Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Canada’s number one Junior Tour, the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, teed it up with the MJT PLYR Series - IMG Academy Junior Worlds Qualifier at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, BC, over the May 11 and 12 weekend.  Players were competing for titles in six divisions plus the opportunity to qualify for five major events: the PGA Tour Amercia’s-affiliated MJT Future Stars presented by ATB in Edmonton, AB, the Junior Americas Cup (Team British Columbia) in Midway, Utah, the MJT East Coast Junior Championshipin Moncton, NB, the FCG World Golf Championship in Palm Desert, CA, and short-listed positions in the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego, CA. 

 

All winners this weekend received a fantastic prize package from PLYR Golf who sponsor both a Series and Closest to the Pin competitions on the MJT across the country. Thomas Zhang, 16, of Vancouver, BC, made an eagle on the second last hole of regulation and clinched Low Overall and the MJT Junior Boys Division title by one shot in an incredibly tight race.  In the Girls Divisions, 13-year-old Charlotte Tam of Burnaby, BC, finished the weekend at two-under par, claiming Low Overall honours and the MJT Girls U15 Division title.  Both Tam and Zhang, along with other qualified winners, receive FCG World Golf Championship exemptions and short-listed spot for the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego, CA, this July. 

 

Notable performances were recorded from the other division winners, including Nancy Liu (Surrey, BC) in MJT Girls 15-19, Jackson Wang (Surrey, BC) in MJT Peewee Boys, Tiger Yuanjun Liu (Surrey, BC) in MJT Bantam Boys, and finally, by Troy Gadalla (Vancouver, BC) who won in extra holes after a three-way playoff was needed in the MJT Juvenile Boys division. Gadalla had finished tied for the lead at even par with both Finley Dober of Kelowna and Soohan Park of Langley. Quotes from the division winners and top finisher results are highlighted below. 

 

Results from the London Drugs Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here.  More information on tournament sponsor, PLYR Golf, can be found online at plyrgolf.com. 

 

The next MJT stop in British Columbia is the MJT Zeal Series at The Hills at Peace Portal Golf Club in Surrey on June 1-2. For more information on the MJT, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com. 

 

1 Charlotte Tam, Burnaby, BC, F, 13                                                    68-70 (138)

2 Bihan(Bella) Yang, Vancouver , BC, F, 12                                         71-73 (144)

3 Karrisa Zhao, West Vancouver, BC, F, 14                                         75-73 (148)

3 Anna Wu, Victoria , BC, F, 13                                                               71-77 (148)

 

13-year-old phenomenon, Charlotte Tam from Burnaby, BC, posted a two-under par total to romp to victory in the MJT Girls U15 Division and claim Low Overall honours.  “I am very glad to win my first MJT event of the season,” said Tam. “I had a great experience playing with different people this week.”

 

1 Nancy Liu, Surrey, BC, F, 16                                                                  79-76 (155)

2 Olina Ziqian Liang, Vancouver, BC, F, 14                                          79-77 (156)

2 Cynthia (Kexin) Zhang, Vancouver, BC, F, 15                                  78-78 (156)

 

In the MJT Girls 15-19 Division, 16-year-old Nancy Liu of Surrey, BC, made birdie on the final hole of regulation to edge out two others who finished just one shot back.  “I feel very thankful that I have the opportunity to play at the tournaments competing against some very amazing girls,” said Liu.  “My hard work has paid off; my game was solid all weekend.”

 

1 Jackson Wang, Surrey, BC, M, 12                                                        70-66 (136)

2 Luke Gamley, North Vancouver , BC, M, 11                                     89-79 (168)

3 David Chaofan Wu, Richmond, BC, M, 10                                        84-85 (169)

 

Jackson Wang, 12, of Surrey, BC, dominated the MJT Peewee field this weekend, firing a blistering 66 on day two to finish at 136, four-under par, for a runaway victory.  Wang posted six birdies on his way to shooting the final round of 66.

   

1 Tiger Yuanjun Liu, Surrey, BC, M, 13                                                 68-71 (139)

2 Tyson Valk, North Vancouver, BC, M, 14                                         73-67 (140) 

2 Jeevyn Lotay, Burnaby, BC, M, 14                                                     67-73 (140)

 

Tiger Yuanjun Liu, 13, of Surrey, BC, held off hard-charging competitors to edge out a victory in the MJT Bantam Boys Division.  “It feels absolutely amazing,” said Liu.  “I’ve been within one or two shots this year and it feels so great to finally seal the win. The event was such a great experience.”

 

1 Troy Gadalla, Vancouver , BC, M, 15                                                69-71 (140) Won Playoff

2 Finley Dober, Kelowna, BC, M, 16                                                    72-68 (140)

2 Soohan Park, Langley , BC, M, 16                                                     71-69 (140)

 

Troy Gadalla, 15, of Vancouver, BC, made birdie on the first extra hole in a three-way playoff after tying for the MJT Juvenile Boys lead with both Finley Dober (Kelowna) and Soohan Park (Langley).  “I feel really good about winning today because it is my first win of the season,” said Gadalla.  “I played very consistent this tournament and stayed patient with myself.”

 

1 Thomas Zhang, Vancouver, BC, M, 16                                              65-74 (139)

2 Louis Chun, Port Coquitlam, BC, M, 17                                            69-71 (140)

2 Kyle Dale, Kelowna, BC, M, 18                                                            67-73 (140)

 

The MJT Junior Boys Division title and Low Overall honours went to Thomas Zhang, 16, of Vancouver, BC, who finished under par for the weekend.  Zhang made an eagle on the second last hole to move one shot ahead and defeat his two nearest rivals by one shot.  “I’m very happy to win this event.  It has been a tough two days, but I am grateful for what I have done.”

 

 

MJT Future Stars presented by ATB: Thomas Zhang (Vancouver)

 

East Coast Junior Championship: Thomas Zhang (Vancouver), Kyle Dale (Kelowna), Troy Gadalla (Vancouver), Finley Dober (Kelowna), Tiger Yuanjun Liu (Surrey), Jackson Wang (Surrey), Nancy Liu (surrey), and Charlotte Tam (Burnaby)

 

Girls 11-12: Bihan (Bella) Yang (Vancouver)

Girls 13-14: Charlotte Tam (Burnaby)

Girls 15-18: Nancy Liu (Surrey)

Boys 11-12: Jackson Wang (Surrey)

Boys 13-14: Tiger Yuanjun Liu (Surrey)

Boys 15-18: Thomas Zhang (Vancouver)

 

Girls 11-12: Bihan (Bella) Yang (Vancouver)

Girls 13-14: Charlotte Tam (Burnaby)

Girls 15-18: Nancy Liu (Surrey)

Boys 11-12: Jackson Wang (Surrey)

Boys 13-14: Tiger Yuanjun Liu (Surrey)

Boys 15-18: Thomas Zhang (Vancouver)

 

About PLYR Golf: Established in 2015, PLYR emerged with an idea that would allow both casual street apparel and golf attire to merge.  Fast forward a few years and although the brand has expanded beyond the course, the vision remains - push the status quo on what is 'cool' in athletic apparel. Our mission is simple. Create a culture that will inspire and connect the next generation of PLYR's through innovative, high-quality products.  PLYR - any and all athletes. We are all PLYR's. For more information, and to see PLYR's full line of products, visit the website HERE.

 

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