Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 8-9, 2013
Winkler, MB

Sackett Low Overall at MJT’s Winkler Stop Two shortlisted for MJT Team Canada to Australia

Winkler, MB – (June 10, 2013) – Winker Golf Club in Winkler, MB, played host to the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) on June 8th and 9th, where Zach Sackett, 17, of Winnipeg, MB, fired 71, 73=144 to win Low Overall and the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 title. The two-day tournament was also a qualifier for shortlisted positions on MJT Team Canada to the SRIXON International Junior Classic in Australia this October, with the final winners to be announced once all MJT qualifiers across the country have completed.

“This was another great tourney,” said MJT Tournament Director Ed Boge, PGA Professional. “Zach played solid both days and squeaked out the win by a shot over Cole Peters.  Cole did all he could. And we had another win for Brendan Kesterke in the Bantam division. He birdied his last hole today which was his only birdie for two days, yet he shot 74-73. In the Juvenile division, Stacy Genaille was bombing it and played some great golf to win by seven, and in the Girls division, Veronica Vetesnik won on the fifth hole of a sudden death playoff after Katie McGlenen played awesome today and then carried that into the playoff.”

“Key to my victory was my second shot on hole 16, putting it to eight feet for eagle – almost hitting a kid on the green!” said Junior Boys 17-19 champion, Sackett, who is now shortlisted for a spot on MJT Team Canada to Australia. “My goals are to improve my game, get better with every round, and also win the Manitoba Junior Championship.” Cole Peters, 17, of Steinbach, MB, (73, 72=145), was runner-up in the division, where there was a three-way tie for third place at 155 total score between Ryley Pace, 19, of Red Lake, ON (80, 75), Brayden Twist, 18, of Portage La Prairie, MB (80, 75) and Garrett Kristjanson, 17, of Warren, MB (79, 76).

MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 champion, Stacy Genaille, 16, of Mafeking, MB (71-75=146), said, “Coming down the stretch I was just focusing on my shots I wanted to hit.  I am very happy to have won my age category after four years playing the MJT and I hope to win again!” Second place in the division went to Stefan Lavallee, 15, of Steinbach, MB (75, 78=153) and again, there was a three-way tie for third place at 156 between Tanner Kyle, 16, of Elkhorn, MB (81, 75), Bart Kaminski, 16, of Winnipeg (78, 78) and Myles Panciera, 16, also of Winnipeg (77, 79). 

MJT Bantam Boys 14 and under champion, Brendan Kesterke, 13, of Headingley, MB (74-73=147), said, “My golf goal this season is to have some tournament rounds in the 60’s.” Runner-up Cameron McIntyre, 14, of Winnipeg, shot 77, 78=155 and third place finisher Marco Trstenjak, 13, also of Winnipeg, shot 82, 74=156.

Playoff winner Vetesnik, who secures a spot on the shortlist for MJT Team Canada to Australia, said the key to her MJT Girls Division title (77-80) was to not give up. Katie McGlenen, 15, of Winnipeg, (80-77) had to settle for second place after a five hole playoff battle with Vetesnik. Jaclyn Albrechtsen, 18, of Winnipeg, came third among the Girls (82, 84=166).

Divisional winners of the Skills Competitions were Eric Ellison of Winnipeg, Josh Neufeld of Altona, MB, Zack Sackett and Veronica Vetesnik for the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition, with Kesterke, Josh Martineau of East St. Paul, MB, Delwyn Doerksen of Altona, and Katie McGlenen for the Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Marco Trstenjak, Jacob Sanderson of Winnipeg, Donovan Dow of Winnipeg and Reece Carter of St. Andrews.

Detailed highlights of the MJT Team Canada Qualifier at Winkler Golf Club can be seen here. 

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in the province is the MJT Nationwide Series at Bel Acres Golf Club in Winnipeg on July 8th and 9th, a qualifying event for the Future Collegiate World Tour’s TPC Sawgrass event. 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.