Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Under sunny skies on August 15-16, the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) conducted the two-day MJT BC Order of Merit (OOM) Series tournament at GreenTee Country Club in Langley, BC, where junior golfers aged 19 and under teed off on one of the driest and best-conditioned courses in the lower mainland. GreenTee features the famous ‘Great Wall’ 10th hole and immaculate bent grass greens and fairways. With six division titles and crucial MJT Order of Merit points at stake, the competition was fierce, and every swing also brought age-eligible players closer to securing a coveted spot in the prestigious Champion of Champions 2025 at Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, United Kingdom.

A fantastic score of 67 on day one from Ryan LePrieur, 15, of Langley, BC, in MJT Juvenile Boys (67,77=144) led to him also securing Low Overall honours among the Boys divisions. Excellent scoring in the MJT Girls U15 division led to the Low Overall Girl title having to be decided by countback between Maggie Zhang, 13, of Richmond, BC, in MJT Girls 15U (76,70=146) and Jenny Guo, 12, of West Vancouver, BC (72,74=146), with Zhang taking the honours. Following their respective wins, both LePrieur and Zhang have qualified for the 2025 Champion of Champions. 

 

Other great performances led to division wins for Blake Newell, 17, of Surrey, BC, in MJT Junior Boys (150), Lauren Mukai, 15, of Burnaby, BC, in MJT Girls 15-19 (160), Jay You, 14, from Langley, BC, in MJT Bantam Boys (143), and Jason Zhang, 12, from Richmond, BC, in MJT Peewee Boys (142). Top finisher scores, quotes from the division winners, and the list of qualified players are noted below. 

 

Results from the London Drugs Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here. 

 

The next and final stop in the province is the MJT Ford Series at Mayfair Lakes Golf Course in Richmond, BC, October 12-13, 2024. For more information, please visit the MJT website at www.maplejt.com.

 

 

MJT Junior Boys: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 6360, Slope/Rating 122/70.3

1. Blake Newell (17), Surrey, BC | 71, 79 (150)

2. Gavin Giesbrecht (18), Surrey, BC | 75, 76 (151)

3. Avery Myers (19), Victoria, BC | 75, 79 (154)

Blake Newell, 17, from Surrey, BC, put on a show at the MJT BC OOM Series, sinking six birdies over two rounds to secure a commanding five-shot lead. "I had a career low the day before, so I was confident," Newell shared. "I'm glad I had another under-par round," he added, reflecting on his strong performance.

 

1. Ryan LePrieur (15), Langley, BC | 67, 77 (144)

2. Henry Tran (16), Vancouver, BC | 76, 73 (149)

3. Jackson Fabris (15), Rocky View County, AB | 76, 75 (151)

Ryan LePrieur, a 15-year-old from Langley, BC, delivered an outstanding performance, firing a five-under-par 67 in the first round. "I try my best to stay focused on myself and only the next shot," he stated, emphasizing his mindset during the competition. Looking back on his success, LePrieur added, "This win is very nice to add to the list and it will give me momentum moving forward."

 

1. Jay You (14), Langley, BC | 71, 72 (143)

2. Luca Marengo (14), Calgary, AB | 72, 76 (148)

3. Yujun (Tiger) Du (13), Delta, BC | 73, 76 (149)

Jay You, 14, from Langley, BC, delivered two rock solid rounds, shooting 71 and 72 to claim his first win on the MJT. "I tried to relax by talking with my group mates," You said, highlighting his approach to staying calm under pressure. Excited by his victory, he added, "This is my first win on the MJT, and it makes me confident to win another tournament this or next year."
 

1. Jason Zhang (12), Richmond, BC | 73, 69 (142)

2. Jack Guo (12), West Vancouver, BC | 73, 70 (143)

3. Jackson Wang (12), Surrey, BC | 75, 71 (146)

Twelve-year-old Jason Zhang from Richmond, BC, pulled ahead in round two with an impressive three-under-par 69. Zhang commented, "(At my) last tournament, my mental game was bad, so I tried to stay calm." His strategy paid off as he focused on not worrying about the score and locking in on every shot, showcasing a strong mental game to secure his success.
 

1. Lauren Mukai (15), Burnaby, BC | 82, 78 (160)

2. Katie Chhem (16), Delta, BC | 107, 109 (216)

Lauren Mukai, 15, from Burnaby, BC, demonstrated exceptional poise and preparation in her latest performance. "I stay calm by taking my time during shots and taking deep breaths," she shared. Her preparation paid off, especially in her short game, where she dedicated extra practice leading up to the event.

MJT Girls U15: GreenTee CC: Par 72, Ydg 5458, Slope/Rating 120/70.5

1. Maggie Zhang (13), Richmond, BC | 76, 70 (146) *Won Countback

2. Jenny Guo (12), West Vancouver, BC | 72, 74 (146)

3. Angela Liu (14), Vancouver, BC | 75, 76 (151)

Thirteen-year-old Maggie Zhang from Richmond, BC, edged victory in MJT Girls U15 in a countback after tying for the lead with Jenny Guo from West Vancouver, BC, with a score of 146. Zhang's win came after a focused week and a half of preparation with her coach, addressing past weaknesses. “The event was well organized, and I enjoyed it. Thanks to all staff at MJT!” Zhang said, celebrating her hard-earned success.
 

U15 Girls: Maggie Zhang; U19 Girls: Lauren Mukai; U15 Boys: Jay You; U19 Boys: Ryan LePrieur

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