Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour
The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
July 6, 2023
Selkirk, MB
MJT Manitoba Mini Tour hits milestone in Selkirk with largest number of 12U players to date
A field of 77 players aged seven to 18 came out to play in Canada’s number one-played Junior Tour stop at Selkirk Golf and Country Club in Selkirk, this past week. The junior golfers were either competing in the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s two-day Junior Tour (19U) event on July 6-7, or the one-day Mini Tour (12U) event on July 6. Results of the Mini Tour are highlighted here.
The MJT Mini Tour in Manitoba has now passed a milestone with the largest number of players that have ever competed on the 12U circuit in the province to date, confirming that the game is showing encouraging growth with a field size of 20 very young athletes taking part. Angelina Sitarz, 10, of Winnipeg, MB, who was Low Overall among the Girls, fired an impressive two-over par 75 after playing lights out on the back nine to secure the victory. Brooks Cote, 11, of Estevan, SK, and Bryce Hanska, 12, of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, tied for the lead in the MJT Boys 11-12 division with a score of 78, with Cote taking Low Overall based on countback. Low Overall honours is noted from the longest yardage played.
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.
Top Finishers
MJT Girls 8U: Selkirk: Par 73, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Leah Klippenstein, Portage La Prairie, MB, F, 7 61-68 (129)
Leah Klippenstein, 7, of Portage la Prairie, MB, played in her second event of the season and saw an incredible improvement of 12 shots from her last event. “It feels good,” said Klippenstein. “I was nervous and excited.”
MJT Girls 9-10: Selkirk: Par 73, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Sadie Blazeiko, Winnipeg , MB, F, 10 39-37 (76)
2 Annika Gording, East St Paul, MB, F, 10 47-50 (97)
Winning back-to-back events on the Manitoba 12U circuit was 10-year-old Sadie Blazeiko of Winnipeg, MB, who took the MJT Girls 9-10 Division title. “Winning this weekend feels amazing,” said Blazeiko. “I practiced very hard leading up to this tournament.”
MJT Girls 11-12: Selkirk: Par 73, Ydg 5000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Angelina Sitarz, Winnipeg, MB, F, 10 40-35 (75)
Angelina Sitarz, 10, of Winnipeg, MB, played steady on the front and turned it up on the back nine to card a 35, finishing the day at two-over par to win the MJT Girls 9-10 Division title and low overall Girls score. “Winning this weekend feels like an amazing accomplishment,” said Sitarz. “I practiced hard and was trying to play the next three holes well, which I did.”
MJT Boys 8U: Selkirk: Par 71, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Connor Hanska, Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation , MB, M, 7 34-38 (72)
2 Jack Holmes, Winnipeg, MB, M, 8 39-38 (77)
3 Joshua Fullante, Winnipeg, MB, M, 8 38-45 (83)
Winning the MJT Boys 8U Division title was seven-year-old Connor Hanska of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, MB, who posted an incredible one-over par 71. “It feels really good, I played really good,” said Hanska. “I wanted to just get pars coming down the stretch.”
MJT Boys 9-10: Selkirk: Par 71, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Tiago Miranda, Winnipeg, MB, M, 9 38-38 (76)
2 Ty Montour, Oakville, MB, M, 10 42-39 (81)
2 Ethan Sitarz, Winnipeg, MB, M, 9 39-42 (81)
Tiago Miranda, 9, of Winnipeg, MB, carved out a solid 76 on the tough Selkirk track to earn the MJT Boys 9-10 Division title. “This is really awesome, I have never won a tournament,” said Miranda. “I focused on having fun.”
MJT Boys 11-12: Selkirk: Par 71, Ydg 5000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1 Brooks Cote, Estevan, SK, M, 11 39-39 (78) Countback
1 Bryce Hanska, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, MB, M, 12 39-39 (78)
3 Asher Bunn, Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, MB, M, 11 50-49 (99)
Winning the MJT Boys 11-12 Division title in a countback was Brooke Cote, 11, of Estevan, SK,. Cote and his playing partner, Bryce Hanska, 12, of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, both posted back-to-back 39’s. “It feels amazing to get my first win,” said Cote. “I just tried to not let anything bother me.”
Qualifiers – Division winners or highest ranked player not already exempt, must meet scoring requirements for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: Brooks Cote (Estevan, SK), Tiago Miranda (Winnipeg), Connor Hanska (Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation), Annika Gording (East St. Paul)
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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