Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 14-15, 2016
Carstairs, AB

Valk Low Overall on MJT Prodigy Series at Carstairs Golf Club Fort McMurray juniors awarded Miura Gift Certificates

Carstairs, AB – (May 16, 2016) – Over 80 junior golfers were treated incredibly well by the Carstairs Golf Club staff during the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Prodigy Series and IMG Academy Junior Worlds Qualifier in Carstairs, Alberta, on May 14th and 15th, where the course played very difficult in the wind. The greens, which were in fantastic condition, became firmer each day as they dried out due to the warmth and wind both days.

Low overall and the MJT Junior Boys title was claimed by MJT veteran Michael Valk, 17, of Medicine Hat, AB, who won first place with scores of 72, 71 (143).  Valk was excited following his win, saying, “It feels awesome!  It is my first win on the MJT. I have been in the top five a lot of times, but it feels great to finally win.”  Jeff Masse, 18, of Lethbridge, AB, was runner-up in this division scoring 75, 69 (144), and Josh Lumgair, 18, of Calgary, AB, took third spot shooting 72, 74 (146).

Connor Tate, 16, of Kindersley, SK, made his trip to Alberta worthwhile by taking the MJT Juvenile Boys Division title with scores of 75, 74 (149).  Tate said, “I played very well off the tee today and chipped in twice which really helped my score.  On number four, I chipped in for an eagle and that really got my game going and turned it around.”  Ben Farrington, 15, of Fort McMurray, AB, tied for second place (80, 73 =153) with Brady McKinlay, 15, of Lacombe, AB, (78, 75 =153). Farrington and 13-year-old Gavin Barr, both Fort McMurray juniors, were also awarded special Miura Golf gift certificates in acknowledgement of what they are going through with the fire’s devastation of their home course and more.

In the MJT Bantam Boys Division, there was a tie for first place at 161 score between 13-year-old Calgarians Carson Rody (80-81) and Richard Dou (78, 83). Rody won the trophy via countback and stated, “I hit the ball well this week, but my putting was the difference between this weekend and last weekend at Paradise (Canyon).” There was a tie for third in the division between Caden Park, 14, of Springbank, AB, (79, 83=162) and Mark Janes, 13, of Red Deer, AB (78, 84 =162).       

Thomas Sluka, 12, of Canmore, AB, won the MJT Peewee Boys Division by six strokes after he fired 80, 79 (159).  Sluka stated, “I enjoy playing on the MJT – great courses, good staff, very organized, and fun courses.”  Charlie Gingras, 12, of Calgary, shot 87, 78 (165), to take the runner-up spot and Alex Gerrard, 12, of Red Deer County, claimed third place (91, 88 =179).        

In the MJT Girls U19 division, Cassidy Laidlaw, 17, of Calgary, was the top finisher with a score of 78, 75 (153).  “I stayed in the moment all weekend and I putted very well.  I am very excited as it is my first win on the MJT”, she said afterwards. Alicia Easthope, 17, of St. Albert, AB, snagged second spot (82, 75 =157), and there was a three-way tie for third place between Jaden Baustad, 17 of Calgary, Sydney Weber, 17 of Carstairs, and Clare McMahon, 17, of Red Deer.

The MJT U15 division saw another tie for first place at 174 total score between Stephanie Chelack, 13, of Calgary (88, 86) and Tillie Claggett, 12, also of Calgary (87, 87), with Chelack scooping the trophy based on countback. “My highlight was a great approach on number 12 which set up my birdie,” she said. “This feels great.  It is my first win on the MJT.”  Third place finisher was Alexa Wingnean, 11, of Edmonton, AB, who shot 89, 87 (176).           

Six eligible players were also shortlisted in specific age categories for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego this July:

Boys 11-12       Charlie Gingras (12)           Calgary, AB                          87-78=165

Boys 13-14           Thomas Sluka (13)           Canmore, AB                      80-79=159 (played from  Boys 13-14 tees)

Boys 15-17           Michael Valk (17)              Medicine Hat, AB               72-71=143 (-1)

Girls 11-12            Tillie Claggett  (12)           Calgary, AB                          87-87=174

Girls 13-14            Stephanie Chelack (14)    Calgary, AB                        88-86=174

Girls 15-17            Cassidy Laidlaw (17)        Calgary, AB                         78-75=153

Eighteen prizes were also awarded to Long Drive, Closest-to-the-Pin and Golf Town 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 the province is the MJT Srixon Series at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club in Banff, which is a qualifier for the International Players Championship (IPC) presented by Miura. 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, 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