Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Vancouver, BC – (November 11, 2024) – Canada’s premier junior golf tour, the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), qualified 112 of the country’s top young talent for the prestigious 2024 MJT National Championship presented by adidas Golf at Orange Lake Golf Resort from November 7 to 10. The elite event capped off the tour’s 2024 season in thrilling fashion, from speeches by Special Guests from the Halls of Fame in golf, Sean Foley and Henry Brunton, to incredible funding, tee gifting and prizing adding up to the most value ever awarded at a Canadian junior golf tournament. 

 

The event dazzled spectators and competitors alike with highlights including an incredible score of 66 (6-under par) in round one by Sam Theissler, 18, from Barrie, ON, in the MJT Junior Boys division. Theissler’s blazing start set a high bar for the tournament and ultimately earned him a strong 4th-place finish in his division. Not to be outdone, 17-year-old Emma Liu from Edmonton, AB, achieved a spectacular hole-in-one on the 115-yard 15th hole, perfectly executing her shot with a 9-iron in the final round. Liu’s ace helped secure her 7th place in the MJT Girls 15-19 division. 

Six divisional 2024 National Champions were finally crowned, following 54 holes in the blazing heat on the challenging Legends Course: Zostrianos Giordani-Gross, 18, of Brandon, MB, as MJT Junior Boys National Champion (70, 69, and 75 = 214); Olivia Johnson, 15, from Calgary, AB, as MJT Girls 15-19 National Champion (75, 80, and 76 = 231); Spencer Shropshire, 16, of Ramara, ON, as MJT Juvenile Boys National Champion (68, 71, and 73 = 212); Jeevyn Lotay, 15, from Burnaby, BC, as MJT Bantam Boys National Champion (72, 69, and 67 = 208); Bentley McNamara, 12, from Woodstock, ON, as MJT Peewee Boys National Champion (77, 79, and 82 = 238), and Maggie Zhang, 13, of Richmond, BC, as MJT Girls U15 National Champion (76, 71, and 75 = 222).

 

Quotes from the National Champions follow below, along with scores of the talented top three finishers in each division. Full field scores, as well as the winners of the Long Drive, Closest-to-the-Pin, and Booster Juice Bounceback Awards, are posted on the MJT website. 

 

This season-ending tournament, where every participant enjoyed generous gifts courtesy of adidas Golf and Titleist, and top finishers were celebrated with custom crystal trophies, MJT funding, and outstanding prizes from MJT Partners such as adidas Golf, VOVEX Golf and Zeal Optics, marks the grand finale of the highly successful 2024 season on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour. 

 

An exciting 2025 MJT Early Bird Membership Offer and tentative schedule of approximately 100 tournaments will be announced in December. For more details on the entire Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour program, please visit www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Junior Boys: The Legends at OL: Par 72, Ydg 6665, Slope/Rating 130/71.5

1. Zostrianos Giordani-Gross (18), Brandon, MB | 70, 69, 75 (214)   

2. Austin Krahn (17), Christina Lake, BC | 71, 73, 71 (215)     

3. Parker Riou (17), Strathmore, AB | 74, 73, 76 (223)

In a nail-biting finish, 18-year-old Zostrianos Giordani-Gross from Brandon, MB, clinched the MJT Junior Boys National Champion title by a single stroke, fending off a fierce charge from last year’s champion, Austin Krahn. Reflecting on his victory, Giordani-Gross shared, “I have grown up playing MJT tournaments since I started golfing. To win the National Championship is a huge accomplishment that I will always remember and look back on. This is a great moment in my career as an amateur golfer.” Giordani-Gross also praised the event, rating it "10/10," adding, “I think the tournament was run extremely, extremely well. Everyone who is a part of MJT seems to want to be helping out and it makes the whole experience very enjoyable.”

 

1. Olivia Johnson (15), Calgary, AB | 75, 80, 76 (231)

2. Jayla Kucy (18), Camrose, AB | 80, 84, 76 (240)     

3. Nancy Liu (17), Surrey, BC | 78, 84, 81 (243)
 

“I’m honoured to be the 2024 MJT Girls 15-19 National Champion as well as the Order of Merit winner in Alberta,” stated MJT veteran, Olivia Johnson, 15, from Calgary, who triumphed with a nine-stroke victory. “It was a fun week in Orlando, Florida, playing with other awesome girls on a beautiful, but challenging course!”

 

1. Spencer Shropshire (16), Ramara, ON | 68, 71, 73 (212)   

2. Brae Rogalczyk (16), Innisfail, AB | 76, 73, 73 (222)           

3. Jaden August (16), Pitt Meadows, BC | 74, 76, 73 (223)    

3. Kooper MacKay (16), Wolfville, NS | 78, 71, 74 (223)

Top talent, Spencer Shropshire from Ramara, ON, captured the title of MJT Juvenile Boys National Champion after being named the 2024 MJT Juvenile Boys Player of the Year. Shropshire stated, “Winning the MJT national has been a goal of mine since 2022, and accomplishing that goal makes the victory even sweeter.” He also praised the championship, saying, “This year’s national championship was the best one I’ve been to yet, from the location to the staff, all was a 10.”

 

1. Jeevyn Lotay (15), Burnaby, BC | 72, 69, 67 (208)  

2. Justin Chu (14), North York, ON | 73, 71, 71 (215)

3. Luca Marengo (14), Calgary, AB | 74, 70, 78 (222)

With 13 birdies and a lead across all three rounds, 15-year-old Jeevyn Lotay from Burnaby, BC, claimed the MJT Bantam Boys National Champion’s title in an impressive display of skill and consistency. Lotay remarked, “The MJT National Championship is a signature event, and this win means a lot to me as it gave me an opportunity to test my game against the best players in the country. It’s great to make new friends and compete with other junior golfers from around the country.” He rated the experience "10/10," adding, “The event was very well run and organized this week, and the course was challenging and fun to play!”
 

1. Maggie Zhang (13), Richmond, BC | 76, 71, 75 (222)         

2. Charlotte Tam (14), Burnaby, BC | 71, 76, 77 (224)           

3. Anna (Ruoan) Wu (13), Victoria, BC | 75, 75, 75 (225)

Maggie Zhang, 13, from Richmond, BC, soared to victory as the MJT Girls U15 National Champion with a remarkable performance, sinking 10 birdies across three intense rounds. Reflecting on her approach, Zhang shared, “I just tried to focus on the present, one shot at a time, remembering to breathe.” Her focus and composure paid off in a big way, earning her first national title. “It means a lot to me, since it’s my first time winning this,” she said. “I am very excited and more motivated to play more MJT events!”

 

1. Bentley McNamara (12), Woodstock, ON | 77, 79, 82 (238)          

2. Oscar Gosgnach (11), Edmonton, AB | 81, 78, 81 (240)

3. Mark Luan (12), Toronto, ON | 83, 79, 81 (243)

 

Bentley McNamara, 12, from Woodstock, ON, claimed a two-shot victory to be crowned MJT Peewee Boys National Champion, in a closely fought battle with runner-up Oscar Gosgnach, 11, from Edmonton, AB, and third place finisher, Mark Luan, 12, from Toronto, ON.  "Winning this National Championship means alot to me," said McNamara, "its about pride and representing my province and my country."
 

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About adidas Golf: The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around the core brands: adidas, Reebok and Reebok-CCM Hockey. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 53,000 employees

About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is Canada’s #1 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 partners across various tiers, including Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. The MJT hosts more than 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: Jessica Parker, marketing@maplejt.com 
Marketing Manager, MJT