Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
May 13, 2023
Langley, BC
Close to 100 compete in MJT Mini Tour at GreenTee GC with spots awarded to Quilchena Invitational and National Championship
A full field of 98 young golfers aged 12U turned out to compete in Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour, the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, on Saturday, May 13, in the MJT Mini Tour at GreenTee Country Club in Langley, BC. Highlights included another impressive performance by 11-year-old Jenny Guo, of West Vancouver, BC, who finished the day at two-under par (70) to claim MJT Girls Low Overall honours, while MJT Boys Low Overall was won by Jackson Wang, 11, of Surrey, BC, after he fired a sizzling 68 (-4). Wang’s five birdie performance on the back nine sealed the deal in an impressive comeback as he was down by one at the turn.
Players were competing for titles in six divisions. Winners of each receive exemptions into the season-ending MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, BC, this August, and the top two in each division qualify for the MJT Mini Tour Order of Merit (OOM) Invitational at Quilchena Golf and Country Club in Richmond, BC, on May 27. Results and quotes from the top finishers are noted below. For Closest to the Pin winners, please visit the website here.
The next 12U stop in the province is the MJT Mini Tour at Cheam Mountain Golf Club in Chilliwack, BC, June 11. For more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit the website.
Top Finishers
MJT Girls 8U: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 3168
1 Luna Zhou, Vancouver, BC, F, 8 39-38 (77)
2 Stella Sun, White Rock, BC, F, 8 41-45 (86)
3 Hannah Adeleye, Langley, BC, F, 7 67-72 (139)
Luna Zhou, 8, of Vancouver, BC, continued her success in the MJT Girls 8U Division by winning her third straight event of the season at GreenTee GC in style this weekend. “My putting helped me win this tournament,” said Zhou, “I feel happy and excited.”
MJT Girls 9-10: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 3905
1 April Zhang, Surrey, BC, F, 8 40-38 (78)
2 Victoria Shen, Surrey, BC, F, 8 39-41 (80)
3 Lucy Li, Vancouver, BC, F, 9 41-41 (82)
April Zhang, 8, of Surrey, BC, played amazing golf on the tough GreenTee track on her way to winning the MJT Girls 9-10 Division title by two strokes. “I felt like I was so happy, like I was in a special surprise party. It was a special day for me! My putting helped me a lot,” said Zhang. “As the season continues, my goals are to keep working on hitting straight, and make my putting better.”
MJT Girls 11-12: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 5071, Slope/Rating 106/64.6
1 Jenny Guo, West Vancouver , BC, F, 11 35-35 (70)
2 Satnam Gill, Surrey, BC, F, 12 35-37 (72)
3 Michelle Jee, Port Coquitlam, BC, F, 12 36-41 (77)
Last year’s Order of Merit winner Jenny Guo, 11, of West Vancouver, BC, fired a 70 (-2) for the MJT Girls Low Overall and 11-12 division title. Guo carded three birdies on the back to pull away from her nearest rival who was even on the back nine. “I feel really good because one of my best friends caddied for me and I made six birdies!” said Guo. “I made all my 10 footers.”
MJT Boys 8U: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 3168
1 Zhongjun Daniel Qi, Surrey, BC, M, 8 33-36 (69)
2 Ben Gamley, North Vancouver, BC, M, 8 36-39 (75)
3 Everett Quewezance, Kamloops, BC, M, 8 39-38 (77)
Zhongjun Daniel Qi, 8, of Surrey, BC, won his second straight MJT event on the 12U circuit in a dominant performance as the only 8U player to break par on the day. “I am happy today,” said Qi. “I improved my iron shots and will practice harder.”
MJT Boys 9-10: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 3905
1 Kingston Ji, Coquitlam , BC, M, 10 32-36 (68)
2 James (Chenrui) Qiu, Surrey, BC, M, 10 34-35 (69)
3 Minxing Matt Li, Surrey, BC, M, 10 35-37 (72)
3 Jayden Yang, Vancouver, BC, M, 9 36-36 (72)
Kingston Ji, 10, of Surrey, BC, played lights out on the front nine to win by a single stroke over nearest rival in the MJT Boys 9-10 division. “I feel great starting with two MJT wins in the season!” said Ji. “I hope I can win more and continue my winning streak.”
MJT Boys 11-12: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 5071, Slope/Rating 106/64.6
1 Jackson Wang, Surrey, BC, M, 11 36-32 (68)
2 Ivan Chen, Vancouver, BC, M, 12 35-34 (69)
3 David Zhang, White Rock, BC, M, 11 35-37 (72)
3 Jayden H X Zhu, Surrey, BC, M, 11 36-36 (72)
Winning for the first time on the MJT this season was 11-year old Jackson Wang of Surrey, who had six birdies on the day to win MJT Boys Low Overall and the 11-12 Division title after edging out runner-up, Ivan Chen, 12, of Vancouver, by one shot. “I feel good winning today,” said Wang, “My drives were straight and far and this win gives me more experience in playing tournaments.”
Qualifiers:
MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: all division winners
MJT Order of Merit (OOM) Invitational at Quilchena CC: top two in each age division
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