Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

April 22, 2018
Tsawwassen, BC

Record field size in MJT Mini Tour’s BC stop in Tsawwassen

Tsawwassen, BC – (April 23, 2018) – A record number of young athletes aged 6 to 12 participated in the Boston Pizza-sponsored Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour's Mini Tour at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club in Tsawwassen, BC, on Sunday April 22, heralding an exciting future for golf.  Over 70 players registered to play in the sunshine at the MJT Mini Tour’s season opening event, which also offered direct exemptions into the IMG Academy Junior Worlds Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, arguably the most difficult junior golf tournament in the world to qualify for.  

Both Jaden August, 9, of Pitt Meadows, BC, and 10-year old Sky Sun of Vancouver, BC, fired amazing rounds of 68 from the Gold tees to tie for the lead in the MJT Boys 9-10 division, forcing a tense playoff for one of the coveted spots. August, who had holed it from the fairway to make a two on number 10, went ahead and birdied the first playoff hole to win. “My best hole today was 10, I made a hole-out eagle," he said. “I tried to make a par or birdie on 18, hoping it was good enough. It feels awesome (to win). I played because the MJT is such a great organization, and well run and fun."

Anna Huang, 9, of Vancouver, posted a fantastic score of 76 to win the MJT Girls 9-10 title and a spot into the Junior Worlds, and commented that she hadn’t been nervous, but felt happy so she had confidence. “My best hole was the fourth where I hit a great drive, then I hit a great wood, then I chipped it on the green and putted it in from 10 feet downhill.”

The MJT Boys 11-12 division title went to William Tu, 12, who won with a total of 75 off the Blue tees for a two-stroke victory over both Aaron Huang, 12, and Nathan Szpakowicz, 12. All three hailed from Vancouver.  "I feel excited and proud (of my win)," said Tu. “My best hole was the 18th because I reached it in two and made birdie."

Annalise Stoltzenberg, 12, of Langley, BC, played solid golf en-route to winning the MJT Girls 11-12 title with an 85 off the White tees, edging Cadence Ko, 11, of Richmond, BC, by one shot. Stoltzenberg said she stood on the 18th hole with the thought, ‘I would like to just make a par.’ “It feels great as this is my first ever win on the MJT."

In the youngest divisions of players aged 8 and under, the MJT Boys 8U winner was Yul Koh, 7, of Surrey, BC, who shot 74 from a modified yardage of approximately 3000, and a tough battle in the MJT Girls 8U group saw 8-year old Tierra Elchuk of Kelowna, BC, shoot 101 to narrowly defeat Sarah Kim,9, of Nanaimo, BC, for the victory. Both Koh and Elchuk qualified for spots and will be representing the MJT and Canada in San Diego this July.

Full results including PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin competition winners are posted on the MJT website HERE.

The next Mini Tour stop in British Columbia is the MJT Mini Tour / USKG Qualifying Series at Tsawwassen Springs, back in Tsawwassen once again, and is a double qualifier for both  the US Kids Golf World Championship and the MJT Mini Tour National Championship presented by Ford Canada.  Please visit www.maplejt.com for details.

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, MJT Director Marketing and Administration

Phone: 1-877-859-GOLF  

E-Mail: edenton@maplejt.com