Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 24-25, 2017
Selkirk, MB

MJT Prodigy Series at Selkirk qualifies three players for ITC

Selkirk, MB - (July 25, 2017) – “We had two wonderful days here in Selkirk, the weather was fantastic,” said Ed Boge, MJT Tournament Director, regarding Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour’s stop at Selkirk Golf Club, MB, on July 24 and 25, where players were competing in six divisions as well as the chance to qualify for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Team East in the International Team Challenge Matches (ITC) presented by Freedom 55 Financial at Royal Niagara Golf Club in Niagara Falls this September.

The boys spots on the team went to MJT veteran and hometown hero, Wesley Hoydalo, 17, of Selkirk, and Cole Ferguson, 18, of Winnipeg, MB. Hoydalo fired excellent back-to-back rounds of 72 for an even-par total 144 for the two days, winning Low Overall and the MJT Junior Boys 17-18 title. “I went three under on my last 11 holes – I feel like my hard work has paid off,” said Hoydalo. Runner-up was Ferguson, who shot 74, 74 (148).           

The girls spot on MJT Team East to the ITC went to Bobbi Uhl, 17, of Erickson, MB, who carded 79, 77 (156) to win her second MJT Girls 15-18 title this season by two strokes over Rebecca Kuik, 18, of Winnipeg (80, 78=158). Uhl said, “My iron shots were the best thing about my game and I feel very proud (to win) as I played consistently both days.” 

In the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 division, Jacob Armstrong, 15, of Winnipeg, held off both Brady Bandura, 16, of Selkirk, and Eric Strick, 15, of Winnipeg, shooting back-to-back rounds of 75 (150 total) to claim the title with a four stroke winning margin. “It feels great to win as I’ve come very close before,” Armstrong said, referring to his three second place finishes so far this season. “I have learned so much on the tour, and the volunteers and directors never fail to put on a great tournament,”

Braxton Kuntz, 13, of Winnipeg, said he felt ‘happy and excited because I played well’  after he won his third MJT Bantam Boys 13-14 title this season, firing rock solid rounds of 76, 73 (149) for a five-stroke victory over Noah Fiks, 13, also of Winnipeg (76, 78=154). “My tee shots were in the fairway and the course was in good shape,” Kuntz added.       

It was a first-time win in the MJT Peewee Boys division for 12-year-old Hayden Chaloner of Winnipeg, (85, 82=167), who held off Hayden Delaloye, 11, of Neepawa, MB, by six strokes.

And finally, in the new MJT Collegiate Men’s division, Joel Baron, 20, of Carberry, MB, fired 75, 83 (158) to beat runner-up Izac Silagy, 19, of Winnipeg, for the title. Baron stated, “It feels good to win another tournament, my ball striking was solid.”

Full results and overall event highlights are posted on the MJT website, showing winners of the Miura ‘Respect the Game’ Award, PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and Golf Town Performance Awards.

The final stop for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in the province this season is the MJT-PGA of Manitoba Junior Championship presented by National Bank Financial at Bel Acres Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg on August 28 and 29. 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 presented nationally by Boston Pizza and supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 70 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-12 year olds, the Collegiate Tour for 19-23 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11 to 18 which are also qualifiers 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. For more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com

MEDIA CONTACT: Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing & Administration, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour edenton@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF  www.maplejt.com.