Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 3, 2023
Calgary, AB
Weitz and Hryhirchuk continue to impress at MJT’s Lil Devil Stop; Four qualify for MJT Mini Tour National Championship
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour returned to the Lil Devil Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta, for the MJT Mini Tour Summer Series, hosting a full field of 37 young golfers who were competing for six division titles and attempting to qualify for the season ending MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club later this month.
The Lil Devil Golf Club in Calgary was in perfect condition, allowing players to be aggressive when needed but conservative when required. Sedona Weitz, 10, of Foothills M.D. and Rylan Hryhichuk, 8, of Irma continued their winning way and both managed the difficult track, earning Low Overall honours in their respective divisions. Other highlights included Brooke Sundquist, 8, of Calgary, AB, playing solid golf to win the title, Elle Banister, 12, of Calgary, AB, posting a great score and finishing one behind Weitz for Low Overall, Shane Sky, 8, of Calgary, AB, claiming his first victory, and Gavin Lendvay, 11, of Three Hills, AB, winning in his first event of the season.
Each division winner, unless already exempt, qualified for the year-end finale event in British Columbia. In divisions where the winner was already exempt, the next highest ranked player who meets the scoring requirement received an invite. Results from the top finishers and winner quotes are noted below, while results of the Closest to the Pin contest and Academy Points rankings can be seen on the MJT website here.
The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is the MJT Mini Tour at Meadowlands Golf Club at Sylvan Lake in Sylvan Lake, AB, on August 24 – 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.
Girls 8U: Lil Devil: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Brooke Sundquist, Calgary, AB, F, 8 46-45 (91)
2 Kaylin Russell, Calgary, AB, F, 8 54-53 (107)
Brooke Sundquist, 8, of Calgary, AB, posted a consistent 46-45 to claim the MJT Girls 8U Division title and won her third event of the season. “It was a fun day,” said Sundquist. “I enjoyed playing golf with Kaylin and make good shots to finish.”
Girls 9-10: Lil Devil: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Sedona Weitz, Foothills M.D., AB, F, 10 32-31 (63)
2 Emily Joy, Calgary, AB, F, 9 38-38 (76)
3 Alyxa Melsted, Wynyard, SK, F, 10 41-39 (80)
Continuing to dominate in her age division is 10-year old Sedona Weitz of Foothills M.D., AB, as she posted a one-over 63 and win the MJT Girls 9-10 Division title in fine fashion. “It feels amazing to win this weekend,” said Weitz. “Just making a lot of putts was my mindset.”
Girls 11-12: Lil Devil: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Elle Banister, Calgary, AB, F, 12 32-32 (64)
2 Kaitlyn Joy, Calgary, AB, F, 12 35-38 (73)
3 Logan Nguyen, Calgary, AB, F, 11 39-38 (77)
Elle Banister, 12, of Calgary, AB, posted an amazing 64 to win the MJT Girls 11-12 Division title by nine shots over her nearest rival. “It is very exciting because this was one of my first tournaments that I played four years ago,” said Banister. “Coming down the stretch, I just wanted to hit good, solid shots and finish well.”
Boys 8U: Lil Devil: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Rylan Hryhirchuk, Irma, AB, M, 8 35-37 (72)
2 Jacob Topshee, Rocky View County, AB, M, 7 40-38 (78)
3 Samuel Ogada, Calgary, AB, M, 8 42-38 (80)
The Boys 8U Division title was won by Rylan Hryhirchuk, 8, of Irma, AB, who just returned from the IMG Junior Worlds and continued his fine play, winning his third event of the year. “It feels great, back-to-back,” said Hryhirchuk. “Playing on the tour with my friends, great confidence booster after coming back from California.”
Boys 9-10: Lil Devil: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Shane Sky, Foothills, AB, M, 8 32-31 (63)
2 Niko Tran, Calgary, AB, M, 10 32-32 (64)
3 Oscar Gosgnach, Edmonton, AB, M, 10 36-30 (66)
Shany Sky, 8, of Foothill, AB, playing up a division, fired consistent rounds and posted a one-over 63 to claim the MJT Bous 9-10 Division title and Low Overall. “It feels really good. I have been working on my putting and just blessed to have the chance to play,” said Sky.
Boys 11-12: Lil Devil: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Gavin Lendvay, Three Hills, AB, M, 11 35-34 (69)
2 Harrison Wells, Edmonton, AB, M, 11 36-38 (74)
3 Hudson Straile, Calgary, AB, M, 11 41-36 (77)
3 Kai Whitecotton, Calgary, AB, M, 12 39-38 (77)
Playing in his first even t of the season and making it count, Gavin Lendvay, 11, of Three Hills, AB, posted the low round to win the MJT Boys 11-12 Division title. “It felt good because it is my first tournament of the year,” said Lendvay. “I was just trying to finish strong and shoot low.”
Qualifiers – players must meet scoring requirements:
MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: Gavin Lendvay (Three Hills), Emily Joy (Calgary), Charlie Joy (Calgary), Carter Martin (Millet)
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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