Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

May 6, 2023
Crossfield, AB

Weitz wows at MJT’s Mini Tour presented by Edge School in Crossfield

The Alberta circuit of the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour for 12U players had a great start to the 2023 season on May 6 at Collicutt Siding Golf Club in Crossfield, AB, with qualifying for three major U13 Golf Championships up for grabs in the Edge School-sponsored event.  Winners of the Boys and Girls 9-10 and 8U divisions each earned direct exemptions into the FCG Callaway World Championship in Rancho Mirage, California, this July, and all division winners qualified for the season-ending MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, BC, this August. In addition, the low players in each age category were short-listed for the IMG Academy Junior Worlds in San Diego, California this July.  

A highlight from the tournament was the remarkable performance by 10-year-old Sedona Weitz of Calgary, AB, who carded six birdies and an eagle to finish the day at 65 (-7) on the Crossfield track. Top results with quotes from each division winner are noted below. Closest to the Pin winners are posted on the MJT website here.

The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is the Spring Series at Blue Devil Golf Club in Calgary on June 3.  More information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, including the entire 2023 schedule, can be found online at www.maplejt.com. 

Top Finishers

MJT Girls 9-10: Collicutt Siding GC: Par 72, Ydg 4378

1 Sedona Weitz, Calgary, AB, F, 10                 32-33 (65) 

2 Ain Lee, Sylvan Lake, AB, F, 9                       42-34 (76)

3 Sydney Preston, Calgary, AB, F, 10               40-38 (78)

Sedona Weitz, 10, of Calgary, AB, played incredible golf on her way to first place in the MJT Girls 9-10 division, earning direct entry into the FCG Callaway World Championship and MJT Mini Tour National Championship, and a short-listed spot for the IMG Junior World Championship.  “It felt amazing to start this season with a first place.  The course was in really good shape and my putting went very well,” Weitz said.

MJT Girls 11-12: Collicutt Siding GC GC: Par 72, Ydg 5273, Slope/Rating 117/69.7

1 Brooke Halbauer, Edmonton, AB, F, 11       45-43 (88)

2 Camilla Ruesga-Rojas, Calgary, AB, F           45-45 (90)

3 Kaleia Kurylo, Edmonton, AB, F, 11              47-44 (91)

In the MJT Girls 11-12 Division, Brooke Halbauer, 11, of Edmonton, AB, played steady golf on the back nine to move into the lead and take the title by two shots over her nearest rival.  “I am very excited and happy,” said Halbauer.  “My irons helped me the most today.”

MJT Boys 8U: Collicutt Siding GC: Par 72, Ydg 3617

1 Rylan Hryhirchuk, Irma, AB, M, 8                 36-39 (75) 

2 Matthew Huang, Delta, BC, M, 8                 40-42 (82)

3 Allen Kong, West Kelowna, BC, M, 7            39-48 (87)

With a solid performance, eight-year-old Rylan Hryhirchuk of Irma, AB, went low in the MJT Boys 8U Division, winning the title by seven shots.  “I am very excited,” said Hryhirchuk, “My short game (was the key) and my putting was well done. I learned how to focus during competition.”

MJT Boys 9-10: Collicutt Siding GC: Par 72, Ydg 4378

1 Niko Tran, Calgary, AB, M, 10                      39-34 (73)

2 Caleb Topshee, Rocky View Cty, AB, M, 9    42-37 (79)

3 Cohen Bridge, Corman Park, SK, M, 9          41-41 (82)

Niko Tran, 10, of Calgary, finished at one-over par for the day after closing with a two-under 34 on the back nine to pull away from his closest rival.  “I feel amazed and excited at the same time,” said Tran of his victory.  “This experience helped me improve my putting a lot.”

MJT Boys 11-12: Collicutt Siding GC: Par 72, Ydg 5273, Slope/Rating 117/69.7

1 Mason Kuryvial, Taber, AB, M, 12                41-39 (80)

2 Ryan Morihira, Calgary, AB, M, 12               43-43 (86)

3 Jacob Brunette, Calgary, AB, M, 11              42-49 (91)

Long-time MJT Member, Mason Kurviyal, 12, of Taber, AB, notched his first 2023 victory in a tight race in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division.  “I feel really excited and really confident for the next event,” said Kuryvial. “My putting was a big factor and helped me win this tournament.”

Qualifiers:

Direct Exemptions: FCG Callaway World Championship (10 & Under): Sedona Weitz (Calgary, AB), Rylan Hryhirchuk (Irma), Niko Tran (Calgary)

MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: All division winners 

Short-listed Spots - IMG Academy Junior World Championship: Sedona Weitz (Calgary), Rylan Hryhirchuk (Irma), Niko Tran (Calgary)

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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