Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 11-12, 2019
Burlington, ON

Weather shortens MJT Humber College PGM Series at Hidden Lake

Burlington, ON – (May 13, 2019) – Nature decided to take its own course at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Humber College PGM Classic at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington, Ontario, this past weekend. A full field of junior golfers played in unfavorable conditions until the tournament had to be cut short due to the weather.

Players in seven divisions were also competing for shortlisted spots in the 2019 IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championship held from July 8 to 12 in San Diego, CA. The MJT tournament also had several major rankings from organizations including AJGA’s Performance Based Entry and the MJT Order of Merit.

In the MJT Juvenile Boys Division there was a three-way tie for first place after a shortened 27 holes between Nicholas Lin, 16, of Toronto, ON (79, 40 - 119), Kitchener, ON native, Kayden White (78, 41 - 119), 16, and 15-year-old Hunter Kolm of Aurora, ON (77, 42 - 119). With the conditions not suited for a playoff, it was Lin who had the best nine-hole score on day two to claim the Hoselton trophy by retrogression. “I feel happy winning my division considering the conditions the course was in,” remarked Lin after the round.

Coming over from the neighboring province to the east was St. Lazare, QC player, Chad Huber, 13, who won the MJT Bantam Boys division by five shots with scores of 82 and 82 (164). Huber, who attributed his win to his mental game, commented, “I was able to stay calm and focused, especially in the second round.” Finishing runner-up in the division was Matthew Lyons, 13, of Aurora (85, 84 - 169).

Luke Smith, 11, of Toronto, ON, claimed the MJT Peewee Boys Division in convincing fashion firing scores of 80 and 81 (161). Smith, who never gave up his lead in the two-day event, said, “I play in the MJT events because of the competitiveness and organization of the events. It feels great to win and not give up the lead.”

Due to weather preventing play on Sunday, the MJT Junior Boys results were decided on day one scores where 17-year old Derek D’Ortenzio of Caledonia, ON, took a one-shot victory with a round of 77 over 18-year old Ethan Siebert of Beamsville, ON.  “The big moment for me in the tournament was making birdie on the 14th hole and it was really nice that my dad saw it,” said D’Ortenzio, who made two birdies on his back nine to take the win in his division.

Peyton Costabile, 14, of Ayr, ON, surged back from a six-shot deficit after the first round to win the MJT Girls U15 Division by four-shots over North York, ON native, Kelly Zhao (84,44 - 128), 12. Costabile, who fired an 85 in her first round, shot 39 on her nine holes on Day 2 for a 27-hole total of 124. “It feels great to come back and win,” said Costabile. “It’s nice to see the work I’ve done pay off in the tournament.”

MJT veteran player Madelin Boyd of Oshawa, ON, took first place in the MJT Girls 15-18 Division with scores of 75 and 40 (115). Boyd who recently celebrated her 15th birthday, was playing her first event in the Girls 15-18 Division after winning the Girls U15 Division in the MJT Spring Classic presented by Freedom 55 Financial at the Galt Country Club just two weeks ago. Claiming two trophies in first two events of MJT’s 2019 season in Ontario, Boyd commented, “It’s a great start to a competitive season. I look forward to the rest of it with hopefully some better weather.” Rounding up second place in the division was 17-year old Grace Halcrow from Richmond Hill, ON, who fired rounds of 82 and 43 (125).

The MJT Collegiate Division was claimed by local Burlington, ON native Ryan Sherwood, 19, whose score of 83 was good enough to take the win. Sherwood mentioned after the round, “The conditions were tough on day two and I played well enough to win on the first day.”

For PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and the MJT Booster Juice Comeback Award winners, please visit the highlights page here. Winners of the spots to the IMG Academy Junior Worlds will be announced once qualifying completes across the country.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Ontario is on May 25 and 26 in Brooklin for the 2019 MJT GTA Series at Lakeridge Links Golf Club. Players can register online at www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About Humber College PGM Program: Humber College’s Business Administration - Professional Golf Management program is a Recognized PGA of Canada program. Gain a business education, develop your golf game, and embark on a career you will love. Gain valuable experience and earn income during our two 6-month paid co-op terms. Our on-campus Golf Lab is a world-class golf performance training facility run by PGA Professionals. Our Golf Lab is equipped with three Simulator Rooms, a Golf Retail Shop, Golf Club Workshop, and 2000 square feet of putting surface. Our students have the opportunity to play on the Humber Hawks varsity golf team, the most decorated golf team in Canada. For more information please visit our website at business.humber.ca/golf.

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.