Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 25-26, 2016
Selkirk, MB

Abgrall, Norrie and Naylor qualify for MJT Team Prairies to ITC

Sellkirk, MB – July 27, 2016 – Selkirk Golf Club in Selkirk, Manitoba, played host to Canada’s number-one played junior golf tour on July 25 and 26, where junior golfers competed over 36 holes of stroke play for division titles in six age groups on the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour plus the chance to qualify for MJT Team Prairies into the International Team Challenge (ITC) at Hunters Pointe Golf Club near Niagara Falls, ON, September 23-25.

Colwyn Abgrall, 19, of Niverville, MB, notched up his second MJT Junior Boys 17-19 title in a row after he fired rounds of 68, 77 (145) to win by six strokes over Stefan Lavallee, 18, of Steinbach, MB (79, 72=151). “Shooting 68 in the first round gave me an eight shot cushion heading into the second round which was a big relief,” said Abgrall, who noted that he’ll already be in school in Phoenix, AZ, this fall so ‘it would be awesome to play in the MJT National Championships’ there this November. The division saw a tie for third place at 152 total score between Avery Livingston, 19, of Starbuck, MB (78, 74) and Zak Bannatyne, 17, of Winnipeg, MB (76, 76).

It took a playoff to determine the winner in the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 division after a tie for the lead at 148 total score between Spencer Norrie, 16, of Morden, MB (70, 78) and Selkirk’s Wesley Hoydalo, 16, (76, 72). Norrie won on the fourth playoff hole (which was the 18th hole) with a two putt par after Hoydalo hit it over the green and couldn't make the up and down. “I started off strong on the first day but Wesley was very close (on day two) so it was a battle. The playoff was very nerve-racking,” said Norrie afterwards. Third place went to Nic Fanning, 15, of Winnipeg, who shot 81, 75 (156).    

14-year-old Jacob Armstrong of Winnipeg shot 80, 73 (153) to win the MJT Bantam Boys title by seven strokes over joint runners-up Adam Ingram, 12, of West St Paul, MB, who was playing up a division (78, 82) and Neel Soni, 14, of Winnipeg, (77, 83). Armstrong, who noted that ‘the volunteers and players are so friendly and the atmosphere is truly great’, said about his win: “I feel amazing! Driving was straight and consistent and I never made worse than a bogey. Coming down the stretch I was thinking ‘don’t choke! Don’t choke!’ Play it safe and you got this.” 

MJT veteran at age 12, Braxton Kuntz, of Winnipeg, won his second MJT Peewee Boys title in as many starts with solid scores of 75, 76 (151), and stated afterwards, “The key to winning the tournament was my short game; I was doing great before coming down the stretch, but unfortunately I ended bogey, double. I feel great knowing that I won my division.” Second place finisher was Noah Fiks, 12, of Winnipeg, (80, 79=159) and there was a tie for third at 164 between Eric Reid, 12, of Virden, MB (84, 80) and Ryan Blair, 12,  Oakbank, MB (83, 81).

The MJT Girls 15-19 title went to 18-year-old Marissa Naylor of Winnipeg, after she shot 82, 75 (157) to edge out Rebecca Kuik, 17, also of Winnipeg, (79, 79=158). Naylor, who is soon off to the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in Nova Scotia, said the key to her victory was ‘staying in the moment and not getting ahead of myself.’ McKyla Poponick, 19, of Selkirk, came in third place (84, 76=160). The younger Girls U15 title was won by Mikyla Albert, of Selkirk, with scores of 97, 93 (190), after she beat out Brynne Paschinski, 14, of Brandon, MB (116, 100=216).

Eighteen additional prizes were also awarded to Longball Long Drive, MJT 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, and the players who qualified for MJT Team Prairies to the ITC were Abgrall, Norrie and Naylor.

The last two MJT stops in the province run August 15 and 16 at Winkler Centennial Golf Course in Winkler and August 23 and 24 at Rossmere Country Club in Winnipeg, giving members a final chance to earn MJT order of merit points towards qualification into the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf at The Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, AZ, this November.  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 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:  Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing and Administration edenton@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF