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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

March 28, 2021
Langley, BC

MJT opens Mini Tour season in BC with rain-shortened stop at Newlands

Langley, BC – (March 29, 2021) – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour, opened its Mini Tour season for players ages 7 to 12 on March 28 in Langley, BC.  The young athletes battled very strong winds and rain, which shortened the round to nine holes for all six divisions in the MJT Mini Tour at Newlands Golf and Country Club, which was operated under strict protocols in accordance with the province of BC, ensuring the health and safety of all players and personnel.

The MJT Boys 8U Division witnessed seven-year-old Bentley Hoogerdyk of Victoria, BC, excel with a nine-hole score of 34 (-2). Hoogerdyk was on fire on the greens persevering through the cold and only recording 12 putts through nine holes. “I almost had a hole-in-one,” he commented, as his experience was highlighted by a near ace on the par three eighth hole at Newlands Golf and Country Club.

Burnaby, BC, golfer Matthew Cui, 10, edged out the nine-hole low score in the MJT Boys 9-10 Division by one shot. Cui made a key par on the final hole to secure the low score honors and finish with a 35 (-1). Ten-year-old Tiger Zhao, of Vancouver, BC, finished right behind with an excellent score of even-par 36.

11-year-old Ethan Zeng, of Vancouver, finished on top in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division with a nine-hole score of 39 (+3). Zeng, who played the majority of his nine holes in the pouring rain and wind, battled hard on each shot to fire an impressive nine-hole score. “My body was cold, and my hands were freezing,” commented Zeng. “But I stayed focused, did my best, and had lots of fun.”

In the MJT Girls 9-10 Division, 2020 MJT Mini Tour National Champion Kathleen Dunn, of Surrey, BC, returned to the MJT Mini Tour and took home the low score honors at Newlands Golf and Country Club. The nine-year-old rising star female golfer recorded a score of 41, edging out nine-year-old Jenny Guo (42), of West Vancouver, BC, by a single shot. Dunn, who has worked hard over the off season, will be looking to continue excelling this year on the MJT Mini Tour in BC.

Five players in the MJT Girls 11-12 Division finished within three shots of each other through nine holes at Newlands. Coming out on top with a score of 45 was nine-year old Rose Chen, of Langley, BC. Chen, who is making the transition onto the MJT Junior Tour, began her final Mini Tour season off the way she wanted with a solid performance.

Seven-year-old Laura Zhao, of Vancouver, carded a nine-hole score of 49 in the MJT Girls 8U Division to finish with the low score honors, putting in a solid performance at the season opener.

All scores can be viewed on the MJT website here. The next Mini Tour stop for 12U is in Tsawwassen, BC, with the MJT Mini Tour at Tsawwassen Springs, on April 18. More information on the program can be found online at www.maplejt.com. 

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 member functions across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 12U, and multi-day stops for players aged 11-19. 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.

Media Contact:
Sadiq Jiwa
MJT Marketing and Communications Manager
sjiwa@maplejt.com