Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

April 26-28, 2019
Cambridge, ON

Ruby rises to top during MJT Ontario Spring Classic presented by Freedom 55 Financial at Galt

Cambridge, ON – (April 29, 2019) – A waitlisted field of 90 young golfers competed in pouring rain, winds gusting at 70 kmph, and even a little bit of snow during the three-day MJT Spring Classic presented by Freedom 55 Financial at the Galt Country Club in Cambridge, April 26, 27 and 28, the Ontario season-opener on the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour.

Persevering through unfavorable conditions, players in five divisions were vying for direct exemptions into the 2019 Future Championship Golf (FCG) International Championship from July 1 to 5, and the 2019 FCG Callaway World Golf Championship from July 15 to 17, both in San Diego, CA. The MJT tournament also had several major rankings from organizations including AJGA, Golf Ontario, Golf Canada, World Amateur Golf and the MJT Order of Merit.

Bennett Ruby, 17, of Waterloo, won Low Overall and the MJT Junior Boys Hoselton Trophy with excellent rounds of 71, 73, and 71 (215). With a four shot win over Mississauga native, Thomas Latter (75, 74, 70=219), Ruby attributed his win to his creativity and course management at the tricky Galt Country Club. “My best hole in the tournament was the third hole. I was able to drive over the trees and cut the corner.” The 2018 MJT Ontario GTA Junior World Qualifier winner seems to have picked up his outstanding play right where he left off from last year.

In the MJT Juvenile Boys Division, a great battle took place between Burlington native, Michael Weber (77-76-74=227) and Cambridge native, Graem Costigan (76-78-75=229). A nail-biting finish, Costigan’s bogeys on holes 11 and 13 in the back nine of his final round led to Weber taking home the Hoselton Trophy with a two-shot victory. “I’m very proud to win my division title,” remarked Weber. “It’s a great tournament with a lot of good players and I was able to grind out my win through the cold weather and win.”

The MJT Bantam Boys Division champion was 14 year old, Matthew Whitehead with scores of 82, 79, and 74 (235). Winning by a convincing margin, Whitehead’s final round of 74 was nine better than any other player in his division. Whitehead commented, “This was the first event I’ve played in the 2019 golf season and I was happy to win my first event.” In second place was St Lazare, Quebec native, Chad Huber with a three day total of 252 (82-82-85).

Hailey McLaughlin, 17, of Markham, ON, took home first place in the MJT Girls 15-18 Division and the Low Overall Girls score with a three-day total of 233 (82, 78, 73). Grappling with the conditions in her first two rounds, McLaughlin stormed back with a 73 on Sunday which included a one-under front nine. “I feel happy - it was a tough weekend for everyone including myself, but everyone pushed through really hard,” she said. “I was just happy to shoot low and end up with the win.” Runner-up was Raesa Sheikh, 16, of Caledon, ON, who shot 85, 80, 82 (247).

The MJT Girls U15 Division was won by Oshawa native, Madelin Boyd, 14, who fired consistent rounds of 82, 79, and 81 (242). Happy to play this MJT event because of the prizes and sponsors, Boyd commented after the round, “I was really proud to have finished playing the last three days in these weather conditions and I have become a better golfer.” Oakville native, Nicole Gal, 14, followed behind Boyd with a three-day total of257 (88, 91, 78) after surging back with a 78 in her third round to not only place second, but also take home the Booster Juice Comeback Award with a 13-shot improvement from her second round.

For PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and the MJT Booster Juice Comeback Award winners, please visit the highlights page here. Receiving direct exemptions into the FCG International Championship and FCG Callaway World Championship are Emma Hansen, Nicole Gal, Madelin Boyd, Vaijayanti Bharkhada, Matthew Whitehead, Michael Weber and Bavake Sihota.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Ontario is the MJT Humber College PGM Series at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington, May 11 to 12. Players can register online at www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About Freedom 55 Financial: Freedom 55 Financial, a division of London Life Insurance Company, offers financial security advice and planning to Canadians through its 3,760 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. For more information visit Freedom55Financial.com.

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.