Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

June 3, 2023
Breslau, ON

Playoff and more highlight MJT Mini Tour at Merry-Hill Golf Club

The Ontario circuit of the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour (12U) returned to Merry-Hill Golf Club in Breslau this past weekend, to host the second stop out of a seven-series season and continue qualifying young golfers for the season-ending MJT Mini Tour National Championship in British Columbia this August.

Highlights were a playoff in the MJT Girls 11-12 division, won by Grace Kim of Burlington, ON, and an amazing performance from Noah Olver of Brights Grove, ON, who played some great golf and carded a two-under par 69 over the tricky Merry-Hill course to dominate the MJT Boys 9-10 division.  

Top finisher results and quotes from the division winners are noted below. The next stop in the province is the MJT Mini Tour at Centennial Park Golf Centre in Etobicoke, ON, on June 17 – players can register here.  For more information on Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour, including details of the entire 2023 MJT Mini Tour schedule, please visit the website.

MJT Girls 8U: Par 71, Ydg 3389, Slope/Rating 

1 Lanai Park, Oakville , ON, F, 7                                                          40-40 (80)

2 Abigail Steinmetz, Waterloo, ON, F, 8                                          45-43 (88)

3 Grace Black, Paris, ON, F, 7                                                              72-68 (140)

Taking back-to-back titles in the MJT Girls 8U division on the Ontario MJT Mini Tour was seven-year-old Lanai Park of Oakville, ON, who won by eight strokes.  “I have been practicing a lot with my dad,” said Park.  “I chipped well, got the ball up and down today.” 

MJT Girls 9-10: Par 71, Ydg 4165, Slope/Rating

1 Charlotte Black, Paris, ON, F, 8                                                        50-43 (93)

Charlotte Black, 8, of Paris, ON, came out to compete solo in the MJT Girls 9-10 Division, and when asked what she was currently working on, said, “I am working on my chipping because I am short on every hole.”

MJT Girls 11-12: Par 71, Ydg 4165, Slope/Rating

1 Grace (HyunYi) Kim, Burlington, ON, F, 11                                       38-38 (76) Won Playoff

1 Mona Zhao, Richmond Hill , ON, F, 11                                               42-34 (76)

An exciting finish to the day saw Grace (HyunYi) Kim, 11, of Burlington, win with a par in a playoff to claim the MJT Girls 11-12 Division title.  “I practiced ever day with my family and my teacher helped me a lot,” said Kim.  “I could not win without my driver!”

MJT Boys 9-10: Par 71, Ydg 4165, Slope/Rating

1  Noah Olver, Brights Grove , ON, M, 9                                             35-34 (69)

2  Miles Cousineau, Toronto, ON, M, 10                                             43-38 (81)

3  Adam DiBernardo, Scarborough , ON, M, 10                                  43-41 (84)

Carding a two-under 69, the lone player to break par today on the tricky Merry-Hill track, was MJT Boys 9-10 Division winner, Noah Olver, 9, of Brights Grove.  “My attitude was better and I was more positive,” said Olver.  “I have really been working on my putting because at my last tournament my putting was not good.”

MJT Boys 11-12: Par 71, Ydg 4165, Slope/Rating

1  Bentley McNamara, Woodstock, ON, M, 11                                   39-34 (73)

2  Ben Brisson, Kitchener, ON, M, 11                                                  37-39 (76)

3  Declan Mccallum-Preece, Whitby, ON, M, 12                                 45-45 (90)

Posting a 34 (-2) on the back nine to pull away from the field was 11-year-old Bentley McNamara of Woodstock, ON, leading to victory in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division.  “My short game and ball striking were good today,” said McNamara.  “I was at the course yesterday practicing my putting and it improved a lot.”

Qualifiers:

MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: All division winners will be invited.

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