Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 20-21, 2013
Winnipeg, MB

Sackett, Neufeld, McMillan and Poponick crowned MJT-PGA of Manitoba Junior Champions

Winnipeg, MB – (August 22, 2013) – Hot, sunny weather was enjoyed by the full field of junior golfers in the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT-PGA of Manitoba Junior Championship presented by National Bank Financial at Transcona Golf Club in Winnipeg, August 20-21, where players competed for division titles, an exemption into the San Diego Junior Amateur Championship, and for American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Performance Stars.

After making two eagles in the final round, Zach Sackett, 17, of Winnipeg, pulled ahead of his first-round tied-for-the-lead rival, Devon Schade, 18, of Beausejour, MB, and won Low Overall and the MJT-PGA of Manitoba Junior Boys 17-19 title with excellent scores of 71-73 (144). “It feels good to win my second (title) of the year and the final tournament,” said Sackett, who also receives the AJGA Performance Star and San Diego Junior Amateur exemption. Schade carded 71-74 (145) to come second, and Delwyn Doerksen, 19, of Altona, MB, shot 73, 75=148 to place third in the division.

MJT-PGA of Manitoba Juvenile Boys 15-16 champion was Josh Neufeld, 16, of Altona, who fired 73, 78=151 to win by three strokes over Myles Panciera, 16, of Winnipeg, (81, 73=154). “I made a great up-and-down from behind the green on 15 from a tough lie and that eight foot putt was huge for me,” said Neufeld. “My goal coming into the 2013 season was to win at least one MJT event. It feels great! This is my first win and it couldn’t feel better.” There was a tie for third place in the division at 158 total score between Kirk Markowski, 16, of Dryden, ON (85, 73) and Bart Kaminski, 16, of Winnipeg, (75, 83).

Ryan McMillan, 13, of Winnipeg, fired 74, 76=150 to edge Brendan Kesterke, 14, of Headingley, MB (78, 73=151) and claim the MJT-PGA of Manitoba Bantam Boys 14 and Under crown. “The way I was putting, I made a ton of ten to fifteen footers for par,” said McMillan, who added that his goal was to make it to Florida for the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship. “It feels really good to win again this year and to get into the top five (on the MJT National Order of Merit) in my age.” Third spot in Bantam was a tie at 154 total score between Cameron McIntyre, 14, of Winnipeg, who carded 80, 74, and Ted Glass, 14, also of Winnipeg, (75, 79).

In the Girls division, the MJT-PGA of Manitoba Junior Girls champion was McKyla Poponick, 16, of Selkirk, MB, who shot 82, 85=167, stating that her thoughts coming down the stretch were “Free pizza and to just take an easy shot and get onto the green.” She added that her goals are to play the best that she can in every tournament and it felt ‘exciting’ to win her division title. Runner-up was Alexandra Demko, 14, of Thunder Bay, ON, (83, 91=174), followed by Katherine McGlenen, 15, of Winnipeg, who scored 93, 86=179.

Divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Alexandra Demko, Auzzie Loewen of Selkirk G&CC and St.Andrews, MB, Stefan Lavallee of Steinbach Fly-In GC and Steinbach, MB, and Devon Schade of Elmhurst Golf Club. Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Demko, Michael Valk of Medicine Hat G&CC in Medicine Hat, AB, Colwyn Abgrall of Steinbach Fly In GC and Niverville, MB, and Derek Solman of Elmhurst GC and Winnipeg. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Brynn Todd of St. Charles GC and Winnipeg, Cole Uzat of Transcona Golf Club and Selkirk, Jackson Dartnell of Elmhurst GG and Winnipeg, and Brayden Twist of Portage la Prairie GC in Portage La Prairie, MB.

Results for the full field in the MJT-PGA of Manitoba Junior Championship presented by National Bank Financial at Transcona Golf Club can be seen online at http://www.maplejt.com/tour.php?id=2013038&p=results.

This event marks the final MJT stop in the province this season; eligible players now await invitation to the season-ending MJT Boston Pizza National Tour Championship at Reunion Resort in Florida, USA, November 8-10.  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 PGA of Canada 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.