Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 18, 2019
Strathmore, AB

Arnold makes eagle and five birdies amid hot scoring at MJT Mini Tour’s Strathmore stop

Strathmore, AB – (August 19, 2019) – The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour concluded its Alberta MJT Mini Tour circuit for players aged 12 and under in Strathmore this past Sunday, August 18, where young players were competing for titles in six divisions, and put on a spectacular display of talent.

We begin with remarkable scoring by nine-year-old, Jayden Arnold, in the MJT Boys 9-10 division. The young golf prodigy from Calgary, AB, made five birdies and an eagle during his round to shoot a five under score of 67 on the modified-tee, par 72 golf course. Arnold made the eagle and four of his five birdies in a span of six holes. Arnold commented, “The highlight of the tournament was driving the green on the ninth hole and then sinking that putt for eagle.” Coming in second place with a score of 83 was 10-year-old, Ryan Johnson, also of Calgary.

Jackson Wesley, 11, of Lethbridge, AB, captured the MJT Boys 11-12 division shooting a score of 74. Wesley got off to a hot start making two birdies in the first four holes and proceeded to add one more birdie on the back nine. “I got to golf with some great players,” remarked Wesley. “I couldn’t tell you, honestly, if there is anything MJT could do to make the tournament more enjoyable. They’re the best!” Finishing four shots back in second place with a score of 78 was Edmonton, AB-resident, Ryan Badger, 12.

Winning the MJT Boys 8U division was eight-year-old, Bennett Love. The Red Deer, AB-native, carded an even par 72 off the modified 3000-yard tees to obtain his third career MJT Mini Tour win. “I feel happy and excited,” he said, after collecting his trophy. “It was nice to go make a few birdies and shoot even.” Eight-year-old, Austin Nesbitt, of Pilot Butte, SK, carded a 79 to earn a second place finish in the division.

Young Calgarian superstar, Aleah Shields-Rodipe, 8, won the MJT Girls 8U division. She shot a 75 including four birdies and an eagle to claim her third MJT title for 2019. When asked how she felt about her performance, Shields-Rodipe commented, “I felt happy to have made those birdies and an eagle.”

Nine-year-old Serin Girard, playing her second year on the MJT Mini Tour, earned her first tournament win in the MJT Girls 9-10 division at Strathmore Golf Club. The Red Deer, AB, golfer, who is consistently around the top of the leaderboard in her tournaments, punched her name into the winner’s circle with a round of 82 and said, “It feels great to win my first MJT event.” A score of 91 from Calgary’s Olivia Johnson, 10, in her second career MJT Mini Tour event, earned her a second place finish.

A close finish occurred in the MJT Girls 11-12 division between 11-year-old, Stacie Hansen, of Okotoks, AB, and 12-year-old, Edie Nicholson, of Calgary. Hansen (101), who was down three shots with two holes to play, made up three shots on holes 17 and 18 to win by one stroke over Nicholson (102).

Full results including PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin competition winners are posted on the MJT website here. This was the last MJT Mini Tour event in Alberta for the 2019 season. The finale to the national program is the MJT Mini Tour National Championship presented by Ford Canada at Tsawwassen Springs in British Columbia, August 22 and 23.

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 7-12 year olds, 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. See www.maplejt.com.