Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 11-12, 2016
New Minas (Wolfville), NS

Major qualifier for over 90 Juniors in MJT-NSGA Player of the Year Series at Ken-Wo

Wolfville, NS – (June 13, 2016) – An impressive field of 91 junior golfers were booked in on Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour for the MJT-NSGA Player of the Year Series at Ken-Wo Country Club in Wolfville, NS, on June 11th and 12th, competing for titles in six divisions plus the chance to qualify for the CN Future Links Atlantic Canada Championship, the Canada Summer Games, and the International Players Championship (IPC) presented by Miura Golf.

Meghan McLean, 17, of Port Williams, NS, fired excellent rounds of 74, 72 (146) on her home course to run away with the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Girls 15-19 title and a direct exemption into the IPC. Spots into the Future Links and Summer Games events will be announced by the NSGA. “I made lots of putts from five feet which helped me a lot, also, my consistent iron play put me on many greens,” McLean commented following her brilliant play, adding, “I’m very happy to win this. MJT have the best run tournaments around - they are supportive and so much fun to play in.” Second place in the division went to Allison Chandler, 18, of Chester, NS (85, 75=160), and third place to Claire Konning, 18, of Indian Mountain, NB (84, 77=161).

In the MJT Junior Boys Division, a playoff was needed to determine the eventual winner after regular play ended in a tie between Matthew Chandler, 17, of Chester (71, 76=147), and Aubrey Farrell, 17, of Sydney Forks, NS (74, 73=147), with Chandler winning on the third playoff hole with a par.  Chandler said, “My steady short game was key. Aubrey Farrell definitely had me worried coming down the stretch and in the playoff – I feel great about winning, especially because it was in a playoff.”   Patrick Jackson, 17, of Truro Heights, NS, took third place in the division with scores of 78, 72 (150).

The MJT Juvenile Boys Division was an incredibly tight race, won by Benjamin Chassé, 16, of Fall River, NS, who managed to come back with an outstanding second round, shooting 78, 71 (149).  Chassé felt that one of the main reasons for his victory was ‘my grind on the second day on the last few holes’, adding, “I am very honoured to have won such an important tournament because of the Atlantic and Canada Games qualifying.”  A tie for the runner-up position, hot on the heels of Chassé, were John Mosher, 15, of Halifax, NS (73, 77=150) and Shaun Margeson, 16, of Fall River, (72, 78=150). 

Mark Chandler, 14, of Chester, added to the haul of trophies in the family with the MJT Bantam Boys title after carding solid scores both days of 78, 80 (158).  “Owen Mullen was playing good golf on the first day and today,” noted Chandler about his competitors, adding, “The main reason for my victory was my good iron play and putting.” Owen Mullen, 12, of Truro, NS settled for the runner-up position (76, 85=161), and Andrew Cash, 14, of Upper Tantallon, NS, was awarded third with a score of 77, 87 (164).

In the MJT Peewee Boys Division, Dimitri Mihelakos, 12, of Halifax, took home the champion’s trophy after firing 79, 88 (167).  Following the tournament, Mihelakos said, “Well, I was never worried but Connor in my group is a great player and he had me a lot of times. I am happy I won but the point is that everyone had fun.”  Connor Trenholm, 12, of Cole Harbour, NS, was the runner-up (81, 89=170), and in third spot was Simon Mullen, 10, of Truro (97, 84=181).

Haley Baker, 14, of Halifax, won first place in the MJT Girls U15 Division with scores of 87, 84 (171), and stated afterwards, “I think it was because I was confident in myself and I focused on shock by short play. I feel great! I feel that I played pretty well and it paid off by me winning” Second place went to Mackenzie Deveau, 13, of Moncton, NB, (97, 94=191) and Abbey Baker, 11, of Halifax, settled for third (108, 103=211).   

In addition to Meghan McLean, Matthew Chandler, Benjamin Chasse and Mark Chandler also receive direct exemptions into the International Players Championship presented by Miura Golf at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, AB, August 15-17, 2016. In addition, a total of 18 prizes were also awarded at the tournament to Longball Long Drive, MJT Closest-to-the-Pin and Golf Town Comeback Winners whose names are all listed on the tournament page on the MJT website.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in the Atlantic provinces is on July 23-24 - the MJT / Golf NB Player of the Year Series at Fox Creek GC, in Dieppe, NB, which is a qualifier for the International Team Challenge (ITC).  To register of 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