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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

August 7-9, 2018
Surrey, BC

Outstanding results from top-ranked MJT Odlum Brown Classic–PGA of BC Junior Championship

Surrey, BC. - (August 10, 2018) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s 13th annual, major-ranked MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Junior Championship played over the past three days at the superbly conditioned Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, BC, August 7 to 9, and featured the largest wait-listed field in BC this season with 120 players in seven age divisions.

Outstanding results were recorded at the tournament, which has a cut after 36 holes for the final round and attracts the province’s best players. The event is highly ranked by Golf Canada, is an American Junior Golf Association Priority Based Entry event, and features the opportunity to earn World Amateur Golf Ranking points as well as bonus MJT Order of Merit points in the season-long race to the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship presented by TaylorMade Golf and adidas in Phoenix this November.

Firing excellent rounds of 73-66-71 to be crowned Overall and MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Junior Boys Champion was Ilirian Zalli, 16, of Burnaby, BC, who was playing up a division. His six-under-par total score of 210 was Low Overall by three strokes and nine better than division runner-up, Min Kang, 18, of Abbotsford, BC (73, 69, 77=219).  Coming up the 18th hole on the final day, Zalli, who is the reigning BC Junior Boys Champion, said he wanted to get his score into the 60’s again so decided to be aggressive. “At the time I had a large lead and I was focused on seeing if I could hit the par-five in two and make the lead larger. I like this event because it is three days and one of the premier events of the season.”

MJT newcomer, John Paul Kahlert, 16, of Maple Ridge, BC, made a huge impression in his debut with a blistering 67 on day two to finish with scores of 74, 67, 72 (213), claiming the MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Juvenile Boys Champion’s title by a total of five shots. “I feel great, there was lots of good competition in the field, it was great to get the win,” Kahlert said. Tony Li, 16, of Vancouver (74, 71, 73=218) was runner up in the highly competitive division.

Continuing in order of impressive scoring, the MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Peewee Boys Champion was 12-year-old Daniel Bennett of North Saanich, BC, after he fired a two-under-par, 70, on day one and then never relinquished the lead, finishing 70, 73, 71 (214) for a 10 shot victory. “My best hole was 12, during round two on the Canal Course, when I made eagle to put my scorecard back to +1 over,” Bennett said. “On the final hole, day three, I just played safe and hit extra club. I feel great (about winning) because last year I came third so it’s nice to get the win.” Battling it out to tie for second place in the division at 224 total score was Ryan Vest, 12, of Vernon, BC (75, 71, 78) and Jay Xu, 11, of Burnaby (76, 69, 79).

Rock solid scoring from Jennifer Gu, 15, of West Vancouver, BC, handed her the MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Girls 15-18 Champion’s trophy. Gu shot 73, 70, 73 (216) to win by three strokes over 12-year-old phenomenon Lauren Kim, of Surrey, BC, (75, 71, 73=219) who plays up a division. Gu said she made a promise to herself on the 18th tee, saying, “I wasn’t sure of my competitors scores and was sure Lauren was going to post a low round, so I told myself I needed a birdie to win. I rammed the putt right in the heart, making the birdie I promised myself I’d make. This is my first win since turning 15 and moving up a division, so it feels great especially with so many great players in the field.”

Michelle Liu, 11, from Vancouver, BC, went wire to wire to be crowned MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Girls U15 Champion. Her remarkable rounds of 70, 75, 75 (220) edged out a single shot victory over Tina Jiang, 13, of Richmond, BC (74, 74, 73=221). “I decided to play safe and just make a par on the final hole,” Liu said of her first MJT title. “It’s really nice (to win) and the trophy looks cool too.”  

In Boys 13-14, Luke Quanson, 14, of Coquitlam, BC, also edged out victory by one stroke to be crowned MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of BC Bantam Boys Champion. Quanson shot 78, 71, 75 (224), battling hard all tournament with runner-up finisher Ryan Lee, 14, of Burnaby (77, 73, 75=225). This is Quanson’s fourth season on the MJT, and first win in the Bantam division. “I was thinking on the final hoe – don’t do anything that will cost you the tournament,” Quanson said. “I feel very happy because it was a very challenging tournament with strong competition.”

The MJT Collegiate Men’s and Women’s division, with the Women playing from a yardage 10% shorter than the men, saw Belinda Lin, 21, of Surrey and a Junior at Simon Fraser University, claim the Hoselton trophy with fine scores of 77, 72, 74 (223)  When asked about her win, Lin said, “It feels awesome! This is actually my first MJT win. It gives me more confidence and I feel like I am ready for my upcoming college season.” Runner-up in the division was Shania Remandaban, 19, of Coquitlam (75, 78, 79=232).

Full results and highlights are posted on the MJT website here, showing winners of the PLYR Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin Competitions, and MJT Comeback Awards, and a photo gallery.

The next MJT event in BC is the Whistler Junior Championship at Whistler Golf Club in Whistler, August 13 and 14. For more information, please visit  www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About Odlum Brown Limited: Odlum Brown Limited is an independent, BC-based, full-service investment firm providing disciplined investment advice and objective research with a singular focus on clients. Established in 1923, the firm offers a full range of investment products including equities, fixed income, mutual funds and GIC’s; and financial, retirement and estate planning through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Odlum Brown Financial Services Limited. For more information visit www.odlumbrown.com/ Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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: Russ MacKay, Operations Manager, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour rmackay@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF  www.maplejt.com