Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 26-27, 2023
Warman, SK

Fantastic scores of 67-66 finish successful MJT Saskatchewan season with a flourish at The Legends

It was a fantastic finale to the regular season on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada’s number one-played junior tour, in Warman, Saskatchewan, this past weekend, with a record field of almost 160 players combined in a Junior (19U) and Mini Tour (12U) event at The Legends Golf Course. Junior golf is booming in the province with such a high number of players taking part. 

Highlights of the Junior Tour stop are detailed here, where competitors battled it out in six divisions for the final chance to earn valuable MJT Order of Merit (OOM) points towards qualification into the season-ending MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf at The Wigwam Golf Resort in Arizona this November.

The MJT Saskatchewan OOM Championship at The Legends saw players eager to card some good rounds in perfect weather on a course in pristine condition. Top finisher scores and winner quotes are detailed below. 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 scorching scores of 67-66 fired by Zostrianos Giordani-Gross, 17, of Brandon, MB, who finished at 11-under par for the weekend, winning the MJT Junior and Low Overall Boy titles. Low Overall among the Girls went to seven-time MJT Girls U15 champion, Olivia Johnson, 14, of Calgary, AB.  Other notable mentions go to Annelie Rafferty, 18, of Galway, Ireland, who made the trip to the event worth her while with a win in MJT Girls 15-19, joined in the winner’s circle by MJT Peewee Boys champion, Jun Lee, 10, of Regina, SK, MJT Bantam Boys veteran victor, Aricin Franklin, 14, of Saskatoon, SK, and first-time MJT Juvenile Boys winner, Brayden Skene, 16. of Martinsville, SK. Every division winner posted low scores to win against deep fields.

The MJT Saskatchewan OOM Championship at The Legends brings to a close another successful season in the province. The MJT wishes to thank all the players and families for their support. Early Bird memberships for 2024 will be available in December. More information on Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour, as well as results of the invitation-only MJT National Team Challenge in Niagara, ON, this September, as well as the prestigious MJT National Championship in Arizona this November, can be viewed online at www.maplejt.com. 

Top Finishers

MJT U15 Girls: The Legends GC: Par 72, Ydg 5217, Slope/Rating 126/70.4

1 Olivia Johnson, Calgary, AB, F, 14                                                                73-78 (151)

2 Tayla Perry, Regina, SK, F, 14                                                                       70-82 (152)

3 Grace Odnokon, Saskatoon, SK, F, 13                                                          84-76 (160)

The MJT U15 Girls Division title and Low Overall honours went to Olivia Johnson, 14, of Calgary, AB, who racked up her seventh win of the season.  “It feels awesome to win this weekend,” said Johnson.  “I just wanted to finish off the summer season strong.”

MJT Girls 15-19: The Legends GC: Par 72, Ydg 5217, Slope/Rating 126/70.4

1 Annelie Rafferty, Galway, IR, F, 18                                                                 81-80 (161)

2 Sarah Henderson, Saskatoon, SK, F, 15                                                        86-81 (167)

3 Niya Friesen, Swift Current, SK, F, 15                                                            84-89 (173)

Travelling the furthest distance and making it count was Annelie Rafferty, 18, of Galway, Ireland, who edged out victory in the MJT Girls 15-19 Division by one shot.  “This feels great, but I left a few out there,” said Rafferty.  “I wanted to finish with a birdie to break eighty, but I chunked my shot.”

MJT Peewee Boys: The Legends GC: Par 72, Ydg 5217, Slope/Rating 113/65.3

1 Jun Lee, Regina, SK, M, 10                                                                               70-75 (145)

2 Austin Nesbitt, Pilot Butte, SK, M, 12                                                           74-73 (147)

3 Tylan Wallin, Humboldt, SK, M, 12                                                                 79-77 (156)

Jun Lee, 10, of Regina, SK, posted a fine two-under par 70 on day one to lead into day two and managed to hold on to win the MJT Peewee Boys Division for his second title of the season.  “It feels good to win because it was my last tournament of the year,” said Lee.  “Also, it was my birthday, so it feels good.”

MJT Bantam Boys: The Legends GC: Par 72, Ydg 6216, Slope/Rating 122/70.4

1 Aricin Franklin, Saskatoon, SK, M, 14                                                             69-72 (141)

2 Shae Maunula, North Battleford, SK, M, 13                                                 81-67 (148)

3 Jayden Chernoff, Estevan, SK, M, 14                                                              78-71 (149)

Continuing his fine play this season with another victory in the MJT Bantam Boys Division was Aricin Franklin, 14, of Saskatoon, SK, who finished the weekend with standout scores of 69-72, three-under par, for his sixth title in 2023. “It feels really good to have played well and win.” Said Franklin.  “I was just trying to hit good shots and good putts to finish.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: The Legends GC: Par 72, Ydg 6730, Slope/Rating 128/72.7

1 Brayden Skene, Martensville, SK, M, 16                                                      70-72 (142)

2 Ryan Mosher, Saskatoon, SK, M, 15                                                             74-71 (145)

2 Dade Bernatchez, Sucker River, SK, M, 16                                                  71-74 (145)

2 Ryan Badger, Edmonton, AB, M, 16                                                             70-75 (145)

Coming through for his first win on the MJT was 16-year-old Brayden Skene of Martensville, SK, who fired 70-72 for a two-under par total score and three-shot victory in the MJT Juvenile Division.  “It feels really good because it is my home course,” said Skene.  “And to win my first event here makes it much more special.”

MJT Junior Boys: The Legends GC: Par 72, Ydg 6730, Slope/Rating 128/72.7

1 Zostrianos Giordani-Gross, Brandon, MB, M, 17                                              67-66 (133)

2 Drayjon Sparvier, Regina Ochapowace First Nation, SK, M, 19                   73-71 (144)

3 Winston Grayson, Kipling, SK, M, 19                                                                     70-78 (148)

A standout performance by Brandon, MB’s Zostrianos Giordani-Gross, 17, saw him blaze his way around the course, carding 13 birdies and finishing 11-under par to triumph in the MJT Junior Division.  “This feels incredible!” said Giordani-Gross, who ran away with Low Overall honours.  “I have been having trouble with my short game so when the putting and chipping started clicking, it felt great.”

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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