Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 12-13, 2018
Portage la Prairie, MB

Nagy twins duke it out in MJT Manitoba Season opener in Portage la Prairie - Several shortlist qualify for major international events

Portage, MB - (May 14, 2018) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Manitoba season opener presented by PLYR Golf teed off on the 6300 yard Portage Golf Club layout in Portage la Prairie, MB, May 12 and 13, where players aged 10-22 were competing for titles in seven different divisions as well as for shortlisted spots in both the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego, CA and US Kids Teen World Championship in Pinehurst, NC.

The toughest competition of the weekend came in the MJT Juvenile Boys division where more than the division title was on the line, but also family bragging rights. Josh Nagy, 16, of Saskatoon, SK had the low rounds of the weekend shooting 71,74 (145) to beat his twin brother Cole, by four shots. Josh is excited to kick the season off on the right foot, “I feel great, with Future Links down here (at Portage Golf Club in June), it feels really great to play well and get the win.”

In the MJT Junior Boys division, Cole Obrigewitsch, 18, of Deer Valley, SK, shot rounds of 74, 77 (151) to take first place by a comfortable six shots. Obrigewitsch, a first-time winner on the MJT, has been playing on the Tour since he was 14. “It’s a really well-run tournament organization. It feels great winning my first MJT title,” he said. Obrigewitsch bested Brent Ingram, 17, of West St. Paul, MB who shot rounds of 81, 76 (157).

Braxton Kuntz, 14, of Winnipeg, MB, was able to battle back in round two to defend his 2017 title in the MJT Bantam Boys division after shooting 75, 73 (148). Kuntz was able to overcome Jordan McDonald, 14, also of Winnipeg, MB and Ryan Blair, 14, of Oakbank, MB who tied for second place with a two-day total of 151. When asked what the key to winning this weekend in Portage, Kuntz replied, “I finished very strong on day two. I hit it to three feet on 17 and made birdie, then scrambled for par after a poor tee shot on 18 to solidify the win.”

Hayden Delaloye, 12, of Neepawa, MB, was also able to defend his 2017 title by running away with the MJT PeeWee Boys division with scores of 85, 78 (163). Delaloye’s closest competition was Grady Chuback, 12, of Headingley, MB, twelve shots back. “It was windy today (day two), so it felt great to shot 78 in those conditions,” said Delaloye.

Bobbi Uhl, 18, of Erickson, MB, shot rounds of 81, 84 (165) for a 20-stroke victory, successfully defending her 2017 victory in the MJT Girls 15-18 division. Uhl said, “It feels good to win, but I didn’t play how I wanted. It’s early in the season and I want to play a lot before University next year.”

In the Girls U15 division, Ella Kozak, 12, of Yorkton, SK, was yet another champion able to defend their title from a year ago. Kozak shot rounds of 86, 88 (174).

The Collegiate Men division (ages 19-23) saw two individuals battle it out for the title. Nicholas Glesby, 19, of Winnipeg, MB, shot 87, 86 (173) to take home the title this year.

Event details are posted on the MJT website here, showing winners of the MJT ‘Comeback Award’, PLYR Long Drive and PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin.

The players short-listed for the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in San Diego, CA are Hayden Delaloye, Braxton Kuntz, Josh Nagy, Ella Kozak, Ella Scabar and Bobbi Uhl. Similarly, Kozak, Scabar, Uhl, Delaloye, Kuntz and Nagy have all been short-listed for the US Kids Teen Championships in Pinehurst, NC, along with Spence Mott, of Brandon, MB and Jack Rudick, of Winnipeg, MB. Finalists will be notified once qualifying completes across the country.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Manitoba is the MJT Manitoba Spring Classic / US Kids World Qualifier at Carman Golf Club in Carman, MB on June 2 and 3, followed by the MJT Manitoba Spring Series at Bel Acres Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, June 27 and 28. 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

About PLYR Golf: Launched in 2015, PLYR Golf is a new and fun apparel and accessories brand. While they tend to target the trends of the younger demographic, PLYR is a lifestyle golf brand made for everyone. To keep up with the new products PLYR offers, please visit www.PLYRgolf.com

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