Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 30-31, 2020
Surrey, BC

Gu fires eight birdies to drive away with MJT Ford Series title at Hazelmere

Surrey, BC – (August 1, 2020) – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT Ford Series at Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club in Surrey played out in hot sunshine on July 30 and 31, where young golfers competed for titles in six divisions under strict player health and safety protocols . The event featured 36 holes of competition together with a Ford Hole in One contest for the elite players up to age 19, and a free Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinic for beginners aged six to 12, presented by Dams Ford Lincoln Sales Ltd.

Conquering the heat and dry conditions, 17-year old Jennifer Gu, of West Vancouver, BC, took home the Low Overall score for the event and the MJT Girls 15-19 title by five shots. Gu was the only player in the field to finish the event under par, firing scores of 72 and 71 (143) and making eight birdies along the way. “I stayed patient throughout my rounds which helped me maintain focus,” commented Gu. “It’s a huge confidence booster to win and playing in these events is a blessing.”

14-year old Yeji Kwon made it five straight wins in the MJT Girls U15 Division. The Port Coquitlam, BC, star junior golfer fired 73 and 75 (148) to continue her streak this season. “I drove the ball pretty good,” commented Kwon, who took pride in her course strategy. “My hard work was the key to victory.”

There was no catching 18-year old Ilirian Zalli in the MJT Junior Boys Division. The Vancouver golfer made seven birdies over the two days, firing rounds of 74 and 71 (145) to pick up his second 2020 MJT title since in the season opener back in March. “I stayed patient out there as those were some of the most demanding conditions I can remember,” mentioned Zalli, who managed to overcome the challenges of the golf course perfectly. “I feel confident going into my next tournament.”

Perseverance was the best word to describe 15-year old Stewart Walker in the MJT Juvenile Boys Division. The Whistler, BC, player struggled to get into a rhythm, carding a round one score of 79 which put him five shots back of the lead. Walker’s determination came through on day two as he played his final six holes three-under par to shoot 71 (150), surging ahead and winning the division by five shots. “I just played without worrying what the leader was doing,” he said. “I kept concentrating and I had a good target in mind.”

The MJT Bantam Boys Division witnessed 13-year old Emil Liddell come back from a three-shot deficit to win by three shots. The Vancouver junior golfer, who shot 77 and 71 (148) to pick up his first 2020 MJT title, said, “It feels great to win especially because I was younger in the age division.”

The MJT Peewee Boys Division saw 11-year old Alex Zhang, of Richmond, BC, hold on to win by one shot. Zhang recorded rounds of 74 and 75 (149), making five birdies including a key birdie on his 16th hole on day two. “I kept patient all 36 holes,” commented Zhang. “It feels great to win my first [junior tour] event.”

Full results of the event can be viewed here. The next BC event is the highly-ranked MJT Odlum Brown Classic at Chilliwack Golf and Country Club, taking place from August 3 to 5 in Chilliwack. More information can be found online at www.maplejt.com.

About Ford: Ford of Canada employs over 23,000 talented individuals in the fields of finance, sales and marketing, information technology, manufacturing and engineering, and human resources. This diverse workforce is responsible for the manufacturing and assembly operations that bring 320,000 vehicles and 425,000 engines to market. At Ford we are proud to be Canada’s longest-established automaker and remain committed to building a strong future in Canada. www.ford.ca.

About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour 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 supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts close to 90 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 12U and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11-19 which also offer qualifiers for international tournaments. The program has annual awards, scholarships and incentives to help reward 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 the provincial, national, university and professional levels.