Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
June 25, 2023
Olds, AB
Over 160 take part in MJT Ford-sponsored events in Olds; Petersen and Horcica win Mini Tour low overall
Canada’s number one-played Junior Tour had over 160 youth participate in three events sponsored by Ford Canada and Cam Clark Ford Olds in Olds, Alberta, June 25 through 27, comprising kids coming out to learn to golf for free in the Cam Clark Ford Olds Go Golf! Junior Clinic, young golfers ages 12U competing in the one-day MJT Mini Tour, and 19U golfers playing in the two-day MJT Ford Series, all at Olds Central Highlands Golf Club. Results of the 12U stop, which saw the biggest field of the season to date on the MJT Alberta Mini Tour, are highlighted below.
Players were treated to an immaculate course, as Olds Golf Club never fails to deliver. The tough, undulating greens and manicured fairways made for some challenging scoring, managed best by Danika Horcica of Edmonton, AB, and Erik Petersen of Okotoks, AB, who earned Low Overall honours for Girls and Boys respectively. Top finisher results and quotes from the division winners are noted below. Winners in each division qualified for the season-ending MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, BC, this August, and if they had already qualified, the exemptions defaulted to the next highest-ranked player. Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin winners can be found on the MJT website.
The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is the MJT Mini Tour at Golfuture YYC in Calgary, AB, on July 6 – players can register here. More information on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, including the entire 2023 schedule, can be found online at www.maplejt.com.
Girls 9-10: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 3674, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Ain Lee, Sylvan Lake, AB, F, 9 40-49 (89)
2 Lila Skeates, Calgary, AB, F, 9 50-54 (104)
3 Morgan Tucnik, Calgary, AB, F, 8 54-62 (116)
Ain Lee, 9, of Sylvan Lake, AB, was steady and managed the tricky Olds Golf course to earn the MJT Girls 8U Division title. “It feels really nice and I feel proud of myself,” said Lee. “I get frustrated when I hit a bad shot but I turned it into positive thoughts.”
Girls 11-12: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 3674, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Danika Horcica, Edmonton, AB, F, 11 41-36 (77)
2 Camilla Ruesga-Rojas, Calgary, AB, F, 11 38-41 (79)
3 Elle Banister, Calgary, AB, F, 12 40-42 (82)
3 Brooke Halbauer, Edmonton, AB, F, 11 38-44 (82)
Danika Horcica, 11, of Edmonton, AB, fought hard on the back nine to come from behind and win the MJT Girls 11-12 Division title. “This is amazing, a big accomplishment,” said Horcica on her win. “I was just trying to take it hole by hole and no more than two putt.”
Boys 8U: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 3110, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Rylan Hryhirchuk, Irma, AB, M, 8 42-45 (87)
2 Elliott Miller, High River, AB, M, 8 53-48 (101)
3 Samuel Ogada, Calgary, AB, M, 8 51-54 (105)
Rylan Hryhirchuk, 8, of Irma, AB, won his second MJT Boys 8U Division title of the season. “This was a very good test before worlds (a major championship) in two weeks,” said Hryhirchuk. “I am just trying to focus on just getting pars.”
Boys 9-10: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 3674, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Oscar Gosgnach, Edmonton, AB, M, 10 36-37 (73)
2 Wyatt Lazic, Calgary, AB, M, 9 38-49 (87)
2 Niko Tran, Calgary, AB, M, 10 44-43 (87)
Oscar Gosgnach, 10, of Edmonton, AB, posted the low round of the day and bested all in the MJT Boys 9-10 division to win the title. “This feels great, I needed to win this, it was important,” said Gosgnach. “I made a big 11-footer to save par on number 8.”
Boys 11-12: Olds GC: Par 72, Ydg 5013, Slope/Rating 108/64.3
1 Erik Petersen, Okotoks, AB, M, 11 35-40 (75)
2 Jake Fairey, Edmonton, AB, M, 12 38-40 (78)
3 Edwin Park, Bentley, AB, M, 10 41-41 (82)
Erik Petersen, 11, of Okotoks, AB, played an amazing front nine and held on to win the MJT Boys 11-12 Division title. “It feels pretty good to win,” said Petersen. “I am just trying to stay focused.”
Qualifiers:
MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: Danika Horcica (Edmonton), Elliott Miller (High River), Oscar Gosnach (Edmonton), and Erik Petersen (Okotoks)
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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