Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Canada's #1 Junior Tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), wrapped up its Alberta Mini Tour circuit for the 2024 season with a thrilling final event at Meadowlands Golf Club at Sylvan Lake on August 22. Despite cooler temperatures, a packed field of young golfers aged 12 and under took to the wide-open fairways and tough greens in a waitlisted event. Competing in five divisions, these rising stars had their eyes set on one last chance to qualify for the 2025 Champion of Champions World Invitational in Ross Inner, Enniskillen, UK.

An electrifying moment at the event came when Rylan Hryhirchuk, 9, from Irma, AB, aced the 14th hole with a flawless seven iron. This impressive shot propelled Hryhirchuk to secure first place in the MJT Boys 9-10 division, capping off a spectacular performance.
 

Highlighted with a fantastic score of 66 by 12-year-old Danika Horcica, of Edmonton, AB, winner of the MJT Girls 11-12, the event saw stellar scores leading to other division wins by Sebastian Rothzén, 12, from Calgary, AB, in MJT Boys 11-12 (78), Ain Lee, 10, from Sylvan Lake, AB, in MJT Girls 9-10 (74), and Mika Bhamra, 8, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Boys 8U (73).

Top scorers who were not already qualified for the 2025 Champion of Champions World Invitational are listed below along with 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.
 

As the 2024 MJT Mini Tour season in Alberta comes to a close, we wish to extend our appreciation to our members, participants, families, and sponsors for making this year a great success. Early Bird Memberships for 2025 will be available in December; more information on the program can be found online at www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Girls 9-10: Meadowlands GC: Par 72, Ydg 2789, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Ain Lee (10), Sylvan Lake, AB | 74   

2. Lila Skeates (10), Calgary, AB | 81   

3. Morgan Tucnik (10), Calgary, AB | 84

Ain Lee, a 10-year-old from Sylvan Lake, AB, clinched her fifth division win this year with a stellar performance that included five birdies. "I paid extra focus on my routine. It helps me calm down and stay composed," Lee shared. Her dedication to practicing extensively at the course before the tournament clearly paid off, securing her another impressive victory.
 

1. Danika Horcica (12), Edmonton, AB | 66    

2. Jaya Naicker (11), Calgary, AB | 83

2. Krystina Wytrykush (12), Calgary, AB | 83

Danika Horcica, 12, from Edmonton, AB, continued her winning streak by securing her third division title of the season with an exceptional six-under-par 66 round. "I like to make sure every part of my game is good. If not, I'll play with what I've got," said Horcica, demonstrating her adaptable approach to the game. Her rating of the tournament was enthusiastic, as she exclaimed, "1,000/10, MJT is amazing!!"
 

1. Mika Bhamra (8), Calgary, AB | 73  

2. Charlie Joy (8), Calgary, AB | 81      

3. Jordy Bain (7), Edmonton, AB | 84  

3. Blake Widmer (7), Edmonton, AB | 84

Mika Bhamra, 8, from Calgary, AB, showcased his growing skills with a strong finish at one-over par. "Physically, I’ve been doing exercises with my mom so I can hit the ball further," he stated, adding, "Mentally, I imagine my shot before hitting it." This combination of physical preparation and mental focus is paying off for the young golfer.
 

MJT Boys 9-10: Meadowlands GC: Par 72, Ydg 2789, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Rylan Hryhirchuk (9), Irma, AB | 64

2. Jix Whitton (9), Rocky Mountain House, AB | 70    

3. Oliver Chalmers (10), Calgary, AB | 78

Nine-year-old Rylan Hryhirchuk from Irma, AB, delivered an absolute standout performance with a jaw-dropping eight-under par 64, rounded out by a hole-in-one on the 14th hole and seven birdies. "(I have a) newfound swagger after my ace!" he exclaimed, rating the event, "10/10! Love the tour!"
 

1. Sebastian Rothzén (12), Calgary, AB | 78   

2. Hudson Lien (12), Calgary, AB | 82

3. Carter Martin (11), Millet, AB | 83

Sebastian Rothzén, 12, from Calgary, AB, who delivered an outstanding performance, stated, "Mentally, I tried as hard as I could to stay out of my head and have fun! Physically, I’ve been working out all summer and staying fit." This tournament was a huge confidence boost for Rothzén, who plans to keep getting better as the year continues.

Qualified Players: 
Champion of Champions World Invitational qualified players: Ain Lee, Danika Horcica, Mika Bhamra, Rylan Hryhirchuk, Sebastian Rothzén
 

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