July 27-28, 2024
Barrie, ON
12-year-old’s ace and birdies galore light up MJT Ontario Series at Settler's Ghost
Under sunny skies, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada's number one Junior Tour, rolled into Settler's Ghost Golf Club in Barrie, ON, for the two-day MJT Ontario Series tournament on July 27-28. With 70 junior golfers, including many new members, teeing off on perfectly manicured fairways, the stage was set for a weekend showcase of talent and determination. Players competed in six divisions with eligible age groups having the chance to be shortlisted for the National Team Challenge in Fenwick, ON, this September.
The tournament had its share of excitement, but 12-year-old Hudson Lockwood from Oakville, ON, stole the show with a hole-in-one on the par-3 11th. With his trusty 8-iron, Hudson sent the ball soaring, and it landed straight in the cup, leaving everyone in awe. He capped off the event by finishing a respectable fourth in the MJT Peewee Boys division.
Low overall honours went to division winners, Tyler Bunker, 17, of Toronto, ON, in MJT Junior Boys (72,70=142), and Ziqing (Judy) Lin, 12, of Markham, ON, in MJT Girls 15-19 (73,79=152). Following their respective wins, both Bunker and Lin have been short-listed for Team MJT at the National Team Challenge.
Other top performances resulted in division titles going to Tomas Bonilla, 16, from Aurora, ON, in MJT Juvenile Boys (143), Danica Suckert, 14, from Cambridge, ON, in MJT Girls U15 (178), Dustin Zhao, 12, from Maple, ON, in MJT Bantam Boys (153), and Gerry Kou, 12, from Markham, ON, in MJT Peewee Boys (155).
Top finisher scores and quotes from the winners are noted below. For full tournament results, please visit the MJT website
here; results from the Projekt/2UNDR Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points standings, are posted
here.
The next stop in the province is the wait listed MJT Ontario Series at The Club at Bond Head, in Beeton, taking place August 10-11, 2024. For more information, please visit the MJT website at
www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers by Division
MJT Junior Boys: Settler's Ghost: Par 72, Ydg 6345, Slope/Rating 133/69.3
1. Tyler Bunker (17), Toronto, ON | 72, 70 (142)
2. Cam Zanier (17), Etobicoke, ON | 72, 77 (149)
3. Peter Wojcicki (19), Guelph, ON | 69, 82 (151)
Seventeen-year-old Tyler Bunker from Toronto, ON, had the feathers flying with a dazzling performance that included 8 birdies and an eagle, winning the MJT Junior and Low Overall Boys titles. Finishing under par in round 2, Bunker truly showcased his skills. When asked about his game plan, Bunker revealed, “Practice pressure shots and sleep well the days before. Breathe and try to focus on small details.”
MJT Girls 15-19: Settler's Ghost: Par 72, Ydg 5362, Slope/Rating 125/69.6
1. Ziqing (Judy) Lin (16), Markham, ON | 73, 79 (152)
2. Rachel Sidor (19), Stouffville, ON | 87, 81 (168)
3. Paige Sefton (15), Barrie, ON | 82, 87 (169)
Ziqing (Judy) Lin, 16, from Markham, ON, has her eyes on the prize and her mind in the moment. “Practice more and reflection afterwards,” she shared as her winning strategy as MJT Girls 15-19 and Low Overall Girls winner. “I don’t think about the score and focus on the shot that I’m hitting.” In round 1, Lin pulled away from the competition after firing 73 on the challenging course to run away with the final victory.
MJT Juvenile Boys: Settler's Ghost: Par 72, Ydg 6345, Slope/Rating 133/69.3
1. Tomas Bonilla (16), Aurora, ON | 73, 70 (143)
2. Ben Julie (15), Fenwick, ON | 73, 76 (149)
3. Matthew Gray (15), Beamsville, ON |73, 78 (151)
Tomas Bonilla, a sixteen-year-old from Aurora, ON, who moved from Colombia just last month, soared to victory in MJT Juvenile Boys with an impressive 5 birdies and an eagle. “I was hitting very well with the irons, so I got plenty of birdie chances,” Bonilla explained, clearly enjoying his avian-themed weekend. When asked about the win, he said, “It definitely boosts my confidence for the next tournament.”
MJT Bantam Boys: Settler's Ghost: Par 72, Ydg 5929, Slope/Rating 125/67.4
1. Dustin Zhao (12), Maple, ON | 75, 78 (153)
2. Ajay Para (13), Markham, ON | 81, 76 (157)
2. Landon Friesen (13), St. Catharines, ON | 77, 80 (157)
Dustin Zhao, 12, from Maple, ON, made a splash at the tournament with a lead in MJT Peewee Boys that was as solid as his practice routine. Zhao’s winning formula? "I practiced a lot and I drink water," he said.
MJT Girls U15: Settler's Ghost: Par 72, Ydg 5362, Slope/Rating 125/69.6
1. Danica Suckert (14), Cambridge, ON | 89, 89 (178)
2. Minnah Lim (11), Toronto, ON | 94, 86 (180)
3. Yebeen Lee (12), Oakville, ON | 91, 91 (182)
3. Milana Cunha (14), Woodbridge, ON | 90, 92 (182)
Fourteen-year-old Danica Suckert from Cambridge, ON, swung her way to success in MJT Girls U15, crediting her sports psychologist for helping her demolish anxiety and discover ways to overcome it. "This is the first win of the season for me and it's a really big confidence boost," Suckert shared, proving that sometimes victory starts in the mind before you even hit the fairway.
MJT Peewee Boys: Setter's Ghost: Par 72, Ydg 5362, Slope/Rating 117/65.1
1. Gerry Kou (12), Markham, ON | 80, 75 (155)
2. Chi-Shen Lin (12), Toronto, ON | 83, 76 (159)
3. Max Sue (11), Markham, ON | 80, 80 (160)
Gerry Kou, 12, from Markham, ON, is no stranger to the top of the leaderboard, and he did it again as MJT Peewee Boys winner. When asked how he prepared for this victory, his answer was refreshingly simple: "Sleeping." And for that extra edge? "Talking to Sueeeee," he said, nodding to his fellow competitor and good luck charm, Max Sue.
Qualified Players:
Team MJT at the National Team Challenge Short-Listed Position: Tyler Bunker and Ziqing (Judy) Lin
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