Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 28-29, 2023
Medicine Hat, AB
Hansen fires six-under in MJT PLYR Series at Desert Blume; six division winners crowned
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada’s number one-played junior tour, was in Medicine Hat, Alberta, this past week, at Desert Blume Golf Club for the final PLYR Golf Series across the country. Competitors battled it out in six divisions for amazing PLYR prize packages and the final chance to earn valuable MJT Order of Merit (OOM) points to qualify for the season-ending MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf at The Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, this November.
Desert Blume Golf Club was in amazing shape, the greens were slick, the fairways tight and the golf course was playing fast. The first day, conditions were perfect, but the wind and heat picked up on day two and changed how the golf course played. Top finisher scores and winner quotes are featured below, while results from the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points are posted on the MJT website here. Highlights included MJT Girls 15-19 winner, Gabrielle Roznicki of Calgary, AB, and MJT Junior Boys winner, Christian Hansen of Okotoks, AB, taking Overall Low Honours for Girls and Boys respectively. In the other divisions, a number of exciting finishes played out, with titles eventually going to Dylan Pandher of Delta, BC, in MJT Peewee Boys, Sam Cook of Calgary, AB, in MJT Bantam Boys, Aliyah Hull of Chestermere, AB, in MJT U15 Girls Division, and Parker Riou of Strathmore, AB, who finished at even par to win the MJT Juvenile Boys title.
The final MJT event in the province is the waitlisted MJT Ford Series at RedTail Landing Golf Club in Nisku, AB, on September 9-10, 2023. 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: Desert Blume: Par 72, Ydg 5242, Slope/Rating 127/70.7
1 Aliyah Hull, Chestermere, AB, F, 14 81-79 (160)
2 Grace Murphy, Lethbridge, AB, F, 14 89-93 (182)
Aliyah Hull, 14, of Chestermere, AB, fired an impressive 79 on the second day to pull away and win the MJT U15 Girls Division title. “It feels good to win on a course that is in great condition,” said Hull. “I was just trying to improve my game from the first day and finish strong.”
MJT Girls 15-19: Desert Blume: Par 72, Ydg 5242, Slope/Rating 127/70.7
1 Gabrielle Roznicki, Calgary, AB, F, 17 75-76 (151)
2 Niya Friesen, Swift Current, SK, F, 15 74-81 (155)
3 Charlie Duchnij, Airdrie, AB, F, 15 82-83 (165)
3 Alexandra Chiew, Calgary, AB, F, 17 81-84 (165)
The MJT Girls 15-19 Division title and Low Overall honours were won by 17-year-old Gabrielle Roznicki of Calgary, AB, who posted two great rounds and won by four shots over her nearest rival. “It feels very good to win this week, especially since it was my last summer season event,” said Roznicki. It feels good to end off on a good note.”
MJT Peewee Boys: Desert Blume: Par 72, Ydg 5242, Slope/Rating 115/66.0
1 Dylan Pandher, Delta, BC, M, 12 79-82 (161)
2 Harrison Wells, Edmonton, AB, M, 11 94-82 (176)
3 Kellen Heddema, Desert Blume, AB, M, 12 85-92 (177)
Dylan Pandher, 12, of Delta, BC, made the trek east and posted two solid rounds over the very tricky Desert Blume course, winning his second MJT Peewee Division title of the season. “It feels great to win my second junior tour event of the year at Desert Blume, it is a very unique and special course,” said Pandher.
MJT Bantam Boys: Desert Blume: Par 72, Ydg 5895, Slope/Rating 121/68.9
1 Sam Cook, Calgary, AB, M, 14 73-74 (147)
2 Aricin Franklin, Saskatoon, SK, M, 14 76-72 (148)
3 Cian Thubron, Calgary, AB, M, 14 80-76 (156)
Sam Cook, 14, of Calgary, AB, played a consistent game, hovering around even par both days to win the MJT Bantam Division title by one shot over Aricin Franklin of Saskatoon, SK. “It feels incredible, definitely the highlight of my summer,” said Cook. “To win against such a talented player really makes me confident in my game and to finish the season with a win is awesome.”
MJT Juvenile Boys: Desert Blume: Par 72, Ydg 6487, Slope/Rating 129/71.4
1 Parker Riou, Strathmore, AB, M, 16 70-74 (144)
2 Owen Bruins, Medicine Hat, AB, M, 16 73-74 (147)
3 Jackson Wesley, Lethbridge, AB, M, 16 78-74 (152)
Parker Riou, 16, of Strathmore, AB, finished with a rock-solid score of even par for a solid victory over two challenging rounds to claim the MJT Juvenile Division title. “It feels very good, it was something I wanted to accomplish all year,” said Riou. “It was a grind out there in the wind, but I pulled it off.”
MJT Junior Boys: Desert Blume: Par 72, Ydg 6487, Slope/Rating 129/71.4
1 Christian Hansen, Okotoks, AB, M, 19 68-70 (138)
2 Jadan Patel, Airdrie, AB, M, 18 74-71 (145)
2 Daniel Boyle, Edmonton, AB, M, 17 72-73 (145)
The MJT Junior Boys title and Low Overall honours were won by MJT veteran, Christian Hansen, 19, of Okotoks, AB, who fired fantastic rounds of 68-70 to finish at six-under par. “It feels good to win against all of these good players,” said Hansen, who will be representing Team MJT in the upcoming National Team Challenge in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, this September. “I tried to make sure that I didn’t three-putt coming down the stretch.”
About PLYR Golf: Established in 2015, PLYR emerged with a idea that would allow both casual street apparel and golf attire to merge. Fast forward a few years and although the brand has expanded beyond the course, the vision remains - push the status quo on what is 'cool' in athletic apparel. Our mission is simple. Create a culture that will inspire and connect the next generation of PLYR's* through innovative, high-quality products. PLYR* - Any and all athletes. We are all PLYR's. For more information, and to see PLYR's full line of products, visit the website HERE.
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, tmatson@maplejt.com Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour
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