Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 23, 2014
Moncton, NB

Five-under-par fever on MJT at Royal Oaks

Moncton, NB – (August 25, 2014) – The best season to date in Atlantic Canada on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour came to a successful conclusion this past weekend at Royal Oaks Golf Club in Moncton, NB, where young golfers competed for titles in six divisions in the MJT-PGA Atlantic Canada Junior Championship / Golf NB Player of the Year Series on August 23rd and 24th, and two juniors shot five-under-par to close out the tournament in style.

The field comprised players on the MJT Mini Tour for ages 12 and under, as well as players up the age of 19 on the regular Tour, and in the latter competition both Tyson Gavin, 17, and Alexandre Belanger, 16, tied for Low Overall and won their respective divisions after firing outstanding five-under-par 67s on moving day to close with identical scores of 77, 67 (144).

Gavin, of Tignish, PE, came from behind and beat out 2013 MJT National Champion Danek Hadley , 17, of Bathurst, NB (73, 73=146) for the MJT-PGA Atlantic Canada Junior Boys 17-19 Champion’s trophy. “Danek and I were tied after nine holes today – I birdied 10 and he bogeyed,” said Gavin, who cited birdying the first two out of three holes on day two as his highlight that got him going. “It feels really good (to win) after being eight shots back going into Sunday and I just believed in myself that I could still do it.” Third place in the division was a tie at 157 total score between Alexandre Paillard, 17, of Edmundston, NB (78, 79) and Bobby Dunphy, 17, of Antigonish, NS (74, 83).

Belanger, of St-Jacques, NB, took the MJT-PGA Atlantic Canada Juvenile Boys 15-16 Champion’s trophy by six shots over Calvin Ross, 16, of Fredericton, NB (77, 73=150). “My highlight was my 67 in the final round,” said Belanger. “The course is probably the best course in the province – it is beautiful and the greens were very fast. I am very happy about my play this weekend!” Again there was a tie for third in the division between Sam Reid, 16, of Moncton, (80, 71=151) and Mario Lajoie, 15, of St-Antoine Nord, NB (72, 79=151).

The MJT-PGA Atlantic Canada Bantam Boys 14 and under Champion was Graham Gourley, 14, of Fredericton, who fired back-to-back 74’s to claim his second MJT title in as many starts (74, 74=148).  “For the second MJT event in a row, Billy Smith was pressuring me from behind and at one point got to within two of my tournament lead, “ said Gourley. “This was a big win for me because it fulfilled my goal of winning the MJT Atlantic Canada Order of Merit points race.” Billy Smith, 14, of Waasis, NB, placed second in the division (78, 76=154) and Alexandre Boudreau, 14, of Dieppe, NB, placed third (79, 77=156).

Playing in the last junior event of her career, Rachel Cormier, 18, of Rothesay, NB, made it count and won the title of MJT-PGA Atlantic Canada Junior Girls Champion with solid scores of 76, 75 (151). “My highlight was getting the opportunity to play with my team mates and friends Laura Jones and Claire Konning for the last time of my junior career,” said Cormier. “The win feels amazing! This is definitely one of the top courses I have played in the province of New Brunswick and it is great to end my season and junior years with a victory.” Jones, 15, of Berry Mills, NB, shot 78, 84 (162) for second and Konning, 17, of Indian Mountain, NB, came third (83, 80=163).  

Winners in the Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition were Rachel Cormier, Billy Smith, Dylan Chase of Brigg’s Corner, NB, and Tyson Gavin. Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competition winners were Annick Duguay of Bathurst, Alex Wynter of Moncton, Calvin Ross and Morgan Barnes of Salisbury, NB. Golf Town Comeback Awards for best second day improvement in score went to Duguay (9), Nash Smith of Moncton (19), David Patterson of Bedford, NS (14) and Gavin (10). Tournament highlights and a photo gallery can be seen online here.

Mini Tour players competed over 18 holes only, on August 23rd, where the Atom Boys division winner was Simon Mullen, 8, of Truro, NS (81), who edged Max Baldwin, 8, of Hammonds Plains, NS (82). The Peewee Boys winner was Nathan Hogan, 12, of Bathurst, NB, who shot an excellent 71. Runner-up was Raphael Mallet, 12, of Dieppe, NB (82). Dominique Cormier, 10, of Ste-Marie-de-Kent, NB, was the sole girl in the Mini Tour and carded a respectable 93.

MJT members in the province have now earned valuable Cleveland Golf Order of Merit (OOM) points throughout the season and await invitations to the prestigious MJT Boston Pizza National Championship at The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, AZ, on November 14-16, 2014, where a number of Division 1 college coaches will be in attendance. 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 Canada¹s 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 Ford of Canada, Mr. Lube, Cleveland Golf, Srixon, Gatorade and Travel Underwriters, in addition to valued Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 70 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.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour: Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing and Administration   edenton@maplejt.com   1-877-859-GOLF