Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 17-18, 2015
Swift Current, SK

Over 80 Junior Golfers in MJT Ford Series Saskatchewan Opener Five shortlisted for Junior Worlds; Hole-In-One Highlight

Swift Current, SK. – (May 19, 2015) – Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), held the MJT Ford Series Saskatchewan Season Opener over a freezing cold May long weekend, where over 80 junior golfers from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and all over Saskatchewan were competing for titles in six divisions at Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current. The May 17th-18th tournament was also a shortlist qualifier for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego, CA, this July.

In the bitter cold, Saskatoon, SK resident Marc Sweeney, 16, won Low Overall and took the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 title by a cool eight strokes after closing with an outstanding score of 67 (74-67=141). Sweeney credited his ‘hard work in the off season’ saying, “I chipped in for birdie on 14, and made eagle on 15 to seal the win.”

In the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 division, MJT veteran Drew Kocur, 19, of Regina, SK, shot 73-73 (146) to edge out a one stroke victory over the rest of the field. “It was a good battle with (Corey) Bailey as we were going head to head down the stretch,” said Kocur. “I’ve been a part of the MJT for about six or seven years now and thought this would be a good event to participate in to finish my junior golf career.”

Another Saskatoon native, Jordan Bean, 14, won the MJT Bantam Boys 13-14 division with two rock solid rounds of 74 (148), giving him a two stroke victory. Bean, who noted they had a competitive foursome to keep the pressure on and ‘keep it interesting’ the second day, stated that his tournament highlight was holing out from under a tree for birdie on the par three 14th.

Jayden Dudas, 12, of Estevan, SK, who said he chose to play in this event ‘to golf in my first tournament and see how I’d do, and to meet new people,’ cruised to a comfortable victory in the new MJT Peewee Boys 12 and under division, shooting 86-80 (166). When asked about how it felt to win his division title, Dudas said, “Happy and proud and now I can’t wait to go to Yorkton (the next MJT event).”

The Girls division witnessed an exciting hole-in-one by Katherine McGlenen, 17, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who aced the 170 yard 14th hole on day one and won a special gift certificate from Miura Golf. McGlenen (72-83) finished one stroke back of the MJT Girls 15-19 division champion, Camryn Roadley, 16, also of Winnipeg, who put together solid scores of 79-75 (154) for the win. “I was happy to make my birdie putt on hole 10 the second day as I three-putted that hole the previous day, and very happy to win my first MJT event,” said Roadley. In the new MJT Girls 14 and under division, another Camryn (Frasz, 13, of Brooks, Alberta) shot 93-91 to run away with the title, and commented, “It feels good (to win) - I feel like I played well and I am very happy.”

Players now shortlisted for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships are Marc Sweeney, Jordan Bean, Jayden Dudas, Camryn Roadley and Camryn Frasz. 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: Brynne Paschinski • Shilo G&CC • Brandon, MB
Girls: Chloe Sies • Melville GC • Melville, SK
Peewee Boys: Jayden Dudas • Estevan, SK
Bantam Boys: Sean Buckles • Seymour • North Vancouver, BC
Juvenile Boys: Marc Sweeney • Riverside CC • Saskatoon, SK
Junior Boys: Carson Harcourt • Golf Kenosee • Kipling, SK

Sligo Closest-to-the-Pin Competition Winners

U15 Girls: Camryn Frasz • Brooks Golf Club • Brooks, AB
Girls: Chloe Sies • Melville GC • Melville, SK
Peewee Boys: Chase Pochylko • wildwood • Saskatoon, SK
Bantam Boys: Brody Istace • Kindersley Regional Golf Course • Kindersley, SK
Juvenile Boys: Tayden Wallin • Humboldt Golf Club • Humboldt , SK
Junior Boys: Logan Tisdale • Elmwood G&CC • Swift Current, SK

Golf Town Comeback Award Winners

U15 Girls: Brynne Paschinski • Shilo G&CC • Brandon, MB
Girls: Chloe Sies • Melville GC • Melville, SK
Peewee Boys: Koby Faubert • Wadena • Wadena, SK
Bantam Boys: Colby Friedrich • North Battleford G&CC • Battleford, SK
Juvenile Boys: Matthew Dueck • Chinook Golf Course • Waldeck, SK
Junior Boys: Teddy Wiens • Wascana Country Club • Regina, SK

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Saskatchewan runs June 27th and 28th at the site of the provincial junior championships - Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton - and is a MJT Team Canada Qualifier for 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 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