Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 6-7, 2015
Pitt Meadows, BC

Ko drives away with MJT Ford Series at Swan-e-Set

Pitt Meadows, BC – (June 8, 2015) – Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza, held the MJT Ford Series at Swan-e-Set Bay Resort and Country Club in Pitt Meadows, BC, over the scorching hot June 6th and 7th weekend.

In the beautiful weather, Brycen Ko, 11, out of Richmond, BC, took the MJT Peewee Boys title by a tremendous 24 strokes, shooting 71-73 (144) on the well manicured, challenging Swan-e-Set track. Ko’s tournament highlight was draining a 70 foot putt, which gave him the confidence to go on and win his second MJT Peewee division title this season.

In the Junior Boys 17-19 division, six year MJT veteran Ian Kim, 18, of Vancouver, BC, fired an excellent closing round of 70 to shoot 79-70 (149) to win by five strokes over another tour veteran, Shayne LaRochelle of Coquitlam, BC. Kim said, “I birdied the last hole, and it feels great to win my first tournament of the year.”

Henry Lei, 14, of Surrey, BC, edged out the competition in the MJT Bantam Boys division by a cool seven strokes, aided by his under par second round 79-71 (150).

The MJT Juvenile Boys division champion was 16 year old Mitchell Thiessen from Chilliwack, BC, who shot 79-75 (154) to narrowly edge out the competition by two strokes. Mitchell credited his win to his chipping, saying his ability to land his shots close enough to one putt was the key to his success. “It feels amazing to win, and coming up clutch in the end.”

The two Girls Divisions fielded 28 players from around BC which is wonderful to see in competitive junior golf. In the Girls U15 Division, Julie Ju, 14, of West Vancouver, BC, placed first shooting 87-81 (168) to finish above the rest of the field by two shots. Julie said about her victory, “I feel good and proud. Whenever I see those trophies that I collect it makes me more determined to work harder; I know I’ve got more to go.” Katherine Chan, 15, another Richmond native, collected the Girls 15-19 champion’s trophy with a great 78-73 (151) score despite tough pin placements.

Players now shortlisted for MJT Team Canada for the Srixon International Junior Classic in Australia this October include Mitchell Thiessen and Katherine Chan. The finalists will be announced once the other qualifiers finish across the country.

Each division had a Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition, a Sligo Closest-to-the-Pin Competition and a Golf Town Comeback Award for best second day improvement in score, and below are names of the 18 winners.

Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition Winners

U15 Girls: Emily Xu • Redwoods • Burnaby, BC
Girls: Sharon Park  • Surrey, BC
Peewee Boys: Frank Xiao • Seymour Golf Club • West Vancouver, BC
Bantam Boys: Andy Jang • Redwoods GC • Langley, BC
Juvenile Boys: Tanvir Kahlon • Core Golf Academy, Orlando, FL • Surrey, BC
Junior Boys: Ian Kim  • Vancouver, BC

Sligo Closest-to-the-Pin Competition Winners

U15 Girls: Stefanie Silva • Surrey, BC
Girls: Rachelle Nielsen • Summerland G&CC • Summerland, BC
Peewee Boys: Michael Ferguson • Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club • Vancouver, BC
Bantam Boys: Jackson Jacob • LAB @ Northview • Fort Langley, BC
Juvenile Boys: Evan Merrier • Morgan Creek Golf Course • Surrey, BC
Junior Boys: Noah Kerins • Northview Golf and Country Club and Kings Links • White Rock, BC

Golf Town Comeback Award Winners

U15 Girls: Stefanie Silva • Surrey, BC
Girls: Sunwoo Yi  • Abbotsford, BC
Peewee Boys: Frank Xiao • Seymour Golf Club • West Vancouver, BC
Bantam Boys: Andy Jang • Redwoods GC • Langley, BC
Juvenile Boys: Willis Lee • Wolfpack GC • Langley, BC
Junior Boys: Christen Rose • Gunby Ranch Debolt • Crooked Creek, AB

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in British Columbia is the MJT Ford Series at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna on June 29th and 30th. This tournament is also a qualifier for the North American Junior Amateur (NAJA). 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 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: Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing and Administration   edenton@maplejt.com   1-877-859-GOLF