Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s most competitive and number one-played junior circuit, continued its summer tour with record numbers at the MJT Maui Jim Series at Larters at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club in St. Andrews, MB, June 21–22. As one of six national tournaments in the long-standing MJT Maui Jim partnership, the event drew the largest field to date in Manitoba, with talented athletes competing for titles in six divisions and winners awarded with a stylish pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.

 

Unpredictable weather brought rain delays and forced shortened rounds across each division, with the MJT Junior Boys and MJT Peewee Boys completing 27 out of the 36 holes in the tournament and all other divisions finishing 18 over the two days. In addition to division titles, qualifying spots were also on the line for three major events: the East Coast Junior Championship, the MJT National Tour Challenge, and the prestigious Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) International Junior Classic in Australia. Despite the conditions, the event highlighted the rising participation and performance levels on the MJT and the continued momentum of junior golf nationwide.

Two divisions came down to the wire, with ties at the top settled by countback. In MJT Juvenile Boys, 14-year-old Hunter Oakden of Brandon, MB, edged out 16-year-old Finn Kydd of Winnipeg, MB, after both shot rounds of 75 over 18 holes. Meanwhile, in MJT Peewee Boys, Winnipeg’s Tiago Miranda, 11, emerged on top after 27 holes, narrowly prevailing over 11-year-old Caleb O’Brien of Melville, SK, with matching totals of 121.

Additional division titles were claimed by juniors who rose to the top under pressure, including, Brayden Boge, 17, of Winnipeg, MB, in MJT Junior Boys (75-38=113), Brooke Henderson, 17, of Portage La Prairie, MB, in MJT Girls 15-19 (96), Payton Chapman, 14, from Winnipeg, MB, in MJT Girls U15 (87), and Colton Drul, 14, of Springfield, MB, in MJT Bantam Boys (75).

Top finisher scores, quotes from the division winners, and the list of qualified and short-listed players can be found below. Full results and event highlights can be found here.  

Up next in the province is the MJT PLYR Series at Selkirk Golf & Country Club in Selkirk, on July 21-22. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

1. Brayden Boge (17), Winnipeg, MB | 75, 38 (113)

2. Ryan Cromie (18), Selkirk, MB | 78, 36 (114)          

3. Ben Sparling (17), Winnipeg, MB | 84, 44 (128)

Seventeen-year-old Brayden Boge of Winnipeg, MB, finished atop the MJT Junior Boys division after 27 holes with scores of 75 and 38 for a total of 113. “Good, it came down to the end,” said Boge of his finish. When asked about his favourite part of MJT, he shared, “Making friends, competing, having a good time.”
 

MJT Girls 15-19: Larters St. Andrews: Par 70, Ydg 5041, Slope/Rating 115/69.4
1. Brooke Henderson (17), Portage La Prairie, MB | 96
 

Portage La Prairie’s Brooke Henderson, age 17, was the lone competitor in the MJT Girls 15–19 division and carded a 96 over 18 holes. “Not too many stressful thoughts were going through my head. I enjoyed the one round I could play,” she shared.  When asked about her favourite part of the MJT, she added, “Being able to meet new people and play golf with different girls, also playing at new courses.”

 

1. Hunter Oakden (14), Brandon, MB | 75 *Countback

2. Finn Kydd (16), Winnipeg, MB | 75

3. Brady Comaskey (16), Oakbank, MB | 76

Hunter Oakden of Brandon, MB, age 14, edged out 16-year-old Finn Kydd of Winnipeg, MB, in a countback after both shot 75 over 18 holes to take the MJT Juvenile Boys title in a tight finish.
 

1. Payton Chapman (14), Winnipeg, MB | 87

2. Sadie Blazeiko (12), Winnipeg, MB | 93      

3. Angelina Sitarz (12), Winnipeg, MB | 94

Winnipeg’s Payton Chapman, 14, emerged on top in the MJT Girls U15 division with a score of 87 over 18 holes. “On the last hole, I shot par, which was great making it my best round on the MJT and I felt good about the way I played,” said Chapman. She also praised the tour’s community, saying, “The people and everyone on tour. It's great playing golf and it's nice to play different courses.”
 

1. Colton Drul (14), Springfield, MB | 75        

2. Owen Conrad (14), Winnipeg, MB | 76      

3. Brody Stevenson (14), East St Paul, MB | 85

Fourteen-year-old Colton Drul of Springfield, MB, led the MJT Bantam Boys division with a solid 75 over 18 holes. When asked how he felt, he simply replied, “Very good.” His favourite part of MJT? “Winning and getting a prize.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Larters St. Andrews: Par 70, Ydg 5041, Slope/Rating 110/64.3

1. Tiago Miranda (11), Winnipeg, MB | 81, 40 (121) *Countback
2. Caleb O'Brien (11), Melville, SK | 79, 42 (121) 

3. Ty Montour (12), Oakville, MB | 86, 38 (124)

In a tightly contested MJT Peewee Boys division, 11-year-old Tiago Miranda of Winnipeg, MB, took the win via countback over 27 holes with rounds of 81 and 40 (121 total). Caleb O’Brien, also 11, from Melville, SK, matched that total with 79 and 42 but finished second on the countback.

Qualified and Shortlisted Players:

East Coast Junior Championship

Boys: Caleb O'Brien, Colton Drul, Hunter Oakden, Ryan Cromie

Girls: Sadie Blazeiko

Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) International Junior Classic in Australia (Shortlisted)
Brayden Boge, Hunter Oakden

MJT National Tour Challenge

Boys: Colton Drul, Hunter Oakden, Ryan Cromie

Girls: Sadie Blazeiko

About Maui Jim: Now the fastest growing premium polarized sunglass maker in the world, Maui Jim got its start seeing a need in the market for technology that could combat intense glare and harmful UV while bringing brilliant colors to life. The Aloha Spirit permeates our philosophy at Maui Jim. Our "ohana" (Hawaiian for family) is passionate about creating the best sunglasses on the planet. Because at the end of the day, we want to see the world at its best - and we know that you do, too, no matter where you live. Aloha, friends!

As the original manufacturer or designer of the products presented here, we are in the unique position of controlling all aspects of the production process. The highest quality craftsmanship is combined with the most innovative manufacturing technology to create products of excellent value.

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