Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 17-18, 2015
Dewinton, AB

Great action from 106 juniors at MJT’s Heritage Pointe stop - Several shortlisted for Junior Worlds; Playoff needed

Calgary, AB. – (May 19, 2015) – Another record field size for Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour was witnessed over the May long weekend in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Golf Alberta Order of Merit Series at Heritage Pointe Golf Club in Dewinton, AB, where a heavily wait-listed field of 106 junior golfers competed for titles in six divisions on May 17th and 18th. The tournament was also a shortlist qualifier for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego, CA, this July.

In the MJT Junior Boys division, the competition was fierce and a three-way playoff was needed between 17-year-olds  Sang Won Kim of Calgary AB, Darin Bertschi of Lethbridge, AB, and Jaxon Lynn of Sylvan Lake, AB, who had all tied for the lead at a stellar one-over-par 145 total score. Kim, who shot 73-72 over the two days, ended up taking the victory with an eagle on the second playoff hole.

The top score in the Junior Boys division was matched by 16-year-old Alexander Smith from Calgary, who also fired excellent rounds of 73-72 to win his second MJT Juvenile Boys title in as many starts this season, proving his worth as 2014 MJT National Juvenile Boys Champion.

In yet another very close division race, 13 year old Ethan Choi of Pincher Creek, AB, kept his scores low over the two days shooting a 74-77 (151) to win among Bantam Boys by just one stroke.

Marko Banic, 12, of DeWinton, carded a solid second round (81-77=158) to come from behind and take the new MJT Peewee Boys title by three strokes.

With her second MJT Girls 15-19 title in as many starts, Kenna Hughes, 17, of Calgary, won again with fine scores of  75-74 (149), handing her a six stroke victory.

In the Girls 14 and under division, Amanda Graham, 14, of Canmore, AB, took the title by 10 strokes (84-93=177) over Tillie Claggett, 11, of Calgary.

Players now shortlisted for age-specific spots in the IMG Academy Junior World Championships are Tillie Claggett, Annabelle Ackroyd, Kenna Hughes, Marco Banic, Ethan Choi and Darren Bertschi. 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: Amanda Graham • Canmore Golf & Curling Club • Canmore, AB
Girls: Lauren Koenig • Redcliff Riverview GC • Redcliff, AB
Peewee Boys: Hunter Thomson • Calgary Golf & Country Club • Calgary, AB
Bantam Boys: Riley Watson • Calgary Golf and Country Club • Calgary, AB
Juvenile Boys: Josh Berze • Country Hills • Calgary, AB
Junior Boys: Andrew Widjaja • Willow Park Golf & Country Club • Calgary, AB

Sligo Closest-to-the-Pin Competition Winners

U15 Girls: Grace Bell • Earl Grey GC • Calgary, AB
Girls: Kenna Hughes • Willow Park G&CC • Calgary, AB
Peewee Boys: Colin Pasitney • St. Paul Golf club • St. Paul , AB
Bantam Boys: Carter Graf • Red Deer G&CC • Red Deer, AB
Juvenile Boys: Chris Horton • Country Hills GC • Calgary, AB
Junior Boys: Jordan Semen • Wainwright GC • Wainwright , AB

Golf Town Comeback Award Winners

U15 Girls: Grace Bell • Earl Grey GC • Calgary, AB
Girls: Samantha Copeland • Willow Park Golf & Country Club • Calgary, AB
Peewee Boys: Tate Bonertz • Valley Ridge • Calgary, AB
Bantam Boys: Callum McKay • Carnmoney • Calgary, AB
Juvenile Boys: Braxton O'Grady • Sirocco Golf Club • Calgary, AB
Junior Boys: Nicholas Vanderheyden • Carmoney • Okotoks, AB

Full details on the tournament can be found at www.maplejt.com.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Alberta is the wait-listed MJT Bow Valley Credit Union Classic at Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff on May 23rd and 24th. Events in June are still open for registration; 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: Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour
Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing and Administration
edenton@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF