Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 1, 2016
Vancouver, BC

Beautiful weather and a well-kept Musqueam Golf Course in Vancouver, BC, led to a great day of golf for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour Series for players aged 12 and under on Sunday, May 1st, the first in a series of eight events in the province series which culminates in a Mini Tour National Championship presented by Ford at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club in Tsawwassen this August.

In the Girls U8 division, Anna Huang (7) of Pacific Golf Academy shot 71 and commented that her Mum caddying for her was the reason she was able to win. Elise Liu (9) from Quilchena Golf Club and Pacific Golf Academy chipped in for a birdie on hole three en route to becoming champion of the Girls 9-10 division with a score of 64 on the Par 60 layout. In the Girl’s Peewee division, Angela Aurora (11) won her first MJT event with a score of 70. Afterwards Aurora said, “I have been practicing chipping by putting a bucket 15 yards away from me and trying to chip into the bucket. That has helped a lot!”

Maxim McKenzie (8) of Royalwood Golf Club shot 68 to take home first place in the U8 Boys after hitting the green in one with a driver on hole 15, saying afterwards, “I love golf and this is a great tour!” Justin Bjornson (10) of The LAB at Northview fired 61 to become the Boys 9-10 champion, crediting his solid chipping. MJT ‘ambassador’ Brycen Ko (12) won the Boys Peewee division trophy on his home course with a score of 63, saying that his short game was what propelled him to victory.

Players enjoyed Boston Pizza pizza after the round, and the first ever MJT Mini Tour Chip & Putt competition where the winners were Claudia Zhang (Atom Girls), Angela Aurora (Peewee Girls), Kenny Wang (Atom Boys), and Ryen Tytherleigh (Peewee Boys). The highlight of the competition was 11 year-old Ryen Tytherleigh’s chip-in and his ‘three out of three’ putts which led him to an easy victory. “I only wish I played like that during the round,” he said afterwards.

The U8 and 9-10 divisions were also competing for shortlisted spots into the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, CA, this July, and the eligible players were Maxim McKenzie, Elise Liu, Justin Bjornson, and Anna Huang. Finalists will be announced once qualifying is finished across the country.

The next MJT Mini Tour in BC is May 15th at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club and is a direct qualifier for the U.S. Kids World Championships in Pinehurst, NC. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com.