Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
July 31-August 2, 2023
Surrey, BC
Hot scores from field of 112 highlight MJT Odlum Brown Classic at Northview where 6 Champions crowned
One of Canada’s top-rated junior golf tournaments, the MJT Odlum Brown Classic, once again witnessed phenomenal scoring from an elite field of 112 competing on Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, BC, on July 31, August 1 and 2. This major-ranked event on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour, plays two rounds on the Canal Course with a cut to the low 60 and ties for the final round on the Ridge Course in six divisions. Rankings include bonus MT Order of Merit points, which are used to determine invitations for the season-ending MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf at the Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, this November, along with rankings by WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking), AJGA PBE Stars, Junior Golf Scoreboard, Global Junior Golf Ranking, and Junior Golf Hub.
Brilliant scores were recorded, with Jaden August, 14, of Pitt Meadows and Justin Bjornson, 17, of Surrey, both posting a three-day total of 208 (eight under par) to win their respective divisions of MJT Bantam and Junior Boys respectively. Bjornson was crowned MJT Odlum Brown Low Overall Boys Champion with his fantastic score from the furthest tee. MJT Odlum Brown Low Overall Girls Champion was Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon, 14, of Vancouver, BC, who blazed her way around the Canal Course the first two days firing 72-68 before finishing the week at one-under-par overall as she navigated the Ridge Course on day three. Other highlights included Kaylee Chung, 15, of Vancouver, BC, pulling away from the MJT Girls 15-19 field with a solid final round, Tiger Zhao, 12, of Vancouver, BC, finishing the week at one over par (217) to win by nine shots in MJT Peewee Boys, and Max Osten, 15, of Delta, BC, playing great golf to hold off hard charging competitors in the MJT Juvenile Boys Division.
Top results and winner quotes are detailed below. For details on the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points, please click here. The next MJT event in BC is the wait-listed MJT Ford Series at Chilliwack Golf and Country Club in Chilliwack, BC, on August 14-15. For more information on the MJT, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers:
MJT U15 Girls Division:
Round 1&2: Canal Course: Par 72, Ydg 5657, Slope/Rating 123/71.9
Round 3: Ridge Course: Par 72, Ydg 5661, Slope/Rating 127/73.0
1 Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon, Vancouver, BC, F, 14 72-68-75 (215)
2 Serin Girard, Richmond, BC, F, 13 76-75-81 (232)
3 Yunhan Liu, Surrey, BC, F, 13 75-82-81 (238)
Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon, 14, of Vancouver, BC, played amazing golf over the week and finished at one-under par for a sweeping victory, taking the MJT Odlum Brown Girls U15 Champion’s trophy and Low Overall honours. “It feels nice to win,” said Kwon. “My last round was disappointing, but this tournament helped me realize what I could improve on.”
MJT Girls 15-19 Division:
Round 1&2: Canal Course: Par 72, Ydg 5657, Slope/Rating 123/71.9
Round 3: Ridge Course: Par 72, Ydg 5661, Slope/Rating 127/73.0
1 Kaylee Chung, Vancouver, BC, F, 15 81-77-78 (236)
2 Dara Miao, White Rock, BC, F, 15 82-76-86 (244)
3 Labeier Wu, Vancouver, BC, F, 16 77-81-88 (246)
Kaylee Chung, 15, of Vancouver, BC, sealed her third victory of the season by winning the MJT Odlum Brown Girls 15-19 Champion’s title after playing solid golf on the final two days to separate from the field. “Winning this event made me feel proud for all the hard effort I put in,” said Chung. “During the round I had many struggles with decision, but after I made eagle, I started to gain more confidence.”
MJT Peewee Boys Division:
Round 1&2: Canal Course: Par 72, Ydg 5657, Slope/Rating 114/66.9
Round 3: Ridge Course: Par 72, Ydg 5661, Slope/Rating 121/67.8
1 Tiger Zhao, Vancouver, BC, M, 12 72-70-75 (217)
2 Tiger Yuanjun Liu, Surrey, BC, M, 12 73-75-78 (226)
3 Kaden Phan, Vancouver, BC, M, 12 81-74-75 (230)
The MJT Odlum Brown Peewee Boys Champion was Tiger Zhao, 12, of Vancouver, BC, who finished the week at one-over par while cruising to a nine-shot victory for his fourth MJT title of the year. “It feels great to add another win to my 2023 season,” said Zhao. “Coming down the stretch, I was just thinking of having fun as I had a lead going into the last hole.”
MJT Bantam Boys Division:
Round 1&2: Canal Course: Par 72, Ydg 6085, Slope/Rating 119/68.8
Round 3: Ridge Course: Par 72, Ydg 6001, Slope/Rating 124/69.2
1 Jaden August, Pitt Meadows, BC, M, 14 74-64-70 (208)
2 Ryan LePrieur, Langley, BC, M, 14 74-70-71 (215)
3 Tiger Xie, Surrey, BC, M, 12 70-68-78 (216)
MJT star performer, Jaden August, 14, of Pitt Meadows, BC, posted an incredible eight-under 64 in the second round to pull away from the field and win the MJT Odlum Brown Bantam Boys Champion’s trophy in fine fashion with a seven shot victory. “It feels great,” said August. “Coming down the stretch, I tried to stick to my process and my game plan no matter what.”
MJT Juvenile Boys Division:
Round 1&2: Canal Course: Par 72, Ydg 6644, Slope/Rating 132/71.3
Round 3: Ridge Course: Par 72, Ydg 6475, Slope/Rating 136/71.2
1 Max Osten, Delta, BC, M, 16 69-74-74 (217)
2 Eden Kim, Burnaby, BC, M, 15 71-78-69 (218)
2 Jerry Li, Vancouver, BC, M, 15 78-69-71 (218)
The MJT Odlum Brown Juvenile Boys Champion was 16-year-old Max Osten of Delta, BC, who got off to a hot start and held off his hard charging rivals who put pressure on him during the final round. “It feels good to win the title this week,” said Osten. “It has been a long season for me as I was dealing with a back injury that sidelined me for a couple weeks.”
MJT Junior Boys Division:
Round 1&2: Canal Course: Par 72, Ydg 6644, Slope/Rating 132/71.3
Round 3: Ridge Course: Par 72, Ydg 6475, Slope/Rating 136/71.2
1 Justin Bjornson, Surrey, BC, M, 17 71-69-68 (208)
2 Nathan Szpakowicz, Vancouver, BC, M, 17 70-70-70 (210)
3 Liam Jackes, Burnaby, BC, M, 17 73-69-78 (220)
MJT veteran, Justin Bjornson, 17, of Surrey, BC, posted three outstanding rounds under par and finished the week at eight-under to be crowned MJT Odlum Brown Junior Boys and Low Overall Champion, his second straight MJT title. “This feels great, to win at my home course is really special,” said Bjornson. “I was pretty stressed coming down the stretch, I made a double on 13 which made me quite frustrated, but I got the job done.”
About Odlum Brown Limited: Odlum Brown Limited is an independent, BC-based, full-service investment firm providing disciplined investment advice and objective research with a singular focus on clients. Established in 1923, the firm offers a full range of investment products including equities, fixed income, mutual funds and GIC’s; and financial, retirement and estate planning through its wholly owned subsidiary, Odlum Brown Financial Services Limited. For more information visit www.OdlumBrown.com member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
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, National Operations Director
Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour
Follow the MJT on Twitter, LIKE us on Facebook, Connect on LinkedIn, subscribe to MJT on Youtube or follow on Instagram