Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

September 20-22, 2019
Niagara on the Lake, ON

Aussies rule at major-ranked MJT National Team Challenge presented by Freedom 55 Financial

Henry Brunton Golf and Sean Foley Academy finish second, third

Team Results

Individual Results

Niagara on the Lake, ON – (September 23, 2019) – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour closed out its fifth annual MJT National Team Challenge (NTC) presented by Freedom 55 Financial at the Royal Niagara Golf Club in Ontario, a unique event for Canadian junior golf featuring collegiate style scoring. From September 20 to 22, a total of 15 teams comprising 90 competitors from across Canada, USA, Mexico, and Australia, gathered in Niagara-on-the-Lake to compete in this 54-hole major event, featuring rankings by World Amateur Golf Ranking, Golf Canada, and the AJGA (PBE status).

The Australian team from the Jack Newton Junior Golf Tour were crowned as champions in all three categories: individual boys, individual girls and in the team competition, where they won by nine shots with a three-day team score of 893 (298-296-299) after leading wire-to-wire. It was an all-around effort with every team member, Taylah Ellems, Annika Rathbone, Hamish Murray, Bart Carroll, Josh Robards and Jeff Gaun, contributing to the scoring throughout the tournament.

Leading the way for Australia was Jeffrey Yu Guan. The 15-year-old rising star carded 72, 69, and 70 to finish the tournament at five-under and win the individual title of NTC Junior Boys Champion by four shots over Kiko Coelho, 16, of Sean Foley Performance, Lake Mary, FL (70, 72, 73). “The best memory is going to Canada itself because this is is my first time in Canada,” Guan said. “Playing golf at a different style of course and meeting people globally was all new and exciting. To make things even better, the team and I topped it off with a win! That’s be something we will all cherish and treasure.”

The other driving force behind Team Australia’s first place finish was Annika Rathbone, 16. Rathbone took home the NTC Junior Girls Champion’s title with scores of 71, 80, 74 (225), for convincing 11-shot win over Iris Wang, 16, of Sean Foley Performance, FL. “The best memory from my time in Canada is making such great friends and playing at a different course than the ones in Sydney,” Rathbone said. “I feel honoured to be able to have won such a great event!”

Henry Brunton Golf Academy, represented by Jasmyn Andreevski, Elaine Giantsopoulos, Yaroslav Ilyenko, Kiefer Bulau, Daniel Talmage and Ethan Gillis, placed second in the team competition with a three-day score of 902 (301-301-300). Leading the way for Henry Brunton Golf were 17-year-old, Toronto, ON-player, Daniel Talmage and 18-year-old, Markham, ON-golfer, Yaroslav Ilyenko. Talmage, the low Canadian junior boy in the tournament, improved on his rounds each day shooting 74, 73, and 70 to finish one-over and third place individually while Ilyenko fired consistent scores of 74, 73, and 75 (222) to finish right behind in fourth place.

A third place podium finish in the team competition went to the team from Sean Foley Performance in Florida, USA - Iris Wang, Sritha Vemuri, Kiko Coelho, Cyrus Lee, Minjae Park and Joel Sullivan - with scores of 301, 303, and 310 (914). "The players loved the modified college format as it truly gave them the feeling of what it will be like to play at the next level, which all of our players aspire to do. The different pressure of playing for a team is a challenge that all young golfers should experience before trying to compete at the collegiate level", said Jeff Hay, Team Coach for Sean Foley Performance, "We're already looking forward to next year's event and to our on-going partnership with the MJT!" he continued.

MJT Team East had the best finish out of the three MJT Teams, snagging fifth place with a team score of 938 (312-306-320). At the forefront was Toronto’s Alessandra Nagayo, 15, who recorded scores of 83, 75, and 82 (240) for a fourth place individual finish, and 17-year-old, Cade Preston, of Barrie, ON, who shot rounds of 73, 76, and 76 (225)

MJT Team Central carded a team score of 949 (322-311-316), led by Cardston, AB-resident, Graedon Woodward, 16, who finished the tournament with scores of 76, 71, and 77 (224), and Regina, SK-native, Autumn Neiszner, 15, who finished third in the junior girls division with rounds of 78, 80, and 81 (239). Neiszner was the low Canadian junior girl in the field.

MJT Team West finished the tournament in ninth place with a score of 960 (337-305-318); all the team results can be viewed here, including scores from the other Academy and International Teams such as Glen Abbey Academy – Carrie Vaughan, Galt Junior Performance Team, Ontario Golf Academy, Glen Abbey Academy – Sean Casey, Team Mexico, Golf Performance Coaches, Rattlesnake Academy, AJ Golf Academy and Ontario Juniors. Individual results and overall highlights of the tournament, which was presented by Freedom 55 Financial as part of their strong support of golf in Canada, can be found at www.maplejt.com. 

About Freedom 55 FinancialTM:  Freedom 55 FinancialTM, a division of London Life Insurance Company, offers financial security advice and planning to Canadians through its more than 3,700 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.

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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.