Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 12, 2019
Tsawwassen, BC

Armstrong, 12, wins four-hole playoff at MJT Mini Tour’s Tsawwassen Springs stop

Tsawwassen, BC – (May 13, 2019) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour continued its Mini Tour series in BC on Mother’s Day Sunday where 68 golfers aged 12 and under played in perfect conditions at Tsawwassen Springs in Tsawwassen. Players were competing for titles in six divisions as well as spots in the 2019 Future Champions Golf Callaway World Golf Championship in Palm Desert, CA and the 2019 US Kids Golf Championship in Pinehurst, NC, later this summer.

An exciting four-hole playoff took place in the MJT Girls 11-12 Division between Vancouver, BC, native, Anna Huang, 10, and Chilliwack, BC, native, Sarah Armstrong, 12, after both girls tied for the lead at 79. Huang, playing up a division, managed to take Armstrong to four extra playoff holes, but in the end it was Armstrong who took home the trophy, attributing her play to the work of her flatstick. “I made a lot of great putts and my round not have been as good without my putting.”

In the MJT Girls 9-10 Division, Annie Liu, 10, of Richmond, BC, shot an 86 to win her title by three shots over Sarah Kim,9, of Victoria, BC (89). Eager to qualify for both of the major tournaments from this event, Liu knows that she has a lot of work to do before heading down to the United States. “Even though I did not play my best, I feel happy about winning for the first time on MJT,” said Liu. “I really wanted to qualify and I know what I have to do to be ready for those tournaments.”

The MJT Girls U8 title was won by 8-year old, Surrey, BC native, Sky(Haneul) Park who shot a 102 in the final group of the event. “My front nine was much better than my back nine,” remarked Park who had a sizeable lead through her first nine holes. “I could have played better in the back, but I’m happy to have won.” Delta, BC player, Charlee Turner, 8, came second place in this division.

11-year old, Surrey, BC player, Sukhraj Singh Gill fired a round of 78 to claim the trophy in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division. Following three shots behind Gill with an 81 was Langley, BC’s Lucas Ly, 11. Gill said afterwards that he was able to manage the difficult greens at Tsawwassen Springs. “What led to my win was my putting; it was the best part of my game on the day.”

In the MJT Boys 9-10 Division, Alex Zhang, 10, of Richmond, BC, won his division over Pitt Meadows, BC resident, Jaden August, 10, and Vancouver’s Jim Zhu, 10. Zhang made three birdies on his way to a 72, which was the low round of the entire field. “It was staying calm under the pressure,” remarked Zhang. “The tournaments on the MJT are very competitive and I was very happy to get the win.” August and Zhu both fired rounds of 74 to finish two shots back of Zhang.

Tiger Zhao, 8, won the title for MJT Boys U8 with a round of 77 that included two birdies on his final two holes. The Vancouver resident expressed his happiness after the round, “I’m very excited to have won and I had so much fun with my group, especially when I made birdie on the last two holes.” Finishing in second place in the division was Burnaby, BC’s Matthew Cui, 8.

Full results including PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin competition winners are posted on the MJT website here. Finalists for the international spots will be announced one qualifying has completed across the country.

The next MJT Mini Tour stop in British Columbia is at Musqueam Golf Course on June 9. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.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 12U, 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. For more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com