Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 18, 2018
Orangeville, ON

Two qualify on MJT Mini Tour for US Kids Australian Open

Orangeville, ON. - (August 20, 2018) – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour for players ages 7 to 12 visited Orangeville Golf Club in Orangeville, ON, on August 18, where players competed in five age divisions at the GolfNorth property to see who would win titles and earn direct exemptions into the 2019 US Kids Australian Open scheduled to take place in New South Wales, Australia.

MJT Girls 9-10: Racking up her second win of the season, Juanita Beatrix Tandoc, 9, of Scarborough, ON, won the MJT Girls 9-10 title with a score of 86. Tandoc was one shot better than runner-up Sophie Weber, 10, of Burlington, ON, who fired an 87. “I am very, very happy! It’s great to see my hard work paying off,” said Tandoc. “I love playing 18 holes and from a longer distance,” she continued.

MJT Girls 11-12: 11 year old Bridget Wilkie, of Toronto, ON, won the MJT Girls 11-12 division with a score of 86. Wilkie has been chasing her first victory on the MJT, and with her fine play on Sunday, she was able to break through into the winner’s circle. “I feel good about winning my division. It will be exciting to travel to Australia to play golf and see where my Mom grew up,” said Wilkie. Runner up in the division was Kylie Ruston, 11, of Penetanguishene , ON, who was one shot back at 87.

MJT Boys 8U: Low round of the event came from the MJT Boys 8U division, where Eddie Gu, 8, of Aurora, ON fired a 76. Gu’s round was highlighted by a great sand-save on the 11th hole. Gu’s round was 13 shots better than the runner-up in the division, Max Li, 8, of Richmond Hill, ON who shot 89.

MJT 9-10 Boys: In the MJT Boys 9-10 division, Ethan Fang, 10, of Newmarket, ON, shot 80 to win by three shots over Tru Davidson, 9, of Toronto (83). Fang recounted his best hole of the day was number 15; “I had a really long putt to save par, and I sunk it right in the heart.”

MJT Boys 11-12: Top finisher in the MJT Boys 11-12 division was Jack Groves, 12, of Toronto. Groves fired a very solid 78 to beat Jameson Staab, 11, of Kitchener, ON, by 10 shots. “I am very happy and excited about winning today,” said Groves. “My best hole of the day was definitely making a birdie, 4, on the 10th hole.”

Wilkie and Groves each receive MJT invitations to the 2019 US Kids Golf Australian Open, which will be played at the Riverside Oaks Golf Resort in New South Wales, Australia, April 6 and 7.

Full details on the MJT Mini Tour at Orangeville Golf Club are posted online here, which also show winners of the PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin Competitions and Order of Merit point rankings.

This marks the end of the 2018 Mini Tour schedule in Ontario. The nationwide schedule wraps up in Tsawwassen, BC, with the 2018 Mini Tour National Championship presented by Ford, August 23 and 24. For more information on an expanded MJT Mini Tour next season, 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: Russ MacKay, Operations Manager, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour rmackay@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF  www.maplejt.com