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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

April 29-30, 2023
Lethbridge, AB

Sizzling start to MJT Alberta season with over 120 players at Paradise Canyon; Koonar shoots 66-67

 

Canada’s number one-played junior tour, the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), had a sizzling start to its 25th anniversary season in Alberta with over 120 players teeing it up in the MJT Global Sport Academy Spring Classic at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge, April 29-30.  

With near perfect weather, the southern Alberta track was defenceless against the field and the scores were low.  Jaiden Koonar, 18, of Calgary, AB, who recently committed to Kenyon College, blazed his way around the course with scores of 66-67 (-9) to win Low Overall Boys score, earning an exemption into the MJT Future Stars presented by ATB at Northern Bear Golf Club in Edmonton this June.  On the girl’s side, Aastha Savadatti followed up her opening round of even par 71 with a 74 to win the Low Overall Girls score and MJT Girls 15-19 title.  Both Savadatti and Koonar, along with every other division winner, received invitations into the FCG Callaway World Championship in California this July.

Players received great tee gifts, a 25th Anniversary MJT member gift package, lunch courtesy of the Stephen Ames Foundation on day one, pizza courtesy Panago Pizza on day two, and program information from tournament sponsor, Global Sport Academy and Forge Golf, who were on site throughout the weekend.

For results from the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Award and Academy Points program, please click here.  The next MJT Junior Tour event in Alberta is the MJT Edge School Spring Classic at River Bend GC in Red Deer on May 13-14.  For more information or to see the full 2023 MJT schedule of upcoming events, please visit the MJT website or click here.

Top Finishers

MJT Girls U15: Par 71, Ydg 5275 Slope / Rating 124/71.4

Kali Yeske, Calgary, AB, F, 14                                    75-71 (146)

Rhea Deo, Edmonton, AB, F, 13                               77-73 (150)

Olivia Johnson, Calgary, AB, F, 14                            82-79 (161)

Kali Yeske, 14, of Calgary, tied the low round of the weekend for the girls on the second day with an even par 71 to win the MJT U15 Girls division.  Yeske stated afterwards, “Getting this early win has provided me with a lot of confidence going into the 2023 tourney season.”

MJT Girls 15-19: Par 71, Ydg 5778 Slope / Rating 135 / 74.1

Aastha Savadatti, Calgary, AB, F, 16                         71-74 (145)

Coryn Tardif, Sylvan Lake, AB, F, 15                         88-84 (172)

Alexandra Chiew, Calgary, AB, F, 16                         90-88 (178)

“It feels good to score well this early in the season,” said Low Overall Girls and MJT Girls 1-19 winner, Aastha Savadatti, 16, of Calgary.  “This isn’t the easiest course, so it was nice to see where I am so far.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Par 71, Ydg 5275 Slope / Rating 120/68.5

Austin Nesbitt, Pilot Butte, SK, M, 11                       79-77 (156)

Erik Petersen, Okotoks, AB, M, 11                           85-80 (165)

Jacob Natomagan, Sylvan Lake, AB, M, 12               87-81 (168)

Austin Nesbitt, 11, of Pilot Butte, SK, made the trip to Lethbridge worth his while by winning the MJT Peewee Boys title in style.  “I liked winning this because it was a good way to kick off the rust and build confidence,” said Nesbitt.  “This is always a great tournament, and the staff is amazing.”

MJT Bantam Boys: Par 71, Ydg 5778 Slope / Rating 126/69.0

Harrison Kiziak, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, M, 14        72-71 (143)

Lucas Sturgeon, Saskatoon, SK, M, 13                     70-74 (144)

Jayden Arnold, Calgary, AB, M, 12                           71-76 (147)

Harrison Kiziak, 14, of Fort Saskatchewan, AB, notched his first win on the MJT this weekend with a three-under 32 on the back nine on Sunday to win the MJT Bantam Boys title by one shot.  “(This win) has really boosted my mental confidence,” said Kiziak.  “I really had to focus after a couple of bogeys, but I pushed through.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: Par 71, Ydg 6400 Slope / Rating 133/71.2

Kohen Yeske, Calgary, AB, M, 15                              71-67 (138)

Christian Flick, Heritage Pointe, AB, M, 16              73-66 (139)

Charlie Gillespie, Calgary, AB, M, 16                        74-69 (143)

Tyler Kidd, Calgary, AB, M, 15                                  74-69 (143)

In the tightest race of the weekend, 15-year-old Kohen Yeske of Calgary fired a 4-under 67 on day two to hold off a hard-charging Christian Flick of Heritage Pointe, AB, to edge out victory in the MJT Juvenile Boys division.  “It feels great to get off to a hot start and take home a win in my first tournament of the season,” said Yeske.  “My putting down the stretch was great as I holed three putts from 15 feet in my last nine holes.”

MJT Junior Boys: Par 71, Ydg 6400 Slope / Rating 133/71.2

Jaiden Koonar, Calgary, AB, M, 18                           66-67 (133)

Kye Fisher, Leduc, AB, M, 18                                    71-71 (142)

Brett Jones, Calgary, AB, M, 16                                68-74 (142)

“This feels awesome! I wasn’t expecting much coming into the tournament, but it was great to be hitting the ball well and making some putts,” said MJT Junior Boys winner, Jaiden Koonar, 18, of Calgary, who finished the weekend at nine-under-par after following up his opening round 66 with a bogey free 67.  “My irons definitely won me the tournament.  I hit a lot of greens which limited my bogeys.”

This event was also a qualifier for various major tournaments:

MJT Future Stars Invitational presented by ATB: Jaiden Koonar (Calgary)

FCG Callaway World Championship: Kali Yeske (Calgary), Aastha Savadatti (Calgary), Austin Nesbitt (Pilot Butte, SK), Harrison Kiziak (Fort Saskatchewan), Kohen Yeske (Calgary), and Jaiden Koonar (Calgary)

About Global Sport Academy and Forge Golf: Both Global Sport Academy and Forge Golf are advocates, coaches, and mentors. We help student-athletes and players find their x-factor, forge their next level of play, and take their sport to new heights. Our programs are designed for student-athletes to pursue their passion for sport in an empowering program that is supported by academic and athletic leadership.  Please visit their website for more information.

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

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