Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
May 13-14, 2023
New Minas (Wolfville), NS
102-year-old KenWo Golf Club hosts record field in Maple Leaf Junior Tour’s East Coast opener
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour had a record start to the program’s Atlantic Canada’s circuit at the historic KenWo Golf Club in New Minas, Nova Scotia, on May 13 and 14, where both Junior (U19) and Mini Tour (12U) events hosted 77 young athletes. Full results of the Junior Tour event are highlighted below, 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 short-listed spots for the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego, CA. The MJT is the sole qualifier in Canada for the first two majors.
The players were blessed with two decent days of weather at the 102-year old course, which was in spectacular shape this early in the season. Annika Parkash, 16, of Halifax, NS, made par on the first playoff hole to win the MJT Girls Low Overall and 15-19 Division titles. Among the Boys, 15-year-old Blake Wilson of Windsor Junction, NS, fired the low round of the tournament on Sunday to come from behind and win the Low Overall and Juvenile Boys titles.
Results from the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here. Both Wilson and Parkash, along with each other division winner, secured the MJT’s exclusive exemptions into the FCG Callaway World Championship (players must meet FCG scoring requirements); the full list of qualified players is noted below, along with top results and winner quotes.
Registration is on-going for the next stop in the province, the MJT Atlantic Canada Series at Chester Golf Clubin Chester, NS, on May 27-28 – register here. For more information on the MJT, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers
MJT Girls U15: Par 70, 5455 Ydg , Slope / Rating 123/71.4
1 Lila Bishop, Port Williams, NS, F, 11 93-94 (187)
2 Lauren Balcom, Port Williams, NS, F, 13 113-123 (236)
Lila Bishop, 11, of Port Williams, NS, was steady over the weekend to win the MJT U15 Girls Division title. “I feel amazing!” stated Bishop. “It is a great start, but I still have lots of strokes to make up. I had such a good time.”
MJT Girls 15-19: Par 70, 5455 Ydg , Slope / Rating 123/71.4
1 Annika Parkash, Halifax, NS, F, 16 81-82 (163) Won Playoff
2 Katie MacIntyre, Beaver Bank, NS, F, 16 78-85 (163)
3 Callie Taylor, Quispamsis, NB, F, 17 84-81 (165)
3 Olivia Seaman, Kentville, NS, F, 16 82-83 (165)
An exciting finish in the MJT Girls 15-19 Division saw Annika Parkash, 16, of Halifax, NS, and Katie MacIntyre, 16, of Beaver Bank, NS, finish regulation play tied at 163. Heading to the 10th tee for the playoff, Parkash made a slippery 8-footer for par to win on the first extra hole. “It feels good to accomplish something so early in the season,” said Parkash. “Being in a playoff was a really good experience where I can learn a lot.”
MJT Peewee Boys: Par 70, 5455 Ydg, Slope / Rating 120/65.9
1 Finn Grinton, Brookfield, NS, M, 12 80-79 (159)
2 Jack Grinton, Brookfield, NS, M, 12 82-84 (166)
3 Luke Nickerson, Kentville, NS, M, 12 84-84 (168)
Finn Grinton, 12, of Brookfield, NS, was the only player in the MJT Peewee Boys division to break 80 on the second day to secure the win over his twin brother. “It’s a great start to the year,” said Grinton. “The win will really help me with confidence for the rest of the year.”
MJT Bantam Boys: Par 70, 5910 Ydg, Slope / Rating 124/68.2
1 Nathan MacDonald, Fall River, NS, M, 12 76-79 (155)
2 Carter Lavigne, Moncton, NB, M, 13 78-84 (162)
3 Ben Brown, Antigonish, NS, M, 14 85-78 (163)
In the MJT Bantam Boys Division, 12-year-old Nathan MacDonald of Fall River, NS, played solid golf to win the title by seven shots. “I rate this tournament a 10 out of 10,” said MacDonald. “My putting was the key, and the win feels good.”
MJT Juvenile Boys: Par 70, 6230 Ydg, Slope / Rating 127/69.7
1 Blake Wilson, Windsor Junction, NS, M, 15 77-70 (147)
2 Zachary Gaudet, Truro, NS, M, 16 77-72 (149)
3 Theo Hustler, Miminegash , PE, M, 16 72-78 (150)
Blake Wilson, 15 of Windsor Junction, NS, fired the low round of the tournament to come from behind and win MJT Low Overall and the Juvenile Boys title. “It feels good knowing that my practice this winter paid off,” said Wilson, who receives a direct exemption into the MJT Future Stars presented by ATB along with his other qualifying spots. “(The win) helped me improve my strategy at different courses like hitting centre of greens and just knowing what’s my consistent shot.”
MJT Junior Boys: Par 70, 6230 Ydg, Slope / Rating 127/69.7
1 Jacob LeBlanc, Dieppe, NB, M, 17 78-71 (149)
2 Maguire Brennan, O'Leary, PE, M, 17 74-77 (151)
3 Brady Wood, Fredericton , NB, M, 17 77-75 (152)
In the MJT Junior Boys Division, 17-year-old Jacob LeBlanc of Dieppe, NB, shot a rock solid round of 71 (+1) in blustery conditions to make up ground and win the title. “It feels good to start the season off with a victory,” said LeBlanc. “My driving was pretty accurate, and it helped me to hit fairways and have a good shot at the green.”
Qualified Players:
MJT Future Stars Invitational: Blake Wilson (Windsor Junction, NS)
FCG Callaway World Championship (Direct Exemptions): Lila Bishop (Port Williams, NS), Annika Parkash (Halifax, NS), Finn Grinton (Brookfield, NS), Nathan MacDonald (Fall River, NS), Blake Wilson (Windsor Junction, NS), Jacob LeBlanc (Dieppe, NB)
IMG Academy Junior World Championship (Short-Listed Positions): Lila Bishop (Port Williams), Annika Parkash (Halifax, NS), Finn Grinton (Brookfield, NS),Nathan MacDonald (Fall River, NS), Blake Wilson (Windsor Junction, NS)
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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