Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
August 12, 2023
Waskesiu, SK
Saskatchewan junior golf booming with another great field in MJT Mini Tour at Elk Ridge
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada’s number one-played junior tour, descended on Elk Ridge Resort in Waskesiu, SK, this past weekend, with 122 juniors competing in either a two-day Junior Tour (19U) event on August 12 and 13, or the one-day Mini Tour (12U) event on August 12. Results of the Mini Tour are highlighted here, where players competed in six age divisions over 18 holes. On top of trophies and great prizes, each division winner qualified for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in British Columbia this August.
Top results with quotes from each division winner are noted below, and Closest to the Pin winners are posted on the MJT website here. Highlights included a three over par 75 on the difficult Elk Ridge track carded by Thomas Pilon, 12, of Saskatoon, SK, who played some great golf to claim the MJT Boys 11-12 title and Low Overall score for the event. Great support from the PGA of Saskatchewan came in the form of $100 gift certificates randomly awarded for golf lessons and won by Liam Jalbert of Warman, SK, and Jozef Sierzychi of La Ronge, SK.
The final stop in the province is the wait listed MJT Mini Tour at The Legends Golf Club in Warman on August 26, 2023. More information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, including past results and the upcoming schedule, can be found online at www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers
MJT Girls 8U:
1 Makinlee McCrystal, Regina, SK, F, 8 64-53 (117)
2 Ayden Bridge, Corman Park, SK, F, 7 69-66 (135)
Makinlee McCrystal, 8, of Regina, SK, improved 11 shots on the back nine to win the MJT Girls 8U Division title at Elk Ridge Resort. “I tried to stay positive because I can recover from a bad shot,” said McCrystal.
MJT Girls 9-10:
1 Alyxa Melsted, Wynyard, SK, F, 10 49-46 (95)
2 Jiayi Tang, Prince Albert, SK, F, 10 50-56 (106)
3 Kensi Bourassa, Saskatoon, SK, F, 9 66-61 (127)
Alyxa Melsted, 10, of Wynyard, SK, played solid golf to win the MJT Girls 9-10 title, her fourth this season on the MJT Saskatchewan Mini Tour Circuit. “It feels really good, I had some bad and good shots, but I pulled myself through,” said Melsted. “It was a long day and I was getting tired.”
MJT Girls 11-12:
1 Natalie Maunula, North Battleford, SK, F, 11 50-54 (104)
2 Erika Wurst, Saskatoon, SK, F, 11 61-53 (114)
3 Mackenzie Bender, Prince Albert, SK, F, 12 59-57 (116)
The Girls 11-12 Division title was won by Natalie Maunula, 11, of North Battleford, SK, in a 10 stroke victory. “It feels really good to win,” said Maunula. “This is my second MJT tournament and I absolutely love it!”
MJT Boys 8U:
1 Hudson Deibert, Regina, SK, M, 8 39-38 (77)
2 Sam Danberg, Waskesiu Lake, SK, SK, M, 8 48-46 (94)
3 Jackson Orr, Corman Park, SK, M, 8 49-56 (105)
Winning for an incredible fifth time this season in the MJT Boys 8U Division was Hudson Deibert, 8, of Regina, SK, who posted an exceptional 77. “It feels amazing,” said Deibert. “I am just trying to play my game and swing my swing.”
MJT Boys 9-10:
1 Adam Stepaniuk, George Town, Grand Cayman, M, 10 42-42 (84)
2 Caleb O'Brien, Melville, SK, M, 9 39-46 (85)
3 Cohen Bridge, Corman Park, SK, M, 9 42-45 (87)
Adam Stepaniuk, 10, of George Town, Grand Cayman, posted back-to-back 42’s to edge out a one stroke victory in the MJT Boys 9-10 Division for his second title of the season. “It is surprising to win,” said Stepaniuk. “I came out expecting to get fourth or fifth.”
MJT Boys 11-12:
1 Thomas Pilon, Saskatoon, SK, M, 12 37-38 (75)
2 Keaton Kreklewich, Melville, SK, M, 11 39-38 (77)
3 Hayden Solomko, Battleford, SK, M, 12 43-38 (81)
The MJT Boys 11-12 Division was won by Thomas Pilon, 12, of Saskatoon, SK, who posted the best score of the event for Low Overall Honours and his first win of the year. “It feels really good to win because I have been playing here since I was young,” said Pilon. “I knew if I made pars down the stretch, I would be close.”
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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