Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Under clear blue skies on August 15, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s number one Junior Tour, rolled into Calgary, AB, for the MJT Mini Tour Summer Series at Blue Devil Golf Club. The course, known for being disarming and deceptively crafted to challenge even the most skilled golfers, hosted the heavily waitlisted event. Young golfers aged 12 and under competed in six divisions, with titles and coveted qualification spots in the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in British Columbia on the line. The spotlight was firmly on these rising stars of Canadian golf as they battled it out on the devilishly designed fairways.
 

Highlighted with a fantastic score of 56 by 12-year-old Jacob Brunette from Calgary, AB, winner of the MJT Boys 11-12, the event saw solid scores leading to other division wins by Jaya Naicker, 11, from Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 11-12 (72), Rylan Hryhirchuk, 9, of Irma, AB, in MJT Boys 9-10 (62), Morgan Tucnik, 9, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 9-10 (72), Mika Bhamra, 8, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Boys 8U (66), and Ava Deschamps, 7, from Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 8U (102).

Top scorers who were not already exempt qualified for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, BC, in August, and are listed below in a summary along with their scores and quotes from the division winners. Full results as well as Closest to the Pin Competition winners are posted on the MJT website here.
 

The next and final MJT Mini Tour event in the province will be held at Meadowlands Golf Club at Sylvan Lake in Sylvan Lake, AB, on August 22. More information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour can be found online at www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Girls 8U: Lil Devil GC: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Ava Deschamps (7), Calgary, AB | 102

2. Rosemary Jenkins (7), Cranbrook, BC | 103

Ava Deschamps, a determined 7-year-old from Calgary, AB, showcased her grit and positivity on the course. "I ate a big breakfast and had a good attitude," she shared, revealing her winning strategy. With self-encouragement at every turn, she added, "I talked to myself and said, 'you can do this, Ava!'"

MJT Girls 9-10: Lil Devil GC: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Morgan Tucnik (9), Calgary, AB | 72

2. Emily Joy (10), Calgary, AB | 86

3. Hannah Adeleye (9), Langley, BC | 104

Morgan Tucnik, 9, from Calgary, AB, showed dedication and skill, honed through countless hours of practice on the range with her dad. "It makes me look forward to the next tournament," Tucnik said. She also gave the MJT experience a stellar "10/10!"
 

MJT Girls 11-12: Lil Devil GC: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Jaya Naicker (11), Calgary, AB | 72

2. Krystina Wytrykush (12), Calgary, AB | 81

3. Maelle Kopitar (11), Calgary, AB | 90

Jaya Naicker, 11, from Calgary, AB, showed incredible poise on the course. "I practiced as much as I could and tried to be as confident as I could with every shot. I'm working on controlling my emotions, especially after a bad shot," Naicker stated. She added, "When other people are watching me, I get nervous. But I'm not focusing on other people, just myself."
 

1. Mika Bhamra (8), Calgary, AB | 66

2. Naeem Fazel (8), Calgary, AB |68

3. Blake Widmer (7), Edmonton, AB | 69

Mika Bhamra, an eight-year-old from Calgary, AB, displayed remarkable composure, embodying the "one shot at a time" mindset to secure his victory. After the event, Bhamra rated the experience a perfect "10/10," praising the MJT for its organization.
 

1. Rylan Hryhirchuk (9), Irma, AB | 62 *Won Countback

2. Wyatt Lazic (10), Calgary, AB | 62

3. Jix Whitton (9). Rocky Mountain House, AB | 63

Rylan Hryhirchuk, 9, from Irma, AB, and Wyatt Lazic, 10, from Calgary, AB, fought a thrilling battle in the MJT Boys 9-10 division, both finishing with an impressive score of 62. Hryhirchuk clinched the victory in a countback. "I played every day for the last week!" Rylan shared enthusiastically. "I had a very good group and a head-to-head battle."
 

1. Jacob Brunette (12), Calgary, AB | 56

2. Judah Hornstein (11), Calgary, AB | 64

2. Jaxon Rogalczyk (10), Innisfail, AB | 64

Jacob Brunette, 12, from Calgary, AB, delivered a stellar six-under par 56, showcasing his incredible skill and composure on the course. "I take some deep breaths and tell myself I can," Brunette shared, reflecting on his winning strategy. "I tried to stay focused on every shot," he added, as he confidently secured his place at the top.

Qualified Players: 
 

MJT Mini Tour National Championship (highest ranked player not already exempt): Jaya Naicker
 

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