Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 25-26, 2013
Tottenham, ON

Playoffs needed at MJT Junior Worlds Qualifier at Woodington Lake

Tottenham, ON – (May 27, 2013) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) visited Tottenham, ON, for the first time ever, holding a two-day tournament at Woodington Lake Golf Club on May 26th and 27th which was also a qualifier for age-specific shortlisted spots for members into the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, CA, with the final winners to be announced once all MJT qualifiers across the country have completed.

Playoffs were needed to determine the champions in two divisions, with Jonathan Torchia, 17, of Vaughan, ON (79-80), winning the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 playoff with Daniel Kwon, 17, of Etobicoke, ON (81-78), after they both tied for the lead at 159 total score. Torchia, who said he was just ‘staying in the moment and worrying only about the shot at hand,’ commented later, “It feels great to win in a playoff.” Kwon, however, was the eligible qualifier for the Boys 15-17 shortlisted spot for members into the Junior World Championships. Third place in the division went to Patrick Bourne, 18, of Caledon Village, ON (79, 81=160).

In the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 division, Henry (Hyuk Jin) Moon defeated Paul Edgar in a playoff after both boys tied at 162 total score. Moon, 15, of Thornhill, ON, who had shot 82, 80, credited his short game and putting and commented, “It feels great to win the playoff after a tough 18th hole.” Edgar, 16, of Kitchener, ON, had carded 84-78. Third place in the division was taken by Kyle Johnston, 16, of Shelburne, ON (80, 83=163).

Nick Hofland, 14, of Ancaster, ON, fired back-to-back rounds of 80 to win the MJT Bantam Boys 14 and under title by seven strokes. “I capitalized on my opportunities and stayed focused on each shot,” said Hofland. “It feels great to see the rewards for the hard work.” Second place finisher was Nathan Douglas, 12, of Thornhill, (86, 81=167), who receives an age-specific shortlisted spot in the Junior World Championships, and third place went to Mackenzie Crawford, 13, of Utopia, ON (88, 83=171).

The MJT Girls Division title was won by Jasmine Yang, 15, of Oakville, ON (90, 94=184), who said the key was playing well in the wind. “It feels great to win after dealing with the difficult weather,” she added. Yang will also be shortlisted for the Junior World Championships. Diana McDonald, 15, of Kingston, ON, who scooped both the Mr. Lube Long Drive and Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin Competition prizes for the Girls Division, placed second (95, 93=188) while third place was claimed by Patricia Kratiuk, 17, of Mississauga , ON (100, 93=193).

Other divisional winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Nick Hofland, Kyle Johnston and Patrick Bourne, while in the Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition they were Isaac Maxwell of Orangeville, ON, Henry Moon and Mahir Omar of Mississauga. Golf Town Comeback Awards went to Patricia Kratiuk, Vince Greco of Bolton, ON, Luca Giannace of Kleinburg, ON, and Quinten Moulson of Mississauga, ON.

Detailed highlights of the MJT Junior Worlds Qualifier at Woodington Lake Golf Club are posted here. 

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in the province is at the site of the Ontario Junior Championship - the MJT Team Canada Qualifier at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor on June 8th and 9th, a qualifying event for shortlisted positions to the SRIXON International Junior Classic in New South Wales, to 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.