Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Players powered through wet and challenging conditions in round one before being rewarded with sunshine and perfect scoring weather in round two on Canada’s leading junior golf tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), during the MJT Ford Series at scenic Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, BC, on July 14–15. Nestled along the Thompson River, the links-style course offered a stern test for a stacked field of 19U golfers who were battling for division titles and the chance to win a brand-new Ford Escape with a hole-in-one, courtesy of Kamloops Ford Lincoln. There was also the chance to shortlist qualify for MJT Team Canada to the JNJG International Junior Classic in Australia and directly qualify for the MJT National Tour Challenge in Ontario.

 

Mitchell Krahn, 19, of Christina Lake, BC, emerged victorious in the MJT Junior Boys division at Rivershore after a thrilling playoff against 17-year-old Josh Tatton of Golden, BC. With both players tied for the division lead at 155 after two rounds, Krahn sealed the win with a clutch par on the second extra hole.

In the MJT Juvenile Boys division, Lucas Vizzutti, 15, of Powell River, BC, rose to the top after a great opening round of 69 to finish at 146 to take the title and Low Overall Honours. 

 

Strong performances in the other divisions resulted in wins for Doris Xiaotong Liu, 15, of Vancouver, BC, in MJT Girls 15-19 (152), Ryan Gibbens, 14, from North Vancouver, BC, in MJT Bantam Boys (150), and Domenic Lowry, 11, from Chilliwack, BC, in MJT Peewee Boys (179).

Top finisher scores, quotes from the division winners, and the list of qualified and short-listed players can be found below. Results from the Bomber Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here.  

Up next in the province is the MJT Zeal Series presented by Rink Golf Academy at Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna, BC, taking place July 17-18. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

1. Mitchell Krahn (19), Christina Lake, BC | 78, 77 (155)
2. Josh Tatton (17), Golden, BC | 78, 77 (155)

3. DJ Crowe (17), Armstrong, BC | 81, 79 (160)

3. Silas Ross (18), Chase, BC | 81, 79 (160)

In a dramatic finish in the MJT Junior Boys division, Mitchell Krahn of Christina Lake, BC, clinched the title with a par on the second extra hole of a playoff. The 19-year-old, competing in his final MJT season, tied for the lead after firing identical rounds of 78 and 77 with Josh Tatton, 17, of Golden, BC, forcing a playoff. “It feels absolutely amazing! It’s been a couple of years since I last won one of these tournaments and this year is my last year to compete, so finally getting it done again is a huge weight off my shoulders,” said Krahn. “I love the competitive/accessibility ratio these tournaments have. They’re open to everyone, but every time you sign up, you know there’s going to be good competition.” His advice? “You hit a bad shot, it doesn’t mean you lost. You hit a good shot, it doesn’t mean you’ve won. Just hang on and stay level-headed.”
 

1. Doris Xiaotong Liu (15), Vancouver, BC | 78, 74 (152)

2. Kailie Matthews (16), Kelowna, BC | 88, 87 (175)

3. Fia Bondy (16), Chicago, IL |125, 124 (249)

Doris Xiaotong Liu, age 15, from Vancouver, BC, held onto a strong lead from round one to win the MJT Girls 15–19 division with scores of 78 and 74. With six birdies over the weekend, she powered through the field to secure the win. “I’m really happy to play this tournament and I’m grateful to win!” she shared. When asked her favourite part of MJT events, she didn’t hesitate: “There’s pizza after every tournament!” in a fun shoutout to MJT’s valued partner, Panago Pizza.
 

1. Lucas Vizzutti (15), Powell River, BC | 69, 77 (146)

2. Blake Thornhill (16), Whistler, BC | 79, 77 (156)

3. Kobe Menzies (15), Vernon, BC | 79, 79 (158)

The MJT Juvenile Boys and Low Overall Boys title went to 15-year-old Lucas Vizzutti of Powell River, BC, who carded a sizzling 69 in round one followed by a 77 to finish at 146. With six birdies on the scorecard, Vizzutti described his win simply: “Awesome.” He stayed focused under pressure, noting, “I just tried to finish strong,” and credited the MJT for its intensity, saying, “I love the competitiveness of it.”
 

1. Ryan Gibbens (14), North Vancouver, BC | 78, 72 (150)

2. Hyunseo Moon (13), White Rock, BC | 79, 75 (154)

3. Parker Andrews (13), Fort St. John, BC | 78, 77 (155)

3. Kevin Zhang (14), Vancouver, BC | 76, 79 (155)

North Vancouver’s Ryan Gibbens, 14, delivered a steady performance to take the MJT Bantam Boys title in a tightly contested field. He bounced back from a 78 in round one to shoot an even-par 72 on day two, which included three birdies and an eagle. “It feels great to win my first MJT,” said Gibbens, reflecting on the breakthrough. When asked what he enjoys most about competing on the tour, he added, “The competition and the people are really nice and fun to play with.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Rivershore: Par 72, Ydg 5458, Slope/Rating 110/66.5

1. Domenic Lowry (11), Chilliwack, BC | 91, 88 (179)

2. Hunter Brandt (12), Langley, BC | 90, 99 (189)

In the MJT Peewee Boys division, 11-year-old Domenic Lowry of Chilliwack, BC, emerged victorious with rounds of 91 and 88. “I was very excited to win this tournament. It felt good to have two birdies in my first round despite the weather,” he said. “The competition is very good and I had a great playing partner, Hunter Brandt, who kept the game positive with me.” He added, “MJT tournaments are my favourite events, and I can’t wait until the next tournament.”

Qualified and Shortlisted Players: 
·MJT Team Canada to JNJG (Australia)

Shortlisted- Lucas Vizzutti

Boys: Ryan Gibbens, Lucas Vizzutti, Mitchell Krahn

Girls: Doris Xiaotong Liu

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.

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