Press Release - 2022 MJT Mini Tour at Red Deer G&CC - July 7, 2022

July 7, 2022
Red Deer, AB

MJT Mini Tour celebrates centennial of Red Deer Golf and Country Club with inaugural stop; Tong takes title for low overall boy’s score

Venue and location: Red Deer Golf and Country Club, Red Deer, Alberta

Tournament Date: July 7, 2022

Full Results: see website.

Tournament Highlights:

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour was invited to celebrate the centennial (100th) year of operation of the private Red Deer Golf and Country Club in Red Deer, Alberta, with the first MJT Mini Tour stop to be held at this facility. The 12U golfers in the event were personally welcomed by the club president as they teed off.
Warnings of tornados across Alberta had everyone on watch for player safety.
The talented Solomon Tong, 12, of Heritage Pointe, secured his third MJT Mini tour title in the MJT Boys 11-12 division, going low with a single round score of 69 (-3).
The MJT Girls 11-12 division saw a playoff for first after two golfers fired the same score of 80; Sela Ogada, 12, of Calgary, AB, claimed the win over competitor Raylee Denton, 12, of Red Deer.
An excellent round of 63 won nine-year-old Oscar Gosgnach of Edmonton, AB, the MJT Boys 9-10 division title.
Camilla Ruesga-Rojas, 10, of Calgary, AB, took the MJT Girls 9-10 division title in a tight race for podium positions, with only three strokes between first and third place.
In the MJT Boys 8U division, Elliott Miller, 7, of High River, AB, won the title by three-strokes over Samuel Ogada, 7, of Calgary, AB.
Ain Lee, 8, of Sylvan Lake, AB, came out to shoot a 95 in the MJT Girls 8U division.
Winners of the Long Drive and Closest to the Pin awards are posted on the website.

Top Finishers

MJT Girls 8U: Red Deer G&CC: Par 72, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1 Ain Lee Sylvan Lake, AB F 8 95 95

Winner’s Quote: Ain Lee, 8, of Sylvan Lake, AB: “I felt very happy and proud, I even got a par at the end of my round. When things get stressful in a game, I just go hug my mom. This tournament was so fun, I met lots of new friends.”

MJT Girls 9-10: Red Deer G&CC: Par 72, Ydg 4173, Slope/Rating 110/64.1

1 Camilla Ruesga-Rojas Calgary, AB F 10 79 79

2 Tayvn Zdunick Edmonton, AB F 10 81 81

3 Sienna Saunders Calgary, AB F 10 82 82

Winner’s Quote: Camilla Ruesga-Rojas, 10, of Calgary, AB: “My heart felt warm that I won the title, but I felt that I could’ve done better. I think it was my driver and irons that were the highlight for me this weekend. They were going far and in the direction I wanted them to, and it helped me save my game. I just take some deep breaths if I'm ever feeling under pressure and take a big gulp of water, and then I just tell myself I can do this and focus on my game.”

MJT Girls 11-12: Red Deer G&CC: Par 72, Ydg 4173, Slope/Rating 110/64.1

1 Sela Ogada Calgary, AB F 12 80 80 Won Playoff

2 Raylee Denton Red Deer, AB F 12 80 80

3 Hannah Thomas Calgary, AB F 11 81 81

Winner’s Quote: Sela Ogada, 12, of Calgary, AB: “I felt happy after hearing the title announced and having won first place. I think my driving helped me win, along with some long putts. I take a few deep breaths before every shot and hope for the best that I can do it.”

MJT Boys 8U: Red Deer G&CC: Par 72, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1 Elliott Miller High River, AB M 7 100 100

2 Samuel Ogada Calgary, AB M 7 103 103

Winner’s Quote: Elliott Miller, 7, of High River, AB: “I feel happy, coming back after a few bad holes was the best. I just kept deep breathing and having positive thoughts.”

MJT Boys 9-10: Red Deer G&CC: Par 72, Ydg 4173, Slope/Rating 105/61.3

1 Oscar Gosgnach Edmonton, AB M 9 63 63

2 Edwin Park Bentley, AB M 9 70 70

2 Dalton Stephens Craik, SK M 10 70 70

Winner’s Quote: Oscar Gosgnach, 9, of Edmonton, AB: “It is the best feeling in my life to win a tournament! I got two eagles this round which was a major highlight, I just kept focusing on my shot and nothing else.”

MJT Boys 11-12: Red Deer G&CC: Par 72, Ydg 5107, Slope/Rating 113/64.5

1 Solomon Tong Heritage Pointe, AB M 12 69 69

2 Bennett Love Red Deer, AB M 11 71 71

3 Luke MacDonald Calgary, AB M 12 72 72

Winner’s Quote: Solomon Tong, 12, of Heritage Pointe, AB: “I feel relieved and it gave me confidence to have won the round for future tournaments. My highlights were on hole two and hole twelve, where I had birdies from the sand. My putting on the back nine really helped secure it all too. I just try to remain realistic throughout the game and try to never shoot the ball feeling angry.”

Full results, Long Drive and Closest to the Pin winners are posted on the MJT website.

Next up in the province is the MJT Mini Tour at Innisfail GC in Innisfail, AB, on July 13. To see the full 2022 MJT schedule and upcoming events, please check the MJT website 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 100 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.

Media Contact:

Lauren Allard, Marketing

marketing@maplejt.com