Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s leading competitive junior circuit, made its latest Alberta stop in Innisfail for the MJT Maui Jim Series at Innisfail Golf Club on June 23–24. With a full field of over 90 players on Innisfail’s picturesque tree-lined fairways, the event marked one of six national tournaments in the long-standing MJT Maui Jim partnership, a valued Platinum Sponsor of the tour. Six division titles were up for grabs, alongside qualifying opportunities for the East Coast Junior Championship and MJT National Tour Challenge.
 

In a rare storyline, 15-year-old Raylee Denton of Red Deer, AB, pulled off a stunning repeat victory in the MJT Girls 15–19 division—in identical fashion to last year. For the second consecutive season, Denton and Shylee Kostiuk, 15, of Spruce Grove, AB, finished at a deadlocked tie for the lead, and once again, it took extra holes to separate them. Denton came out on top in the playoff for the second straight year, securing the division title in spectacular fashion.

Additional great performances leading to division titles were recorded by Casey Sliva, 17, of Red Deer, AB, in MJT Junior Boys (71-75=146), Justin Mrazek, 15, from Brooks, AB, in MJT Juvenile Boys (76-79=155), Belanna Bandola, 13, from Edmonton, AB, in MJT Girls U15 (83-78=161), Dylan Pandher, 14, of Delta, BC, in MJT Bantam Boys (78-72=150), and Niko Tran, 12, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Peewee Boys (84-85=169).          

 

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 PLYR Series at Turner Valley, in Diamond Valley, on July 3-4. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

1. Casey Sliva (17), Red Deer, AB | 71, 75 (146)

2. Dylan McAleer (17), Calgary, AB | 76, 80 (156)      

3. Jacob Pekarsky (18), Calgary, AB | 81, 78 (159)      

3. Jesse Pelletier (17), Edmonton, AB | 78, 81 (159)  

3. Cade Farrow (17), Cochrane, AB | 76, 83 (159)
 

Seventeen-year-old Casey Sliva of Red Deer, AB, fired rounds of 71 and 75 (146), finishing at the top of the MJT Junior Boys division with five birdies on the card. Sliva described the experience as ‘fantastic’ and shared that his favourite part of competing on the MJT is ‘the competition and having Luke here,’ referring to MJT Alberta Tournament Director, Luke Rundell.
 

1. Raylee Denton (15), Red Deer, AB | 81, 85 (166)

2. Shylee Kostiuk (15), Spruce Grove, AB | 83, 83 (166)         

3. Lexi Blair (15), Sherwood Park, AB | 82, 85 (167)

A thrilling playoff between two 15-year-olds ended when Raylee Denton of Red Deer, AB, edged out Shylee Kostiuk of Spruce Grove, AB, after both finished tied at 166 (81-85 and 83-83 respectively). Denton sealed the win in extra holes for the second consecutive year, saying, “It feels great to win this tournament for the second year in a row, winning the playoff hole again!” She added, “My favourite part about the MJT is meeting new people!”

 

1. Justin Mrazek (15), Brooks, AB | 76, 79 (155)        

2. Cian Thubron (16), Calgary, AB | 80, 76 (156)        

3. Gavin Braithwaite (16), Edmonton, AB | 77, 80 (157)      

With scores of 76 and 79 (155), 15-year-old Justin Mrazek of Brooks, AB, claimed his first MJT title by a single stroke in the MJT Juvenile Boys division. “This is my first win on MJT on a very demanding course,” said Mrazek. “I'm happy to get the job done.” He credited ‘the heavy competition and professionalism of these events’ as what makes the MJT stand out.
 

1. Belanna Bandola (13), Edmonton, AB | 83, 78 (161)

2. Kaleia Kurylo (13), Edmonton, AB | 78, 85 (163)

3. Krystina Wytrykush (13), Calgary, AB | 106, 104 (210)

Belanna Bandola, 13, of Edmonton, AB, notched six birdies on her way to a two-round total of 161 (83-78) to win her very first MJT title, in the MJT Girls U15 division. “I enjoyed it and it was a very good experience in my opinion,” she said. “I'm proud of myself and I think that overall, I played pretty good. It feels good to win.” Bandola also praised the MJT’s organization and added, “The prizes are good, and they already give out things like balls and snacks beforehand. It's very well organized and it's my favourite tour.”
 

1. Dylan Pandher (14), Delta, BC | 78, 72 (150)

2. Erik Petersen (13), Okotoks, AB | 79, 73 (152)       

3. Jacob Brunette (13), Calgary, AB | 76, 79 (155)      
 

With a stellar second-round 72, 14-year-old Dylan Pandher of Delta, BC, surged to victory in the MJT Bantam Boys division, finishing with a two-day total of 150 (78-72). “It feels great winning this tournament after all the hard work I've put in,” said Pandher. He highlighted the venue and level of play, saying, “My favourite part was definitely the course, and it was also great competing against the skilled players.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Aspen/Spruce: Par 72, Ydg 4963, Slope/Rating 112/64.2

1. Niko Tran (12), Calgary, AB | 84, 85 (169)  

2. Kolton Phillips (11), Calgary, AB | 83, 91 (174)       

3. Reilly MacLeod (12), Calgary, AB | 91, 90 (181)

Niko Tran, 12, of Calgary, AB, claimed the MJT Peewee Boys title with rounds of 84 and 85 (169), including three birdies. “Amazing because I haven't won a tournament last year,” he said of the win. When asked about his favourite part of the MJT, Tran shared, “There are many great players.”

Qualified and Shortlisted Players:

East Coast Junior Championship

Boys: Kolton Phillips, Dylan Pandher, Justin Mrazek, Casey Sliva

Girls: Belanna Bandola, Raylee Denton

MJT National Tour Challenge

Boys: Dylan Pandher,  Justin Mrazek, Casey Sliva

Girls: Belanna Bandola, Raylee Denton

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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