Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 26-27, 2023
Olds, AB

Durkin drives off with MJT Ford Series title at Olds, joins Johnson on Australia shortlist

Canada’s number one-played Junior Tour had over 160 youth participate in three events sponsored by MJT Premier Partner, Ford Canada, and Cam Clark Ford Olds, in Olds, Alberta, June 25 through 27, comprising kids coming out to learn to golf for free in the Cam Clark Ford Olds Go Golf! Junior Clinic, young golfers ages 12U competing in the one-day MJT Mini Tour, and 19U golfers playing in the two-day MJT Ford Series, all at Olds Central Highlands Golf Club. Results of the latter are highlighted below. 

Players were competing for titles in six divisions in the MJT Ford Series at Olds Golf Club plus the chance to be short-listed for MJT Team Canada to the Jack Newton International Junior Classic in New South Wales, Australia.  The event also featured the Ford Hole in One contest, which gave players the opportunity to win a 2024 Ford Escape valued at $40,000.

The Olds Golf Club continued to show just how hard it plays, as near perfect weather and pristine conditions still delivered tough scoring as players tried to navigate the challenging track.  Olivia Johnson, 14, of Calgary, AB, continue to roll, as she won her third event of the season while Brady Durkin, 15, of Sylvan Lake, AB, finally broke through and won his first of the year. Both earned Low Overall honours for their respective divisions and joined the shortlist to represent Canada at the JNJG International Junior Classic in Australia.  The final team will be announced once qualifying has been completed across the country.

Results from the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here.  Registration is on-going in the province for the next event, the MJT Maui Jim Series at Carstairs Golf Club in Carstairs on July 17-18 - please register here. For more information on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers

MJT Girls U15: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 5445, Slope/Rating 127/71.1

1 Olivia Johnson, Calgary, AB, F, 14                                                    81-73 (154)

2 Justine Leon, Calgary, AB, F, 13                                                        82-77 (159)

3  Sela Ogada, Calgary, AB, F, 13                                                         84-78 (162)

Olivia Johnson, 14, of Calgary, AB, pulled away from the field with a stellar 73 on the final day to win the MJT Girls U15 Division title and Low Overall.  “It feels really good to win this weekend,” said Johnson.  “My mindset was just to have fun and stay focused.”

MJT Girls 15-19: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 5445, Slope/Rating 127/71.1

1 Eva Hogue, Edmonton, AB, F, 16                                                     90-81 (171)

2 Alexandra Chiew, Calgary, AB, F, 17                                                 84-88 (172)

3 Danica Pirart, Airdrie, AB, F, 16                                                        85-93 (178)

Eva Hogue, 16, of Edmonton, AB, played solid golf to win the MJT Girls 15-19 Division title by one stroke. “It feels pretty good to win,” said Hogue.  “I feel as though my hard work paid off.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 5445, Slope/Rating 112/66.2

1 Jacob Natomagan, Sylvan Lake, AB, M, 12                                       83-84 (167)

2 Sawyer Pierson, Calgary, AB, M, 12                                                 105-101 (206)

Jacob Natomagan, 12, of Sylvan Lake, AB, was steady over the weekend to earn the MJT Peewee Boys Division title.  “It feels good to win this weekend,” said Natomagan.  “The greens were playing hard and fast and I was happy with how I putted.”

MJT Bantam Boys: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 6014, Slope/Rating 124/68.9

1 Jayden Arnold, Calgary, AB, M, 12                                                   78-74 (152) Playoff winner

2 Sam Cook, Calgary , AB, M, 14                                                           75-77 (152)

3 Stavros Argiris, Calgary, AB, M, 14                                                   76-77 (153)

Jayden Arnold, 12, of Calgary, AB, earned his first win of the season after making a great putt on 18 to force a playoff and then followed it up with a birdie on the first playoff hole.  “This feels great to win my first tournament in 2023 and my first Bantam win,” said Arnold.  “I stuck to my game plan and stayed calm through the final holes knowing I had a one-shot lead going into 18.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 6519, Slope/Rating 132/71.2

1 Brady Durkin, Sylvan Lake, AB, M, 15                                                74-69 (143)

2 Peter Hlushak, Spruce Grove, AB, M, 15                                          74-71 (145)

3 Kole Myhra, Calgary, AB, M, 14                                                          76-70 (146)

3 Russell Quinn, St. Albert, AB, M, 16                                                 71-75 (146)

Brady Durkin, 15, of Sylvan Lake, AB, was the only player to finish the weekend under par on the tough Olds track to earn the MJT Juvenile Division title and Low Overall. “It feels great to see my hard work pay off on a tough course like this,” said Durkin.  “I just played my game, didn’t worry about anyone else.” 

MJT Junior Boys: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 6519, Slope/Rating 132/71.2

1 Ryan Garbutt, Edmonton, AB, M, 16                                               71-73 (144)

2 Jeremy Hart, Calgary, AB, M, 18                                                      72-74 (146)

3 Mac Andrekson, Calgary, AB, M, 18                                                 74-74 (148)

3 Jon Vinge, Calgary, AB, M, 17                                                           74-74 (148)

3 Tristan Dotchin, Canmore, AB, M, 17                                              73-75 (148)

Ryan Garbutt, 16, of Edmonton, AB, finished the weekend at even par and won the MJT Junior Boys Division title in a very tight race.  “It feels very good to get the job done this week,” said Garbutt.  “I have been in a bit of a drought, so it feels very good.”

Qualifiers List:

Short-Listed Positions:  JNJG International Junior Classic representing MJT Team Canada: Brady Durkin (Sylvan Lake, AB) and Olivia Johnson (Calgary, AB)

*Based on the JNJG age MJT Team Canada to Australia, which is for 15- to 17-year-olds as of September 26, 2023

About Ford Canada: Ford of Canada and the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) are proud to continue with the successful MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics - an initiative that introduces golf for free to young people, teaching them a game they can benefit from their entire lives. Many thousands of kids have participated in this program since 2006. Clinics have been held in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan where participating Ford Dealers offer free MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics conducted by PGA of Canada Professionals to children in their community. Ford and the Ford Dealers Association wish to support amateur sport in their communities by introducing children to golf, encouraging them to learn the fundamentals, and rewarding them for their efforts. www.ford.ca

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.

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