Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

The highly anticipated MJT Ford Series at Mayfair Lakes marked the successful conclusion of the 2024 regular season on Canada’s #1 junior golf tour, with a wait-listed full field competing in Richmond, BC, on October 12-13. This final event in the seven-stop MJT Ford Series was a high-level two-day competition, preceded on October 11 by a free MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinic for kids in the community. Courtesy of Cam Clark Ford Richmond, the popular clinic gave the next generation of golfers a complimentary chance to learn, while experienced players in the Ford Series tournament were given the chance to win a brand-new Ford Escape with a hole-in-one. Detailed below are the results from the six age divisions in the tournament.

 

Manny Lalh, 17, from Nanaimo, BC, drove away with the MJT Ford Series Junior Boys and Low Overall titles with brilliant rounds of 67 and 68 for a total of 135, dominating his division. More incredible scoring came from Charlotte Tam, 14, Burnaby, BC, who blazed her way around the course firing rounds of 68, 70 (138) to win the Girls Low Overall and MJT Girls U15 titles.

 

A fantastic total score of 138 from both Curtis Liu, 16, of Richmond, BC, (72, 69) and Jeevyn Lotay, 14, from Burnaby, BC, (69, 72) won them the top spots in MJT Juvenile Boys and MJT Bantam Boys respectively. The final two division winners both had the outstanding score of 67 on their cards during the tournament, namely Jason Zhang, 12, from Richmond, BC, in MJT Peewee Boys (67, 72 = 139), and Kaylee Chung, 16, from Vancouver, BC, in MJT Girls 15-19 (67, 72 = 139). 

 

Top finisher scores and quotes from the division winners 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.  

 

As the 2024 MJT British Columbia season comes to a close, a heartfelt thank you to all MJT members, participants, families, and sponsors for making this year truly unforgettable. Early Bird Memberships for the 2025 season will be available starting in December and a great schedule is planned. Stay tuned for more details and visit us at www.maplejt.com for updates! 
 

1. Manny Lalh (17), Nanaimo, BC | 67, 68 (135)        

2. Jonathan Van Pykstra (17), Vancouver, BC | 74, 71 (145)  

3. George (JiaYu) Zhou (17), Vancouver, BC | 74, 72 (146)

Manny Lalh, 17, from Nanaimo, BC, was a birdie machine, dropping an impressive nine birdies over two rounds to secure the MJT Junior Boys and low overall titles. "Coming into this tournament, I have spent day and night at the golf course," Lalh shared, proving that dedication pays off in the chase for victory. Despite the pressure, Lalh stated, "I stay composed by treating this round like any other round that I would play at my home course."

 

1. Curtis Liu (16), Richmond, BC | 72, 69 (141)

2. Jeheon Jung (16), Surrey, BC | 68, 75 (143)            

3. Yuda Nam (16), Coquitlam, BC | 73, 71 (144)

Curtis Liu, 16, of Richmond, BC, fired rounds of 72 and 69, carding six birdies and an eagle over two rounds to hold off his nearest competitor and claim victory in the MJT Juvenile Boys division. With a cool two-shot lead, Liu kept his nerves in check and his ball in play, securing his well-earned win in style.
 

1. Jeevyn Lotay (14), Burnaby, BC | 69, 72 (141)        

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

3. Tiger Zhao (13), Vancouver, BC | 75, 72 (147)

Fourteen-year-old Jeevyn Lotay from Burnaby, BC, celebrated his victory after showcasing the fruits of his hard work and dedication. "I've been practicing hard this offseason and working to get into better shape," Lotay shared, reflecting on his commitment to improvement. “This win means a lot to me. It's nice to see my work pay off. In the offseason, I'll continue to work and prepare for next season.” 

 

MJT Peewee Boys: Mayfair Lakes: Par 71, Ydg 5277, Slope/Rating 109/65.9
1. Jason Zhang (12), Richmond, BC | 67, 72 (139)     

2. Jun Lee (12), Regina, SK | 76, 76 (152) 

3. Steven (Jingcheng) Li (12), Richmond, BC | 77, 76 (153)    

Jason Zhang, 12, of Richmond, BC, lit up the course with eight birdies and an eagle to claim victory in the MJT Peewee Boys division. When asked how he stays so dialed in, Zhang kept it simple: "I practice a lot" and "focus on my putting stroke" were the wise words from a young champ.

 

1. Kaylee Chung (16), Vancouver, BC | 67, 72 (139)

2. Zhehui (Hui) Yu (16), Burnaby, BC | 81, 74 (155)    

3. Mandi Wang (16), Surrey, BC | 76, 80 (156)

Kaylee Chung, a 16-year-old from Vancouver, BC, delivered a commanding performance, securing the MJT Girls 15-19 title with an impressive 16-shot lead and eight birdies. As the defending champion, Chung showed she was more than ready to retain her crown. "I’ve been training really hard to focus and play under pressure this season," she shared. "Now, I actually enjoy playing under pressure!"
 

1. Charlotte Tam (14), Burnaby, BC | 68, 70 (138)

2. Satnam Gill (13), Surrey, BC | 78, 74 (152)

3. Doris Xiatong Liu (14), Vancouver, BC | 80, 74 (154)

Charlotte Tam, 14, from Burnaby, BC, showcased her exceptional talent carding an incredible 11 birdies and an eagle throughout the tournament to win the MJT Girls U15 and Low Overall titles. She kicked things off with an impressive round of 68, which secured her lead and set the tone for her victory. “I’m glad to win my second MJT tournament this year,” Tam exclaimed. “I will go to the MJT Nationals in November!” she stated, re her off-season plans. And her strategy for success? “I try to relax and remind myself that all that matters is the next shot, letting go of any bad shots from previous holes.”

About Ford Canada: Ford of Canada and the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) are proud to continue with the successful MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics - an initiative that introduces golf for free to young people, teaching them a game they can benefit from their entire lives. Many thousands of kids have participated in this program since 2006. Clinics have been held in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan where participating Ford Dealers offer free MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics conducted by PGA of Canada Professionals to children in their community. Ford and the Ford Dealers Association wish to support amateur sport in their communities by introducing children to golf, encouraging them to learn the fundamentals, and rewarding them for their efforts. www.ford.ca

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.