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The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA ProfessionalsPress Release
May 3-4, 2025
Estevan, SK
MJT tees off Saskatchewan season with major international qualifier in Estevan
The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s number one-played junior golf tour and the undisputed leader in the Canadian junior golf space for 27 years, launched its highly anticipated Saskatchewan season-opener for the Junior Tour at Estevan Woodlawn Golf Club this past weekend. A strong field of junior golfers from three provinces teed it up in a major international qualifying event in the Estevan stop, where provincial pride and major international opportunities were on the line.
As the MJT continues to dominate the national junior golf scene, its 2025 schedule is once again opening doors for top-performing athletes. Estevan’s event featured qualifying spots for four elite events: the FCG World Championship in California, the Uswing Mojing Junior World Golf Championship, the invitational MJT East Coast Junior Championship, and the MJT National Tour Challenge.
Low Overall Honours for boys and girls respectively were won by Aricin Franklin, 16, of Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Juvenile Boys (71-72=143) and Tayla Perry, 16, of Regina, SK, in MJT Girls 15-19 (82-75=157). Other outstanding performances led to division wins for Brady Guenther, 17, of Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Junior Boys (72-72=144), Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, 14, from Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Girls U15 (87-81=168), Austin Nesbitt, 13, from Pilot Butte, SK, in MJT Bantam Boys (71-77=148), James C.R. Qiu, of Surrey, BC, in MJT Peewee Boys (72-75=147).
Low Overall Honours for boys and girls respectively were won by Aricin Franklin, 16, of Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Juvenile Boys (71-72=143) and Tayla Perry, 16, of Regina, SK, in MJT Girls 15-19 (82-75=157). Other outstanding performances led to division wins for Brady Guenther, 17, of Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Junior Boys (72-72=144), Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, 14, from Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Girls U15 (87-81=168), Austin Nesbitt, 13, from Pilot Butte, SK, in MJT Bantam Boys (71-77=148), James C.R. Qiu, of Surrey, BC, in MJT Peewee Boys (72-75=147).
Top finisher score, 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 Saskatchewan is the MJT adidas Golf Series, part of the Elite Event Series, taking place at Elmwood Golf and Country Club in Swift Current, May 17–19. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers by Division
MJT Junior Boys: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 6297, Slope/Rating 119/69.5
1. Brady Guenther (17), Saskatoon, SK | 72, 72 (144)
2. Preston Buchner (17), Saskatoon, SK | 73, 76 (149)
3. Wyatt Frei (17), Gray, SK | 81, 75 (156)
3. Griffin Blanch (17), Saskatoon, SK | 80, 76 (156)
Brady Guenther of Saskatoon opened his 2025 season with a pair of even-par rounds (72-72) to win the MJT Junior Boys title by five strokes. The 17-year-old, who was the 2024 MJT Junior Boys Order of Merit winner in Saskatchewan, showed off-season dedication, saying, “I hit balls every day in the sim, and I want to win, so I think that kept me motivated.” He rated the event a “10/10 – the event was really fun and well run.”
Brady Guenther of Saskatoon opened his 2025 season with a pair of even-par rounds (72-72) to win the MJT Junior Boys title by five strokes. The 17-year-old, who was the 2024 MJT Junior Boys Order of Merit winner in Saskatchewan, showed off-season dedication, saying, “I hit balls every day in the sim, and I want to win, so I think that kept me motivated.” He rated the event a “10/10 – the event was really fun and well run.”
MJT Girls 15-19: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 5742, Slope/Rating 133/75.3
1. Tayla Perry (16), Regina, SK | 82, 75 (157)
2. Grace Odnokon (15), Saskatoon, SK | 87, 81 (168)
3. Yuna Lee (15), Regina, SK | 88, 87 (175)
Sixteen-year-old Tayla Perry of Regina posted rounds of 82 and 75 (157) to claim the MJT Girls 15–19 title with a dominant 11-shot victory. Perry rolled in five birdies over two rounds and credited her performance to focused off-season work. “I worked a lot on my technique and gaining strength,” she said. “To stay motivated, I kept working hard because I knew it would pay off in the end.” She rated the tournament a “10 – very well organized and the course was in great shape.”
Sixteen-year-old Tayla Perry of Regina posted rounds of 82 and 75 (157) to claim the MJT Girls 15–19 title with a dominant 11-shot victory. Perry rolled in five birdies over two rounds and credited her performance to focused off-season work. “I worked a lot on my technique and gaining strength,” she said. “To stay motivated, I kept working hard because I knew it would pay off in the end.” She rated the tournament a “10 – very well organized and the course was in great shape.”
MJT Juvenile Boys: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 6297, Slope/Rating 119/69.5
1. Aricin Franklin (16), Saskatoon, SK | 71, 72 (143)
2. Ethan Hunter (15), Saskatoon, SK | 76, 73 (149)
3. Jayden Chernoff (16), Estevan, SK | 80, 78 (158)
Saskatoon’s Aricin Franklin claimed the MJT Juvenile Boys title with rock-solid rounds of 71 and 72 (143), racking up nine birdies over two days. The 16-year-old credited his early-season form to valuable off-season reps, sharing, “Spending time down south definitely helped coming into the Saskatchewan season.” He rated the event a “10/10,” noting it was “run very well and the course was in great shape for spring.”
Saskatoon’s Aricin Franklin claimed the MJT Juvenile Boys title with rock-solid rounds of 71 and 72 (143), racking up nine birdies over two days. The 16-year-old credited his early-season form to valuable off-season reps, sharing, “Spending time down south definitely helped coming into the Saskatchewan season.” He rated the event a “10/10,” noting it was “run very well and the course was in great shape for spring.”
MJT Girls U15: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 5742, Slope/Rating 133/75.3
1. Youran (Yoyo) Zhu (14), Saskatoon, SK | 87, 81 (168)
2. Natalie Maunula (13), North Battleford, SK | 94, 85 (179)
3. Eva Gedak (12), Estevan, SK | 113, 117 (230)
Fourteen-year-old Youran (Yoyo) Zhu of Saskatoon, SK, captured the MJT Girls U15 title with rounds of 87 and 81 (168), maintaining a solid lead from start to finish. Zhu credited her preparation to staying loose during the off-season and keeping perspective: “I stayed motivated by reminding myself how important practice is to achieve a good score and game in general.” A regular on the MJT, she gave the tournament a “10/10,” adding, “I love the events the MJT hosts and attend every year!”
Fourteen-year-old Youran (Yoyo) Zhu of Saskatoon, SK, captured the MJT Girls U15 title with rounds of 87 and 81 (168), maintaining a solid lead from start to finish. Zhu credited her preparation to staying loose during the off-season and keeping perspective: “I stayed motivated by reminding myself how important practice is to achieve a good score and game in general.” A regular on the MJT, she gave the tournament a “10/10,” adding, “I love the events the MJT hosts and attend every year!”
MJT Bantam Boys: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 5742, Slope/Rating 118/69.1
1. Austin Nesbitt (13), Pilot Butte, SK | 71, 77 (148)
1. Austin Nesbitt (13), Pilot Butte, SK | 71, 77 (148)
2. Jun Lee (12), Regina, SK | 73, 78 (151)
3. Tylan Wallin (14), Humboldt, SK | 75, 78 (153)
Austin Nesbitt, the talented 13-year-old from Pilot Butte, SK, opened his 2025 season with a win in the MJT Bantam Boys division, carding rounds of 71 and 77 (148) with three birdies and an eagle along the way. The 2024 MJT Bantam Boys Order of Merit winner in Saskatchewan came into the event well-prepared, sharing, “I prepared all winter by having a goal in mind and spent lots of time on simulators.” Nesbitt rated the tournament a “10/10,” adding, “Weather was great, staff was great, and course was great. Overall, amazing event.”
MJT Peewee Boys: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 5087, Slope/Rating 109/65.9
Austin Nesbitt, the talented 13-year-old from Pilot Butte, SK, opened his 2025 season with a win in the MJT Bantam Boys division, carding rounds of 71 and 77 (148) with three birdies and an eagle along the way. The 2024 MJT Bantam Boys Order of Merit winner in Saskatchewan came into the event well-prepared, sharing, “I prepared all winter by having a goal in mind and spent lots of time on simulators.” Nesbitt rated the tournament a “10/10,” adding, “Weather was great, staff was great, and course was great. Overall, amazing event.”
MJT Peewee Boys: Estevan Woodlawn: Par 72, Ydg 5087, Slope/Rating 109/65.9
1. James C.R. Qiu (12), Surrey, BC | 72, 75 (147)
James C.R. Qiu, 12, of Surrey, BC, posted rounds of 72 and 75 (147) to claim the MJT Peewee Boys division title in a field all his own. Despite being the sole competitor in the category, Qiu brought strong focus and great energy to the event. “Keep winning, shoot good scores, and have fun,” he said of his goals for the season — and he’s off to a solid start. He rated the event a “10/10 — a good and fun tournament.”
Qualified and Shortlisted Players:
James C.R. Qiu, 12, of Surrey, BC, posted rounds of 72 and 75 (147) to claim the MJT Peewee Boys division title in a field all his own. Despite being the sole competitor in the category, Qiu brought strong focus and great energy to the event. “Keep winning, shoot good scores, and have fun,” he said of his goals for the season — and he’s off to a solid start. He rated the event a “10/10 — a good and fun tournament.”
Qualified and Shortlisted Players:
East Coast Junior Championship
Boys: Austin Nesbitt, Aricin Franklin
Girls: Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, Tayla Perry
FCG World Championship (11-18)
Boys: James C.R. Qiu, Austin Nesbitt, Aricin Franklin
Girls: Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, Tayla Perry
MJT National Tour Challenge
Boys: Austin Nesbitt, Aricin Franklin
Girls: Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, Tayla Perry
Uswing Mojing Junior World Golf Championship (11-18) - Shortlisted
Boys: James C.R. Qiu, Austin Nesbitt, Aricin Franklin
Girls: Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, Tayla Perry
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.
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
Marketing Manager, MJT