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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

May 6-7, 2023
Winnipeg, MB

Game growing in Manitoba with over 80 in Maple Leaf Junior Tour’s opener; several qualify for FCG World Championship

 

The Manitoba circuit of the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour had a great start to the non-profit program’s 25thanniversary season this past weekend at St. Boniface Golf Club in Winnipeg, where both Junior (U19) and Mini Tour(12U) events played out and over 80 young athletes participated. Results of the 19U event on May 6 and 7 are highlighted here, where players competed for titles in six divisions plus the chances to qualify for three major events: the FCG Callaway World Championship in Rancho Mirage, CA, the PGA Tour Canada-affiliated MJT Future Stars presented by ATB in Edmonton, AB, and the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego, CA. The MJT is the sole qualifier in Canada for the first two majors.

Two difficult scoring days made for a challenge, with winds swirling around the historic St. Boniface track, keeping players on the defensive.  Addison Kartusch, 16, of Winnipeg, MB, continued her solid play from last season (87-80 = 167) and secured the MJT Girls Low Overall and 15-19 Division titles.  On the Boys side, MJT veteran Zostrianos Giordani-Gross, 16, of Brandon, MB, navigated the conditions while carding 72-80 (152) to win Low Overall and the MJT Junior Boys title.  Both Kartusch and Giordani-Gross, along with each other division winner, secured the MJT’s exclusive exemptions into the FCG Callaway World Championship; the full list of qualified players is noted below, along with top results and winner quotes.

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 for the next stop in the province, the MJT Manitoba Series at Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club in Steinbach on June 10-11 – register here. For more information on the MJT, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers

MJT Girls U15: Par 74, Ydg 5719, Slope / Rating 128/73.1 

Olivia Johnson, Calgary, AB, F, 14                            87-85 (172)

Payton Bailey, Brandon, MB, F, 13                           95-109 (204)

Bella Lan, Winnipeg, MB, F, 11                                115-122 (237)

Calgary, AB’s Olivia Johnson, 14, played steady golf under tough conditions and held pole position to win the MJT Girls U15 Division title.  “It feels good to start the season off with a win,” said Johnson.  “My putting was pretty good all weekend and this win has helped boost my confidence.”

MJT Girls 15-19: Par 74, Ydg 5719, Slope / Rating 128/73.1

Addison Kartusch, Winnipeg, MB, F, 16                   87-80 (167)

Payton Oakden, Brandon, MB, F, 16                        84-89 (173)

India Young, Carman, MB, F, 16                               92-86 (178)

“It was great to get out and play this early in the year and it was nice that I could play better on the second day,” said MJT Girls 15-19 winner, Addison Kartusch, 16, of Winnipeg.  “Thank you to everyone at the MJT and to all the sponsors that make the event a success!”

MJT Peewee Boys: Par 72, Ydg 5719, Slope / Rating 121/68.2

Jayden H X Zhu, Surrey, BC, M, 11                           81-74 (155)

Ryder St. Laurent, Île Des Chênes, MB, M, 12         83-83 (166)

Owen Conrad, Winnipeg , MB, M, 12                      85-90 (175)

Jayden Zhu, from Surrey, BC, a veteran playing in his 30th MJT tournament at only 11 years old, carded the low round of the tournament on day two to take the MJT Peewee Boys title in style.

MJT Bantam Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6104, Slope / Rating 128/69.9

Hudson Hunnie, Winnipeg, MB, M, 14                    87-78 (165)

Gavin Carver, La Salle, MB, M, 14                            90-76 (166)

Ryan Johnson, Calgary, AB, M, 14                            81-87 (168)

In the MJT Boys Bantam Division, Hudson Hunnie, 14, of Winnipeg, MB, played steady on the back nine on Sunday to win the division title.  When asked about his win and the conditions over the weekend, Hunnie responded with, “I am happy with the fact that I was able to end up on top and a tough weekend.  No shot was easy and there was always pressure to push through.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6348 Slope / Rating 130/71.0

Payne Wood, Winnipeg, MB, M, 16                         75-81 (156) Won in playoff

Spence Mott, Brandon, MB, M, 16                          78-78 (156)

Terence Rafferty, Winnipeg, MB, M, 16                  81-82 (163)

Payne Wood, 16, of Winnipeg, MB, made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday to send the MJT Juvenile Boys match into a playoff, ultimately winning on the second hole of sudden death to claim the title.  “I feel good coming off a strong winter,” stated Wood.  “It is good to win at my home course as well.”  

MJT Junior Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6348 Slope / Rating 130/71.0

Zostrianos Giordani-Gross, Brandon, MB, M, 16                 72-80 (152)

Kaleb Lambert, Lorette West, MB, M, 17                            77-77 (154)

Thomas Scott, Dauphin, MB, M, 18                                     75-80 (155)

In a tightly contested MJT Junior Boys match, 16-year-old Zostrianos Giordina-Gross of Brandon, MB, held on to win Low Overall and the Division title over hard-charging rivals.  “I feel great!  I have been putting in lots of work over the winter and it feels awesome for it to be paying off,” said Giordani-Gross.  “My mental game, the ability to get into the flow and to stay positive and focused were all factors that led to this victory.” 

Qualified Players:

MJT Future Stars Invitational: Zostrianos Giordani-Gross (Brandon, MB)

FCG Callaway World Championship (Direct Exemptions – must meet scoring requirements): Olivia Johnson (Calgary, AB), Addison Kartusch (Winnipeg, MB), Jayden H X Zhu (Surrey, BC), Hudson Hunnie (Winnipeg, MB), Payne Wood (Winnipeg, MB) and Zostrianos Giordini-Gross (Brandon, MB)

IMG Academy Junior World Championship (Short-Listed Positions – must meeting scoring requirements): Olivia Johnson (Calgary, AB), Addison Kartusch (Winnipeg, MB), Jayden H X Zhu (Surrey, BC), Hudson Hunnie (Winnipeg, MB), Zostrianos Giordini-Gross (Brandon, MB)

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
National Operations Director
Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour
 

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