Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 14-15, 2016
Winnipeg, MB

Two playoffs highlight MJT Manitoba Season Opener at Transcona

Winnipeg, MB – (May 16, 2016) – Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza, teed off the Manitoba season opener this past weekend at Transcona Golf Club in Winnipeg, where players endured cold weather in the two-day tournament on May 14th and 15th. The event was also a shortlist qualifier for the Junior World Championships in San Diego, and two playoffs in the Bantam and Junior divisions highlighted the action.

There was a three-way tie between 14 year olds from Winnipeg that needed to go to a playoff in an exciting finish in the MJT Bantam Boys division, where Nicholas Fernandes, (82-85=167) battled Eric Strick (88-79) and Jacob Armstrong (83-84) for the win on the third playoff hole.  “The great play during the tournament was when I was in the third playoff hole, and I drove the green and had a 20-foot eagle putt and two-putted for the win,” said Fernandes afterwards.

Another playoff was needed to determine the eventual winner in the MJT Junior Boys division, where Zach Wytinck, 17, of Glenboro, MB (79, 72 =151), clinched the title over Samuel Diamond, 17, of Winnipeg (75, 76=151), with a tap-in birdie on the first playoff hole.  Wytinck attributed his win to ‘experience, entering many tournaments, and practice.’ Cameron McIntyre, 17, of Winnipeg, finished in third place shooting 79, 74 (153).

In the MJT Juvenile Boys division, Ryan McMillan, 16, of Winnipeg, took first place shooting an admirable 73, 70 (143).  “It feels awesome to win,” he said, following the tournament.  Runner up was Marco Trstenjak, 16, of Winnipeg, with a score of 72, 73 (145), and third place went to Cole Uzat, 16, of Selkirk, MB, who scored 79, 75 (154).

Noah Fiks, 12, of Winnipeg, took the MJT Peewee Boys title, shooting 78, 76 (154) to beat runner-up Braxton Kuntz, 12, of Winnipeg, by two strokes. “On the first hole on the first round after hitting a good tee shot, I hit a very nice wedge to about five feet and made the putt - that really got my confidence going,” said Fiks, who was excited to win as this was only his fourth MJT tournament. Jordon McDonald, 12, of Winnipeg, took third spot (82, 80=162).

In the MJT Girls U19 division, Winnipeggers dominated with Camryn Roadley, 17, shooting 76, 80 (156) for a six stroke winning margin.  Following the tournament, she said, “I was happy to have won the first event of the season and always look forward to playing MJT events.”  Runner up in the division was Rebecca Kuik, 17, who carded 84, 78 (162), and third place went to Brynn Todd, 18, who scored 100, 88 (188).

Mikyla Albert, 14, of Selkirk, was the lone contestant in the younger Girls U15 division and shot a 103, 97 (200), stating, “My best play was on hole #6 where I had the longest drive and made it on the green in two shots.”

Over a dozen 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 Manitoba is the MJT Prodigy Series at Winkler Centennial Golf Course on June 18-19, which is also a qualifier for the Srixon International Junior Classic in Australia.  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 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