Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 7-8, 2016
Langley, BC

Sam Su Low Overall in MJT Lindsay Kenney Classic Six shortlisted for IMG Academy Junior World Championships

Langley, BC – (May 9, 2016) –  A packed field of 94 junior golfers teed it up in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s annual MJT Lindsay Kenney Classic at Pagoda Ridge Golf Course in Langley, BC, this past Mother’s day weekend, battling for titles in six different divisions as well as the chance to be shortlisted for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego, CA, this July. 

Strong winds on day one affected scoring but better conditions on day two were taken advantage of by many, including Samuel Su, who fired a three under par final round of 69 to win Low Overall and his second MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 title so far this season. “I feel very proud and blessed,” said Su, 16, of Surrey, BC, who managed to win by two strokes (73, 69=142) and hold off an outstanding final round score of 67 from a hard-charging Henry Lei, 15, also of Surrey (76, 67=143). Third place in the division was a tie between Joel Veenstra, 16, of Smithers, BC (74, 71=145) and first round leader Andy Kim, of Langley, (70, 75=145).

Keeping it even, the Veenstra brothers from Smithers shot the same score, with Adam Veenstra, 17, carding 71, 74 (145) to prevail as the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 Lindsay Kenney Classic Champion, three shots ahead of last year’s winner Tristan Mandur of Mill Bay, BC (74, 74) and Mitchell Thiessen of Chilliwack, BC (73, 75). “It was a great field with a lot of good players,” said Veenstra, who made an eagle on the 10th hole. “I struggled midway through the second round but didn’t let it get to me and finished two under on the last five holes.”

William Tindle, 14, of Coquitlam, BC, triumphed as the MJT Bantam Boys 13-14 Lindsay Kenney Champion after firing 78, 75 (153) for a three stroke winning margin over Vancouver’s Dylan Bercan (77, 79=156). “It feels great to get my first win of the season and I hope to keep up the good play,” said Tindle.

Freddy Sun, 12, of Richmond, BC, made five birdies in his run to taking the MJT Peewee Boys title (75, 76=151). He stated afterwards, “Pagoda Ridge is a challenging course and the competition was tough. I am happy that I won this event.” Second place in the division went to Bailey Bjornson, 12, of Surrey, BC (80, 75=155) and third went to Cooper Humphreys, 11, of Lions Bay, BC (82, 77=159).

A stellar final round of 70 vaulted Alisha Lau, 16, of Richmond, BC, into first place for Girls 15-19, as she came from behind with scores of 77, 70 (147) to beat runner-up Victoria Liu, 13, of Vancouver, BC, who plays up a division (75, 75=150), and third place finisher Jayla Yoonji Kang, 15, of Surrey (74, 77=151). Lau commented, “I played my own game and went with the flow not really thinking about the scores. I played because MJT runs great tournaments – all the staff are awesome and friendly!”

The MJT Girls U15 Lindsay Kenney Classic Champion was local Chaewon Baek, 12, of Langley, who shot back-to-back rounds of 74 for a 148 total score, winning by three strokes over Angel Lin, 13, of Surrey. “I putted well and enjoyed my partner’s company,” said Baek. Third place in the division was claimed by 14-year-old Amy Ehlert of Maple Ridge, BC, who shot 86, 79 (165).                             

The players to be shortlisted for age specific spots in the Junior Worlds are division winners Su, Sun, Lau and Baek, together with Dylan Bercan for Boys 13-14 and Victoria Liu for Girls 13-14. The finalists will be announced once qualifying has completed across the country. In addition, a total of 18 prizes were also awarded to Long Drive, Closest-to-the-Pin and Comeback Winners in the tournament whose names are all listed on the tournament page on the MJT website.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in BC is the MJT Ford Series at Swan-e-set Bay Resort in Pitt Meadows on May 28th and 29th – a double qualifier for MJT Team Canada to the Srixon International Junior Classic in Australia and for the BC Junior Boys Championship.  For more information on the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About Lindsay Kenney LLP (LK Law):

Lindsay Kenney LLP is a regional business law firm established in 1980 with offices in Vancouver and Langley BC. For more information about MJT Tournament Partner Lindsay Kenney LLP, which has supported the MJT since 1999, please visit www.lklaw.ca

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, TuGo, Cleveland Golf, Srixon and Aquafina, in addition to valued Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 60 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