Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 4-5, 2013
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Brilliant 14-under-par score thrills at MJT Manitoba season opener Four shortlisted for Callaway Junior World Golf Championship

EAST ST. PAUL, MB – (May 6, 2013) – Due to the long winter in Manitoba with persistent snow and freezing temperatures, the Meadows at East St. Paul golf course only actually opened the day before the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) two-day tournament on May 4th and 5th, and yet despite limited access to prior practice, a packed field of 80 competitive young golfers teed it up and recorded some outstanding scores. Four players also qualified for age-specific shortlisted spots into the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego, CA, this July, with the final winners to be announced once all MJT qualifiers across the country have completed.

“Manitoba’s first MJT event was a great success,” said Tournament Director and PGA Professional, Ed Boge. “The weather finally cooperated and we were able to play some golf.  The staff at the Meadows did an excellent job prepping the course for tournament play. It was for many kids their first round of the year and yet the scores were low and the attitudes were amazing.”

MJT veteran Bret Thompson, 19, of Winnipeg, set an all-time Manitoba low record total by firing back-to-back 65’s and winning the Low Overall and Junior Boys 17-19 title with his 14-under-par 130 total score. “Wow, that was some kind of playing,” summed up Ed Boge. Thompson’s unbelievably brilliant performance - naturally he quoted, ‘going 14 deep,’ as key to his victory - was the highlight of the tournament, catapulting him into the lead and cementing his stellar record on the program. Second place in the Junior division went to Tyler Doyle, 18, of Sandy Hook, MB, who shot 75-69 (144) while Steve Young, 17, of La Salle, MB, placed third (71-74=145).

Travis Fredborg, 16, of Selkirk, MB, started his second round with four birdies on his first six holes and fired 66 to win the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 title by seven shots with his outstanding rounds of 70-66 (136), claiming a shortlisted spot into the Junior World Championships for Boys 15-17. Fredborg cited his ball striking as the key – “I hit almost every green in regulation.” Coming down the stretch he said he was ‘just focusing on hitting good shots and thinking don’t make any costly mistakes.’ He added, “It feels good to win, a great way to start off the season.” Kirk Markowski, 16, of Dryden, ON, did all he could to finish second with solid scores of 69-74 (143), while  Austin Dobrescu, 16, of Brandon, MB, placed third in the division (79-72=151).

Veronica Vetesnik, 16, of Winnipeg, MB (83-74), and Camryn Roadley, 14, also of Winnipeg (80-77), battled it out all day Sunday to end up tied for the lead in the Girls division at 157 total score, with Vetesnik winning with a birdie on their first playoff hole. “Key to my victory was to not give up, not push myself too much,” she said afterwards. “My goals this season are to keep calm, and do the best I can.” Both girls will be shortlisted for the Junior World Championships. Third place went to Dana Todd, 17, of Winnipeg (85-76=161).

First-time MJT winner Ryan McMillan, 13, of Winnipeg, claimed the MJT Bantam Boys 14 and under title by two shots with his great rounds of 73-79 (152), also joining the shortlist for Boys 13-14 in the Junior World Championships. “It feels great to win for the first time!” he said. “My goals are to drop my handicap by two and qualify for Arizona (the MJT National Championship)”.  Marco Trstenjak, 13, of Winnipeg, was steady on his back nine with nine straight pars to capture second (78-76=154), holding off a slew of players who tied for third place at 157 total score (Brabant, 14, of Winnipeg, 78-79; Diamond, 14, of Winnipeg, 77-80; Hoydalo, 13, of Selkirk, 88-69; and Kesterke of Headingley, 81-76).

Divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Veronica Vetesnik, Marco Trstenjak, Stefan Lavallee of Steinbach, MB, and Bret Thompson. Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Lilly Hoydalo of Selkirk, Marco Trstenjak, Adam Hunt of East St. Paul, and Bret Thompson. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Lilly Hoydalo, Wesley Hoydalo of Selkirk, Joel Baron of Carberry, MB, and Bryce Sholdice of Stonewall, MB.

Results for the full field in the MJT Junior Worlds Qualifier at The Meadows Golf Course can be seen here. 

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in the province is the MJT Team Canada Qualifier at Winkler Centennial Golf Course in Winkler on June 8th and 9th, a qualifier for the Srixon International Junior Classic in 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.