Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 15-17, 2019
Calgary, AB

Bergheim Low Overall with 72, 71, 69 at MJT Ford Series-PGA of Alberta Junior Championship

Calgary, AB - (July 18, 2019) - Impressive scoring was recorded from a field of 84 elite young golfers on the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in Calgary, AB, this week, who played through a multitude of weather conditions in the three-day MJT Ford Series-PGA of Alberta Junior Championship at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club, July 15 through 17.

This event contained several major junior rankings, including the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), Golf Canada’s Future Links Junior Order of Merit (OOM), AJGA Performance Based Entry stars, and Major MJT National OOM points. Spots were also on the line for MJT Team West in the unique National Team Challenge presented by Freedom 55 Financial at Royal Niagara Golf Club in Ontario this Fall.

Adding to the excitement of the tournament was 16-year-old, Calgary player, Trae Verjee, who carded a Hole-in-One on the seventh hole at McKenzie Meadows during round one, just missing the new Ford EcoSport S prize vehicle sponsored by Ford Canada that was available for an ace on day three.

Low Overall and MJT-PGA of Alberta Juvenile Boys Champion was 15-year-old, Cole Bergheim, who recorded three remarkable rounds of 72, 71, and 69 (212) to win his title by five shots. The Red Deer, AB resident, who started out on the MJT Mini Tour six years ago, said, “It feels good to get this win as I haven’t won an event in a while. The highlight of this tournament was shooting three-under par on the last day to win.” Runner-up was 15-year-old, Logan Graf, of Sylvan Lake, AB, who fired strong rounds of 69, 75, and 73 (217).

The MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Boys Champion was 17-year-old, Calgary native, Patrick Miller, who shot the lowest round of the tournament, a sizzling 66, during his opening round. After acquiring a six-shot lead after the first round, Miller cruised his way to his first career MJT title (66, 80, 78 =224). “The highlight of the tournament was shooting six-under,” said Miller who also played his first round bogey free. Second place was a tie between 17-year-old, Sam Bratvold (78, 79, 75 - 232), of Medicine Hat, AB, and Calgary’s Nolan Collins (73, 79, 80 - 232), 18.

Christian Hansen, 14, of Okotoks, AB, fired consistent scores of 72, 73, and 72 (217) to capture the title of MJT-PGA of Alberta Bantam Boys Champion by three shots over 14-year-old, Calgary-local, Jaiden Koonar (72, 74, 75 - 221). Hansen, who is playing his third year on the MJT, made 11 birdies and an eagle over the three rounds to pick up his first career Hoselton trophy. “It feels awesome to win my first tournament,” said Hansen. “The [MJT] tournaments are super fun to play in and I will continue to play in them for years to come.” Hansen will be looking to bring his winning ways to BC where he gets set to play two events in the MJT Okanagan Swing at Okanagan Golf Club and Predator Ridge Resort.

Twelve-year-old, Charlie Gillespie, of Calgary, also secured his first career MJT tournament win, triumphing as MJT-PGA of Alberta Peewee Boys Champion. Gillespie, who is playing in his rookie year on the MJT Junior Tour, finished third at his first event in May, second at the last event in June, and now fired sensational rounds of 71, 73, and 72 (216) to finish first and enter the winner’s circle. Finishing just six shots behind in second place was 12-year-old, Brett Jones. The Calgary-native shot scores of 70, 77, and 75 (222) to pick up his third runner-up finish in four events on tour.

A tournament-leading 12 birdies and one eagle over the three days was made by Edmonton-born player, Dakota Smith, in the MJT Collegiate division. Smith carded excellent scores of 70, 69, and 74 (213) for his second consecutive title, saying, “I played some of the best tournament golf I’ve played in years. The MJT is the most organized tour I’ve ever played in and I’m trying to enjoy every part of my last year on tour.” Runner-up spot in the Collegiate division went to Calgary-local, Jacob Magee, who fired respectable rounds of 72, 74, and 79 (225).

MJT-PGA of Alberta Girls 15-18 Champion was Stephanie Chelack, of Calgary, who won both the Hoselton trophy and Low Overall Girls score shooting 75, 80, and 76 (231). The 17-year-old MJT veteran has been playing since her first event on the Mini Tour in 2014 and picks up her eighth win of her career. “It feels great to have been able to come out and compete with the other girls and come out on top this week,” Chelack said. “The highlight for me was the three birdies in my last nine holes to help me close out the round.” Picking up her first runner-up finish was 16-year-old, Marcella Mercer, of Bigfork, MT, who fired rounds of 73, 83, and 79 (235).

Calgary’s Georgia Barr ran away with the MJT-PGA of Alberta Girls u15 title after shooting 78, 86, and 78 (242). Since joining the MJT in 2014, Barr has finished in the top five in all but one tournament and has now picked up her seventh win along the way. MJT newcomer, Macy Dela Rosa, 13, of Calgary, came in second (98, 102, 103).

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. Qualifiers for MJT Team West will be announced once qualifying has completed later this month.

The Junior Tour makes two stops in Alberta in August - at Wintergreen Golf Club in Bragg Creek, August 6 to 7, and at River Spirit Golf and Country Club in Calgary from August 19 to 20. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About Ford: Ford of Canada employs over 23,000 talented individuals in the fields of finance, sales and marketing, information technology, manufacturing and engineering, and human resources. This diverse workforce is responsible for the manufacturing and assembly operations that bring 320,000 vehicles and 425,000 engines to market. At Ford we are proud to be Canada’s longest-established automaker and remain committed to building a strong future in Canada. www.ford.ca.

About the PGA of Alberta: The PGA of Alberta is a provincially organized branch of the Professional Golfers’ Association of Canada which was formed in 1911. It is the second oldest professional golf association in the world. Operating as a not-for-profit organization, the PGA of Alberta organizes golf tournaments, education seminars, trade shows and consumer shows all with one goal in mind: to advance the careers of our Members.

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 to 12 year olds, the Collegiate Tour for 19 to 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, see www.maplejt.com.