Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

September 21-23, 2018
Niagara on the Lake, ON

Successful finish to unique MJT National Team Challenge presented by Freedom 55 Financial

Sihota and Chun crowned as Individual Champions

Niagara Falls, ON – (September 24, 2018) – The 54-hole fourth annual MJT National Team Challenge (NTC) presented by Freedom 55 Financial took place this past weekend on Royal Niagara Golf Course in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. This one-of-a-kind junior event, which features collegiate style scoring, is a highlight on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s season-long schedule and saw 89 players in 15 teams from Canada and Western New York challenge each other and the elements to see who would be crowned NTC Team and Individual champions.

During the opening day of competition, winds gusted up to 80km/h making for tough conditions and scores reflected this as the scoring average among Junior boys was four shots higher, and among Junior girls seven shots higher, in round one compared to round two.

MD Junior Golf Academy coached by Don Lee led wire-to-wire in the team portion of the event. Team members, Chris Yi, Eric Yun, Eric Byun, Gerry Mei, Victoria Zheng and Catherine Zhang were very impressive during the difficult opening round, posting a team score of 307 (74, 77, 78, 78). This was good enough for a 19 shot lead heading into the second day of competition over the Western New York PGA team.  

During the second round, the weather calmed, scores improved, and the low total went to Golf Ontario’s team of Peter Blazevic, Bennett Ruby, Tommy Latter, Tristen Renaud, Monet Chun and Vanessa Chychrun, who fired impressive scores of 69, 76, 77, 81 for a 303 team total, anchored by the terrific three-under par 69 by Golf Canada’s Development Squad member, Chun.  MD Junior Golf Academy would hold on to the overall lead in the team competition, however, after posting 308 on day two to bring their total to 615 (307, 308).

In the individual competition, Byun, 17, of the MD Junior Golf Academy, opened up a four shot lead in the MJT Junior Boys division over Brendan Dunphy, 17, of Geared to Golf Academy. Byun fired a 78 and followed it up with a 73 to sit at a two-day total of 151. In the MJT Junior Girls division, another MD Junior Golf Academy member, Zheng, 14, was able to weather the wind on day one posting a very impressive 74. Zheng followed that round with a 73 to hold a four stroke lead over Chun, 17, of Golf Ontario heading into the third and final round.

The third round saw the lowest scoring average for both divisions of any day. As competition for the individual titles heated up, MD Junior Golf Academy sat comfortably in the driver’s seat for the NTC trophy. However, the Golf Ontario team came out determined to cut into the lead and after MD Junior Golf Academy stumbled on the final day shooting their highest team total of the event, 312, this opened the door for Golf Ontario who finished very strong with a final round total of 296, highlighted by another under-par score from Chun. MD Junior Golf Academy would, however, hold on to win the MJT National Team Challenge by two strokes over Golf Ontario, 927 to 929.

On the individual’s side, second round leader, Zheng would fire a final round 74 to finish at 221 for the three days. Chun second consecutive under-par round, 70, would propel her back into contention and force a playoff with Zheng for low medalist honours in the MJT Junior Girls division. Chun would make par on the first playoff hole to capture the Junior girls individual title at the 2018 National Team Challenge presented by Freedom 55 Financial. “I’m very excited to have been able to play well the last two days. To be able to win was a wonderful experience!” said Chun. “I wanted to play this event because I got to play some of the best junior golfers in Canada, and I always enjoy representing Golf Ontario.”

On the MJT Junior Boys side, Bavake Sihota, 16, of MJT Team Red, was the only player to shot in the 60’s, with a final round 69. Sitting five shots back of the leader going into the final day, Sihota made five birdies including one on the last hole on his way to erasing the deficit and edged out second round leader Byun by a single shot overall. “On the 18th hole, I needed to make birdie, so I hit driver to the middle of the fairway and then hit a 60˚ wedge to ten feet. I took a while on the putt because I needed to make it, and I did,” said Sihota. “It feels so great to have won a WAGR ranked event.”

Freedom 55 Financial presented this unique junior golf event, adding to their strong support of golf in Canada. Team and individual results for Geared To Golf, Glen Abbey Academy – Casey, Glen Abbey Academy – Vaughn, Golf Ontario, Golf Performance Center, Golf Performance Coaches, Henry Brunton - GenNXT Academy, MD Junior Golf Academy, MJT Ontario Blue, MJT Ontario Red, MJT Ontario White, MJT Team Prairies, MJT Team West, Rattlesnake Golf Academy and Western New York PGA can be found online on the MJT website www.maplejt.com.

About Freedom 55 FinancialTM:

Freedom 55 FinancialTM, a division of London Life Insurance Company, offers financial security advice and planning to Canadians through its more than 3,700 financial security advisors across Canada.  Freedom 55 Financial offers London Life’s own brand of life insurance, savings and investments, retirement income, annuities, and mortgage products to Canadians.

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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