Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 8-9, 2019
Red Deer County, AB

Over 110 juniors compete in MJT Red Deer stops despite weather

Red Deer, AB - (June 10, 2019) – Challenging weather conditions over June 8 and 9 in Red Deer, Alberta, led to some dramatic finishes in the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Alberta Series at River Bend Golf Club, where 111 young players were competing in either the two-day Junior Tour’s MJT Alberta Series or the one day MJT Mini Tour event for 12 and under.

In the Junior Tour stop, boys and girls were competing for titles in seven divisions as well as for spots on Team Canada to the Nordic Team Matches in Sweden, in the FCG International Championship in California, and into the next round of qualifying for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship. The Mini Tour results are detailed in their own release.

A thrilling playoff decided the winner in the MJT Peewee Boys Division after a tie for the lead between Edmonton, AB’s Tate Bruggeman (76, 71 - 147), and Calgary, AB’s Brett Jones (74, 73 - 147), both aged 12. Bruggeman, who trailed by two shots going into the final day, came out firing making four birdies in his six holes, six birdies on the day which included one on 17 to tie Jones, and 10 birdies for the tournament. “The highlight of the tournament was winning in a playoff,” said Bruggeman who made birdie in the extra holes to take home the Hoselton trophy. “I feel good about the way I finished and how I played in the playoff and I’m looking forward to the next event.”

Winning the title by four shots in the MJT Bantam Boys Division was St. Albert, AB-resident, Ethan Wilson, 14, who carded rounds of 73 and 77 (150). Wilson, who made five birdies for the tournament, picked up his second career MJT tournament victory. “It feels great to win anything,” remarked Wilson after his round. “But to win another MJT and to do it here in Red Deer makes it really special.” Coming second in the division was MJT veteran Zachary Haydamack, 14, of Rocky View County, AB, who fired rounds of 74 and 80 (154).

Top spot in the MJT Juvenile Boys Division went to 15-year old Joe Kelly of Innisfail, AB, who shot 77 and 74 (151) to win by two shots over three players who tied for second at 153 total score: 16-year old Joel Sullivan, of Calgary, AB, 15-year old, Logan Graf, of Sylvan Lake, AB, and 15-year old Cole Bergheim, of Red Deer, AB. Kelly, who attributed his round to his ability to scramble, mentioned an example, “I hit my shot on 13 into the trees and from the trees, hit the ball to 30 feet and drained the birdie putt.” After finishing 23rd at the MJT Alberta Season Opener presented by PLYR Golf, Kelly shot up the leaderboard this time grabbing his first career MJT tournament win.

Calgary, AB-player, Connor Maloney, 18, fired rounds of 77 and 72 (149) to take home the Hoselton trophy in the MJT Junior Boys Division over Camrose, AB-player, Mason Kucy, 18. Kucy (77, 77 - 154), gave a run at the title making four birdies and two eagles throughout the tournament, but it was the late charge from Maloney who played his last 12 holes of the tournament at five-under par and bogey free that sealed the win. “I was playing pretty well going into the tournament,” said Maloney after collecting his trophy. “The weather certainly didn’t help matters out, but I managed to break through and collect some hardware and that feels awesome.”

A tight race in the MJT Collegiate Division saw Jarrett Bossert, 19, of Fort Saskatchewan, AB, squeak out the win over Connor Ackroyd, 19, of St. Albert. Bossert, who made seven birdies on his way to a come-back victory, carded rounds of 77 and 74 (151). He commented on winning his first MJT title, “I’ve never won an MJT event before and to win on a tour that has great tournaments for rising juniors feels amazing.” Ackroyd fired rounds of 76 and 77 (153) to finish two shots back.

13-year old Jayla Kucy of Camrose, AB, shot consistent rounds of 81 (162) to take home the Hoselton trophy in the MJT Girls U15 Division and the Low Overall Girls score. The six-year MJT Mini Tour veteran claims her first MJT Junior Tour tournament win since graduating from the Mini Tour in 2016. “My putting was the best part of my game and the reason I won the tournament,” said Kucy, who had 29 putts on the second day. Finishing second in the division was 13-year old Kalee Seto of Edmonton, who fired scores of 87 and 86 (173).

In the MJT Girls 15-18 Division, Calgary native, Emily Cornwall, 16, took a two-shot win over Beaumont, AB-native, Ella Gifford, 16. Cornwall (86, 85 - 171), who is playing her second year on the MJT, picked up her second career MJT tournament win at River Bend. “I was happy with my performance, especially how I battled through the bad weather,” she commented after the round. “I really like playing on the MJT and the weather was the only bad part about the tournament.”

For PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and the MJT Booster Juice Comeback Award winners, please visit the highlights page for the tournament here. Winners of the international exemptions will be announced once qualifying has completed across the country.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in the province is the 2019 MJT Alberta Junior Championship Preview presented by SAIT Trojans Athletics at Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River on June 22 and 23. 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 close to 80 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. See www.maplejt.com.