smith crowned MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Champions in Chestermere

Calgary, AB – (August 9, 2013) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) PGA of Alberta Junior Championship welcomed a strong field to the 54-hole Golf Canada-ranked tournament (on CN Future Links National Order of Merit) at Lakeside Greens Golf Club in Chestermere, AB, on August 6th, 7th and 8th. Near perfect weather and scoring conditions were enjoyed by the players who were competing for titles in four divisions, highlighted by a playoff for overall champion where Will Gretton defeated Carter Grosart to win valuable American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Performance Stars as well as an exemption into the prestigious Future Champions Golf San Diego Junior Amateur next January in San Diego, California.

In a four hole playoff on the very difficult Lakeside Greens course, Gretton, 16, of Calgary, won Low Overall Honours, together with his MJT-PGA of Alberta Juvenile Boys 15-16 title, after firing great rounds of 74-66-72 (212).  “I careered with the 66 in the second round,” he said. “This win feels great.  It is my first win on a junior tour, with a great field.” Runner-up in the Juvenile division with three fine rounds of 68-70-76 (214) was Andrew Chelack, 16, of Calgary, AB,  followed by Andrew Brown, 16, also of Calgary, who closed with a three day total of 216 (76-68-72) to place third.

Carter Grosart’s consolation for losing the playoff for overall champion was claiming the MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Boys 17-19 Champion’s title with great scores of (72-69-71=212). Grosart, 17, of Calgary, beat second round leader 17-year-old Mike Lougheed of Innisfail, AB, (68-72-76=216) in a very tight race.  Grosart said he was just trying to stay with the game plan he used for the first two days, and stated after the final round, “It is great to win!”  Finishing in a tie for third place in the division were Jeremy Rietze, 17, of Lacombe, AB, who shot 73-75-69 (217) and Calgary’s Greg Billingsley, 18, who finished with 76-71-70 (217).

Kimberly Risulmi, 19, of Lloydminster, SK, shot 78-75-81 (234) to take the MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Girls Champion title over runners-up Erin Farner, 18, of Calgary, (79-80-81=240) and Sharmaine Rapisura, 14, also of Calgary, (75-84-81=240) who tied for second. “It feels really good to win, but I played the last hole bad so it doesn’t feel as good,” said Risulmi.  “I felt a lot of pressure being in the lead, and knew anything could happen.” 

14-year-old Alexander Smith of Calgary was crowned MJT-PGA of Alberta Bantam Boys 14 and Under Champion after firing rounds of 70-70-78 (218) to win in a very strong field.  “I didn’t hit the driver at all today,” he said.   “My key this week was management.  I just didn’t want to mess up and wanted to make some pars coming in.” Finishing second in the division was Landon Stellingwerff, 14, of Calgary, who carded 73-75-72 (220), while Michael Valk, 14, of Medicine Hat, AB, shot 72-73-76 (221) to place third.

Divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Katherine McGlenen of Winnipeg, MB, Josh Estepa of Calgary, Jacob Stewart of Calgary, and Stephan Dunlop of Calgary.  Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Rayna Oosterhuis of Edmonton, AB, Josh Estepa, Drew Harvie of Lethbridge, AB, and Tyler Vandermeer of Edmonton. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Katherine McGlenen, Pierce Hawker of Calgary, AB, Grayson Constable of Lethbridge, AB, and Stephan Dunlop.

Results for the full field in the MJT–PGA of Alberta Junior Championship at Lakeside Greens Golf Club can be found here. 

The final stop for 2013 on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in Alberta is the MJT Nationwide Series presented by Goose Golf at Bearspaw Country Club in Calgary, August 21st and 22nd , which is a qualifier for the FCWT at ASU Karsten this November. 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