Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 24, 2023
Cambridge, ON

Zhao wins fourth title at MJT Mini Tour’s Beaverdale stop in Cambridge

The Ontario circuit of the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour teed it up at the well-manicured Beaverdale Golf Club in Cambridge, ON, on July 24, where 12U players were competing for five division titles and an opportunity to qualifying for the season-ending MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, this August.

Top finisher scores and quotes from the division winners, who each qualified for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship, are noted below. If the winner was already exempt, the spot defaulted to next highest-ranked player. Tournament highlights included the fourth win of the season in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division by MJT veteran, Dustin Zhao, 11, of Maple, ON, and third win in a row by Sophia Noh, 9, of Richmond Hill, ON, in the MJT Girls 9-10 Division. Breaking through for his first win this season was 9-year-old Harrison Doucet of Scarborough, ON, who finished the day on top of the MJT Boys 9-10 Division. 

The MJT Mini Tour in Ontario returns to Cambridge for the next stop with the MJT Mini Tour Summer Series at Beaverdale GC on August 14 – 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.

Top Finishers

MJT Girls 8U: Beaverdale GC: Par 68, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1 Grace Black, Paris, ON, F, 7                                                                          67-66 (133)

Grace Black, 7, of Paris, ON, came out to compete in the MJT Girls 8U Division and has seen encouraging improvement this season. “It feels good,” said Black.  “The tournament was great and I was just trying to do my best.”

MJT Girls 9-10: Beaverdale GC: Par 68, Ydg 4037, Slope/Rating 104/64.0

1 Sophia Noh, Richmond Hill, ON, F, 9                                                            40-40 (80)

2 Avery McGuire, King City, ON, F, 10                                                             45-38 (83)

3 Charlotte Black, Paris, ON, F, 8                                                                      50-48 (98)

The MJT Girls 9-10 Division title was won by 9-year-old Sophia Noh of Richmond Hill, ON, who posted back-to-back 40’s on the difficult Beaverdale track, notching her third win on the MJT 12U circuit this season. “It feels good to win and I am trying to be more consistent,” said Noh.

MJT Girls 11-12: Beaverdale GC: Par 68, Ydg 4527, Slope/Rating 102/62.7

1 Mona Zhao, Richmond Hill, ON, F, 11                                                          46-45 (91)

Mona Zhao, 11, of Richmond Hill, ON, competed in the MJT Girls 11-12 Division and was incredibly consisted from the front to back nine, earning an invitation to the MJT Mini Tour National Championship.  “It feels good,” said Zhao.  “My mindset was to always stay positive.”

MJT Boys 9-10: Beaverdale GC: Par 67, Ydg 4527, Slope/Rating 102/62.7

1 Harrison Doucet, Scarborough, ON, M, 9                                                   39-35 (74)

2 Miles Cousineau, Toronto, ON, M, 10                                                          43-39 (82)

3 Derek Zhao, Maple, ON, M, 9                                                                        46-37 (83)

Harrison Doucet, 9, of Scarborough, ON, punched his ticket to the MJT Mini Tour National Championship after claiming the MJT Boys 9-10 Division title, his first win of 2023.  “It feels very good to win,” said Doucet.  “I am just trying to keep up the good work.”

MJT Boys 11-12: Beaverdale GC: Par 67, Ydg 4527, Slope/Rating 102/62.7

1 Dustin Zhao, Maple, ON, M, 11                                                                    40-32 (72)

2 Ethan Tan, Oakville, ON, M, 12                                                                    38-36 (74)

3 Bentley McNamara, Woodstock, ON, M, 11                                            37-38 (75)

MJT veteran and four-time winner on the MJT this season, Dustin Zhao, 11, of Maple, ON, posted a one-under 32 on the back nine to win the MJT Boys 11-12 Division title by two strokes.  “It feels good to win,” said Zhao.  “I was just trying to finish with a birdie because I had a bad time on the front nine.”

Qualifiers:

MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs GC: * Note:  If division winners are already exempt, the spot defaults to next highest-ranked player and Players must meet scoring requirements: Bruce Wang (Markham), Harrison Doucet (Scarborough), Mona Zhao (Richmond Hill), Avery McGuire (King City)

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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