Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
June 3-4, 2023
Pitt Meadows, BC
Two shortlisted for Australian major from MJT Maui Jim Series at Meadow Gardens
A waitlisted field of top young players on Canada’s number one-played Junior Tour enjoyed good golfing weather over the June 3-4 weekend in Pitt Meadows, BC, competing in the popular MJT Maui Jim Series at Meadow Gardens Golf Club. Titles in six divisions, rewarded with prizes of fabulous Maui Jim sunglasses, were contested, along with the chance to qualify for MJT Team Canada to Australia.
A team of boys and girls will be heading down under in September to represent Canada in the Jack Newton International Junior Classic in New South Wales, and qualifying is currently underway. The shortlisted spots from the MJT Maui Jim Series event went to Low overall Girl and Boy, Clara Ding, 12, of White Rock, BC, and Joshua Ince, 17, of Surrey, BC, respectively. The MJT U15 Girls and Bantam Boys divisions were cut to 33 holes due to darkness, after both divisions finished 15 holes on one of the days.
Scores from the top finishers and winner quotes are noted below. Results from the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here.
A fantastic summer swing of three tournaments now starts in the BC Interior and spots are still available in the MJT Ford Series at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, BC, July 17-18, the MJT Nicola Wealth Classic at Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna on July 20-21, and the MJT Western Championship presented by The Cart Locker at Copper Point Golf Club in Invermere, July 25-26 – register here.
For more information on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers per Division
MJT Girls 15-19: Par 72, Ydg 5519, Slope/Rating 122/71.6
1 Clara Ding, White Rock, BC, F, 12 78-73 (151)
2 Kelly Du, Coquitlam, BC, F, 16 76-80 (156)
3 Zhehui (Hui) Yu, Burnaby, BC, F, 15 75-82 (157)
Clara Ding, 12, of White Rock, played up a division and claimed the Low Overall and MJT Girls 15-19 title with two solid scores over 33 holes. “I think my putting helped me on the second day, which I have been working hard on,” said Ding. For her efforts, Ding has been short-listed for a spot on MJT Team Canada to the JNJG International Junior Classic in Australia this September.
MJT Girls U15: *Shortened to 33 holes
Round 1: Meadow Gardens: Par 60, Ydg 4612, Slope/Rating 122/71.6
Round 2: Meadow Gardens: Par 72, Ydg 5519, Slope/Rating 122/71.6
1 Kathleen Dunn, Surrey, BC, F, 12 62-76 (138 - +6)
2 Elsa Wu, Maple Ridge, BC, F, 13 68-81 (149 - +17)
2 Jennifer Zou, Port Coquitlam, BC, F, 13 69-80 (149 - +17)
Kathleen Dunn, 12, of Surrey, BC, played great golf this weekend to secure the MJT Girls U15 Division title over 33 holes of play due to darkness. “This is my first win on the junior tour, it fees great,” said Dunn, who won many times on the Mini Tour (12U) circuit. “My putting and short game were good this weekend.”
MJT Peewee Boys: Par 72, Ydg 5519, Slope/Rating 114/66.1
1 Tiger Zhao, Vancouver, BC, M, 12 75-77 (152)
2 Jayden H X Zhu, Surrey, BC, M, 11 74-80 (154)
3 Tiger Yuanjun Liu, Surrey, BC, M, 12 80-76 (156)
Tiger Zhao, 12, of Vancouver, BC, played steady all weekend and managed the wind on day two to hold off his nearest competitor and win the MJT Peewee Boys title. “My driver was really good which helped me have a good approach shot,” said Zhao. “With just a one-shot lead into the last hole, I made a great up and down to secure the win.”
MJT Bantam Boys: *Shortened to 33 holes
Round 1: Meadow Gardens: Par 72, Ydg 6094, Slope/Rating 120/69.3
Round 2: Meadow Gardens : Par 60, Ydg 5058, Slope/Rating 120/69.3
1 Jaden August, Pitt Meadows, BC, M, 14 70-65 (135 - +3)
2 Eamon Chen, Vancouver, BC, M, 14 72-66 (138 - +6)
3 Aaron Che, Richmond, BC, M, 13 72-67 (139 - +7)
3 Eason Chen, Vancouver, BC, M, 14 77-62 (139 - +7)
MJT veteran champion, Jaden August, 14, of Pitt Meadows, BC, carded an excellent two-under (70) on the first day and held off all competitors to the finish to win the MJT Bantam Boys title after 33 holes of play. “Winning always feels great,” stated August. “My mental game and pre-shot routine helped me win this week.”
MJT Juvenile Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6597, Slope/Rating 124/71.6
1 Austin Krahn, Christina Lake, BC, M 76-77 (153) *Playoff
1 Louis Chun, Port Coquitlam, BC, M, 16 77-76 (153)
3 Aidan Liu, Richmond, BC, M, 15 79-78 (157)
3 George (JiaYu) Zhou, Vancouver, BC, M, 16 79-78 (157)
It took a playoff to determine the winner of the MJT Juvenile Boys Division after two players tied for the lead at 153 total score. Austin Krahn, 16, of Christina Lake, BC, won on the 6th playoff hole with a par to secure the title over Louis Chun, 16, of Port Coquitlam, BC. “I feel great because it is my second win in the week and my first playoff win,” said Krahn. “I have been working on my wedges a lot and it feels great to see them perform up to par.”
MJT Junior Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6597, Slope/Rating 124/71.6
1 Joshua Ince, Surrey, BC, M, 17 73-76 (149)
2 Christos Vassilopoulos, Nanaimo, BC, M, 18 79-77 (156)
3 Samuel Kurytnik, Nanaimo, BC, M, 17 79-78 (157)
Low Overall honours and the MJT Junior Boys title were won by Joshua Ince, 17, of Surrey, BC, who was steady throughout the weekend. “I stayed patient and took it one shot at a time,” said Ince, who is now short-listed for MJT Team Canada to Australia. “I’ve been working on my flighted shot, it really helped in the wind.”
Qualified Players – Short-Listed Positions:
MJT Team Canada to JNJG International Junior Classic, Australia: Joshua Ince (Surrey) and Clara Ding (White Rock)
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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 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:
Trent Matson, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, tmatson@maplejt.com
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