Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
July 10, 2023
Innisfail, AB
Horcica and Kuryvial low overall in weather shortened MJT Mini Tour at Innisfail
The fifth stop on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour for players aged 12 and under landed in Central Alberta at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail on July 10, where young golfers came out to compete in six divisions plus the chance to qualify for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course in British Columbia, this August. Due to rain, lightning and thunder in the area, the 18-hole tournament on Canada’s number-one played junior tour was shortened to nine holes for five out the six divisions.
Top finisher results and winner quotes are noted below, while Academy Points rankings and highlights can be seen on the MJT website here. The MJT Girls 11-12 Division managed to complete 18 holes in the brutal weather, where Danika Horcica, 11, of Edmonton, AB, finished the day at two-over par with a great score of 74, taking low overall for the Girls. Mason Kuryvial, 12, of Taber, AB, battled from the furthest tee in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division to edge out a one stroke victory over nine holes for Boys low overall honours for the day. Each division winner qualified for the year-end finale event in British Columbia, and if already exempt, the spot defaulted to the next highest ranked player.
The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is the MJT Summer Series at Lil Devil Golf Club in Calgary on August 3, 2023 – players can register here. More information on Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour, including the entire 2023 schedule, can be found online at www.maplejt.com.
1 Danika Horcica, Edmonton, AB, F, 11 35-39 (74)
2 Camilla Ruesga-Rojas, Calgary, AB, F, 11 41-35 (76)
The MJT Girls 11-12 Division title was won by 11-year-old Danika Horcica of Edmonton, AB, as she managed the difficult Innisfail Golf Course to finish at two-over par for the day. “This was a successful win, and big step in my golf career,” said Horcica. “I stayed focused and didn’t get stressed out.”
MJT Girls 9-10: Hazelwood: Par 36, Ydg 1479, Slope/Rating 0/0.0 (Completed 9 holes)
1 Ain Lee, Sylvan Lake, AB, F, 9 41
2 Sydney Preston, Calgary, AB, F, 10 45
3 Hannah Mix, Calgary, AB, F, 10 46
Ain Lee, 9, of Sylvan Lake, AB, picked up her second victory of the season with another MJT Girls 9-10 Division title at Innisfail GC. “I feel proud and happy that I won,” said Lee. “I trusted myself that I could do better.”
MJT Girls 8U: Hazelwood: Par 36, Ydg 1479, Slope/Rating 0/0.0 (Completed 9holes)
1 Brooke Sundquist, Calgary, AB, F, 8 55
Lone entrant in the MJT Girls 8U Division was Brooke Sundquist, 8, of Calgary, AB, who played steady golf in very difficult conditions. “It was great fun and exciting to play golf,” said Sundquist.
MJT Boys 8U: Hazelwood: Par 36, Ydg 1479, Slope/Rating 0/0.0 (Completed 9 holes)
1 Jix Whitton, Rocky Mountain House, AB, M, 8 44
2 Elliott Miller, High River, AB, M, 8 53
3 Mathias Ruesga, Calgary, AB, M, 8 55
Breaking through for his first win of the season in the Boys 8U Division was Jix Whitton, 8, of Rocky Mountain House, AB, who finished the day nine strokes clear of his competition. “This feels great!” said Whitton. “I had some nice swings today.”
MJT Boys 9-10: Hazelwood: Par 36, Ydg 1479, Slope/Rating 0/0.0 (Completed 9 holes)
1 Wyatt Lazic, Calgary, AB, M, 9 41
2 Jaxon Rogalczyk, Innisfail, AB, M, 9 44
3 Oliver Chalmers, Calgary, AB, M, 8 55
Wyatt Lazic, 9, of Calgary, AB, navigated the weather and bested his nearest competitor by four shots to earn the MJT Boys 9-10 Division title. “This feels really great,” said Lazic. “This helps with my confidence.”
MJT Boys 11-12: Hazelwood: Par 36, Ydg 2541, Slope/Rating 56/32.6 (Completed 9 holes)
1 Mason Kuryvial, Taber, AB, M, 12 42
2 Jordan Neufeld, Lethbridge, AB, M 43
2 Edwin Park, Bentley, AB, M, 10 43
The MJT Boys 11-12 Division witnessed the tightest race of the day with Mason Kuryvial, 12, of Taber, AB, edging out his competition by one shot. “It feels pretty good to get back-to-back wins and my third win of the year,” said Kuryvial. “I just tried to stay focused and hit good shots onto the green.”
Qualifiers*
MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: Sydney Preston (Calgary), Jix Whitton (Rocky Mountain House), Wyatt Lazic (Calgary), Jordan Neufeld (Lethbridge), Edwin Park (Bentley)
*players must meet scoring requirements:
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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