Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 24-25, 2023
Amherst, NS

Burgess and Parkash qualify for National Team Challenge at MJT’s Maui Jim Series

Challenging conditions in Amherst, Nova Scotia, did not deter the solid field of over 60 young golfers ages six to 18 that took part in the popular Maui Jim Series on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s stop at the Amherst Golf Club on June 24 and 25.   Canada’s number one-played Junior Tour hosted both a two-day Junior Tour (19U) and one-day Mini Tour (12U) event at the facility; results of the Junior Tour, where players competed for trophies in six divisions plus the chance to be short-listed for the MJT National Team Challenge presented by Canada Life at Royal Niagara Golf Club, are highlighted here.   

Chase Burgess, 16, of Petitcodiac, NB, played steady golf through wet conditions on the very tight and difficult Amherst layout to earn Low Overall honours among the male players.  Annika Parkash, 16, of Halifax, NS, earned her second title of the season with her Low Overall score among the Girls divisions.  Both Parkash and Burgess are now short-listed for the MJT National Team Challenge this September.

Top finishers and winner quotes are noted below. Every division winner received spectacular prizes of Maui Jim sunglasses from premier MJT Sponsor, Maui Jim. Results from the TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found online.

Registration is on-going for the next stop in the province, the MJT Atlantic Canada Series at Kingswood Resortin Fredericton, NB, on August 5 and 6. To enter, or for more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com. 

Top Finishers

MJT Girls 15-19: Amherst GC: Par 71, Ydg 5443, Slope/Rating 126/73.1

1 Annika Parkash, Halifax, NS, F, 16                                                    87-82 (169)

2 Taylor Wilson, Windsor Junction, NS, F,17                                      95-96 (191)

Annika Parkash, 16, of Halifax, NS, came back after a slow first day to win the MJT Girls 15-19 Division title.  “It feels good to win after a tough conditions and some not-so-great holes,” said Parkash.  “I just persevered through.”

MJT Girls U15: Amherst GC: Par 71, Ydg 5443, Slope/Rating 126/73.1

1 Emma LeBlanc, Dieppe, NB, F, 12                                                    120-121 (241)

Emma LeBlanc, 12, of Dieppe, NB, playing in her first competitive tournament, carded very steady golf.  “I feel great as this was my first tournament,” said LeBlanc. “I loved the first experience.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Amherst GC: Par 71, Ydg 5443, Slope/Rating 125/67.3

1 Finn Grinton, Brookfield, NS, M, 12                                                 83-81 (164)

2 Luke Nickerson, Kentville, NS, M, 12                                                87-82 (169)

3 Liam Wheaton, Memramcook, NB, M, 12                                       87-83 (170)

Veteran MJT Peewee Boys winner, 12-year-old Finn Grinton of Brookfield, NS, said his mindset coming down the stretch as ‘scary, but I’ve been in this situation many times so I knew I had it.’ His shot on hole number 16 clinched the deal – “It was coming down to the wire and it was an inch away.”

MJT Bantam Boys: Amherst GC: Par 71, Ydg 6088, Slope/Rating 131/70.7

1 Carter Lavigne, Moncton, NB, M, 13                                                78-78 (156)

2 Nathan MacDonald, Fall River, NS, M, 12                                        85-78 (163)

3 Mitchell Patterson, Stewiacke, NS, M, 12                                        80-85 (165)

Carter Lavigne, 13, of Moncton, NB, carded back-to-back 78’s to win the MJT Bantam Boys Division title.  “It feels awesome to win after not playing my best at the previous events,” said Lavigne.  “I kept the ball in play and just tried to make some pars.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: Amherst GC: Par 71, Ydg 6415, Slope/Rating 138/72.0

1 Chase Burgess, Petitcodiac, NB, M, 16                                            78-75 (153)

2 Zachary Gaudet, Truro, NS, M, 16                                                    77-78 (155)

3 Braden Ahern, Riverview, NB, M, 15                                                78-83 (161)

Chase Burgess, 16, of Petitcodiac, NB, came from behind to win the MJT Boys Juvenile Division title.  It was Burgess’s second MJT victory in a row as he won a couple of weeks ago at Sussex Golf and Curling Club.  “It feels very good to win,” stated Burgess.  “I tried to play it safe, make pars and I had a nice chip in on number 16.”

MJT Junior Boys: Amherst GC: Par 71, Ydg 6415, Slope/Rating 138/72.0

1 Nicholas Colton, Bathurst, NB, M, 18                                               79-78 (157)

2 Maguire Brennan, O'Leary, PE, M, 17                                              82-82 (164)

3 Jaxon Pearson, Chester, NS, M, 17                                                  84-81 (165)

Nicholas Colton, 18, of Bathurst, NB, held on to his first-round lead and won the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 Division title by seven strokes. “I just tried to stay focused on my game,” said Colton.  “It feels good to win and I need to give some credit to my putting, it was a great help.”

Short-listed players for the MJT National Team Challenge presented by Canada Life at Royal Niagara GC: Chase Burgess (Petitcodiac, NB) and Annika Parkash (Halifax, NS)

About Maui Jim:  Now the fastest growing premium polarized sunglass maker in the world, Maui Jim got its start seeing a need in the market for technology that could combat intense glare and harmful UV while bringing brilliant colors to life. The Aloha Spirit permeates our philosophy at Maui Jim. Our "ohana" (Hawaiian for family) is passionate about creating the best sunglasses on the planet. Because at the end of the day, we want to see the world at its best - and we know that you do, too, no matter where you live. Aloha, friends! To visit the website, please click 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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