Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 27-28, 2015
London, ON

Six Winners crowned at MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Championship at Forest City National

London, ON – (June 29, 2015) – Six divisional winners were crowned on Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour last weekend in London, Ontario, when the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour held the MJT-PGA of Ontario Junior Championship at Forest City National Golf Club on June 27th and 28th.

Despite heavy wind and rain, which prevented the packed field from completing the full 36 hole tournament, 17-year-old Will Leak from Toronto, ON, managed to take a commanding six stroke lead over 27 holes with scores of 39-73 (112) to be crowned MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Boys 17-19 Champion. Leak, who now qualifies for the North American Junior Amateur in Phoenix, AZ, this December, cited his highlight as a hole-out from a bunker for birdie, and credited his victory to solid shots with his irons.

The MJT-Ontario PGA Juvenile Boys 15-16 Champion was Connor Rochon, 15, of Toronto, who made his rained-shortened first round count, shooting 37-79 (116) to edge out the competition by just two strokes. “My coaches recommended this tournament to me,” said Rochon. “On the ninth hole I hit a wedge shot to less than one foot and tapped in for birdie. It feels nice to win especially in the poor conditions we played in.”

The first place trophy for the Bantam Boys Champion went to 14-year-old Zachary Katzenstein of Thornhill, ON, who shot 38-81 (119) to narrowly edge out a one-stroke victory. “I feel very good about winning because there was great competition and it is my first real win,” he said afterwards. “I was hitting the greens, finding the fairways and made some clutch putts at the end.”

And the MJT-PGA of Ontario Peewee Boys Champion’s trophy deservedly went to Shawn Sehra, the amazing 12-year-old from Windsor, ON, who solidified his fourth MJT victory with scores of 38-76 (114). “This is arguably the most prestigious event for a peewee division tournament,” stated Sehra. “My highlight was on number 14 on day one - my drive went in the water, but I hit an eight iron to 10 feet and made par. It feels awesome to get a ‘W’.”

Diana McDonald won the MJT-Ontario PGA Junior Girls 15-19 trophy with scores of 42-82 (124) to win her third MJT event. The 17-year-old from Kingston said that her main reason for her victory was overcoming a rough start to the tournament where she had a triple bogey on the first hole. “I feel good about winning – I knew there were a couple of good players in my division,” she said. “My playing partners are great friends of mine so it was nice playing with them, and the MJT holds great events so I always like going to them – it’s fun!”

The younger Girl’s title for U15 players was won by 13-year-old Hailey McLaughlin of Markham, ON, after she shot 46-77 (123) and won by 11 strokes over the rest of the competition. McLaughlin said after the event, “My highlight was finishing the last hole and realizing I was able to shoot a 77. I feel great (about winning); I had tough competition this weekend so to come out and win feels awesome.”

The 18 divisional winners of the Skills Competitions which ran during the tournament were as follows:

Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition:

U15 Girls: Hailey Katona • Tilbury Golf Club • Tilbury, ON
Girls: Dylaney Day • Ladies Club of Toronto • Toronto, ON
Peewee Boys: Kaden Dundas • Sault Golf Club • Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Bantam Boys: Bennett Ruby • Westmount • Waterloo, ON
Juvenile Boys: Connor Rochon • Weston G&CC • Toronto, ON
Junior Boys: Andrew Chambers • Highland G&CC • London, ON

Sligo Closest-to-the-Pin Competition:

U15 Girls: Ellis Harvie • Oakville, ON
Girls: Ellice Hong • Glendale GC • Thornhill, ON
Peewee Boys: Nick Cundari • North Bay Golf and Country Club • North Bay , ON
Bantam Boys: David Nunes • Beach Grove Golf and Country Club • Tecumseh, ON
Juvenile Boys: Myles Thiessen • Kingsville GC • Kingsville, ON
Junior Boys: Blake Mackey • Walkerton GCC • Walkerton, ON

Golf Town Comeback Award winners for best second day improvement in score:

U15 Girls: Shannon Coffey • Roseland GC • Windsor, ON
Girls: Ciara Costabile • Whistle Bear Golf Club • Ayr, ON
Peewee Boys: Kaden Dundas • Sault Golf Club • Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Bantam Boys: Elliott Wayne • Thornhill Golf and Country club • Thornhill, ON
Juvenile Boys: Carter Snowden • Whistle Bear GC • Kitchener, ON
Junior Boys: Andrew Smith • Beach Grove GC • Tecumseh, ON

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event in the province is the MJT Ontario Series at Roseland Golf and Curling Club in Windsor, which is also a qualifier for the IMG Academy Junior World Championship - Florida Challenge, as well as for the MJT International Players Championship. For more information or to register 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