Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Canada’s leading competitive junior golf circuit, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), showcased hot talent in Barrie, Ontario, on July 26–27, in the MJT Humber College PGM Classic at Settler’s Ghost Golf Club. Supported by the Humber College Professional Golf Management Program, Canada’s top pathway for young athletes pursuing a career in the golf industry, the tournament played out under high humidity on the sun-filled fairways, where a waitlisted field of 86 talented 19U golfers battled the conditions and each other in six divisions. The scenic course, known for its rolling terrain and panoramic views of Horseshoe Valley, tested every aspect of their game as players vied for titles, prizes, and qualifying spots in the MJT National Tour Challenge later this season.

 

Earning Low Overall honours for boys and girls respectively were Trent Clarke, 16, of Vineland, ON, winner of MJT Juvenile Boys (71-73=144) and Sophia Noh, 11, of Richmond Hill, ON, winner of MJT Girls U15 (75-83=158). Other top performers taking home division titles were Garrett Henderson, 17, from Oakville, ON, in MJT Junior Boys (73-7=145), Abby Le-Nguyen, 15, from Toronto, ON, in MJT Girls 15-19 (162), Landon Friesen, 14, from St. Catharines, ON, in MJT Bantam Boys (147), and Derek Zhao, 11, from Maple, ON, in MJT Peewee Boys (148). One stroke was all it took for three out of the six division winners to take home their respective titles.

Top finisher scores, quotes from the division winners, and the list of qualified 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 a three-day major tournament, the MJT Cwench Hydration Classic at The Club at Bond Head in Beeton, on August 9-11. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

MJT Junior Boys: Settler's Ghost GC: Par 72, Ydg 6345, Slope/Rating 133/69.3

1. Garrett Henderson (17), Oakville, ON | 73, 72 (145)          

2. Andrew Burciul (17), Thorold, ON | 71, 75 (146)    

2. Josh Lane (18), Huntsville, ON | 68, 78 (146)

Garrett Henderson, 17, of Oakville, ON, fired great rounds of 73 and 72 (145) to edge the field by a single stroke and win the MJT Junior Boys division. With an impressive 11 birdies across two rounds, Henderson said, “It feels great to win this tournament. My game has finally come together, and I was able to leave it all out there and play my best.” He added that his favourite part of competing on the MJT is ‘that the golf is very competitive and that I am able to meet new people.’
 

1. Abby Le-Nguyen (15), Toronto, ON | 81, 81 (162)

2. Chloe Hassberger (15), Minesing, ON | 84, 79 (163)          

3. Emma Hsiung (15), Markham, ON | 81, 84 (165)

Fifteen-year-old Abby Le-Nguyen of Toronto, ON, carded solid back-to-back rounds of 81 (162 total) to claim a one-stroke victory in the MJT Girls 15-19 division. “It feels great! I've never won a tournament of more than two people, so this is huge for me,” she shared. Le-Nguyen also highlighted the MJT's strong organization and community, saying, “It's well organized and I've made many friends.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: Settler's Ghost GC: Par 72, Ydg 6345, Slope/Rating 133/69.3

1. Trent Clarke (16), Vineland, ON | 71, 73 (144)       

2. David Kowalewski (16), Barrie, ON | 73, 72 (145)  

3. Ben Julie (16), Fenwick, ON | 69, 76 (145)

Trent Clarke, 16, of Vineland, ON, secured the Low Overall Boys score with a memorable one-stroke victory in the MJT Juvenile Boys division after shooting 71 and 73 (144). “It feels amazing to win this tournament. I've been coming here for years, and I have always wanted to win this one,” said Clarke. “It really proves to myself that I'm improving.” When asked what stands out most about competing on the MJT, he added, “My favourite part is the friendships I've made along the way.”
 

1. Sophia Noh (11), Richmond Hill, ON | 75, 83 (158)

2. Miranda Zhang (12), Toronto, ON | 80, 81 (161)    

3. Alicia Chen (10), North York, ON | 77, 86 (163)

Sophia Noh, 11, of Richmond Hill, ON, led the division by three strokes and earned her first win in the MJT Girls U15 with rounds of 75 and 83 (158), highlighted by three birdies. “As my first U15 win, I am so happy,” said Noh. She also noted, “My favourite part was the competition and the course.”
 

1. Landon Friesen (14), St. Catharines, ON | 73, 74 (147)

2. Bennett Alexander (13), Mississauga, ON | 78, 75 (153)    

3. Hudson Lockwood (13), Oakville, ON | 80, 74 (154)

Fourteen-year-old Landon Friesen of St. Catharines, ON, continued his strong season with rounds of 73 and 74 (147), winning his third MJT Bantam Boys title. “My favourite part is all the new friends and having fun,” he shared, summing up his MJT experience simply as, “It’s all good and perfect.”

MJT Peewee Boys: Settler's Ghost GC: Par 72, Ydg 5362, Slope/Rating 117/65.1

1. Derek Zhao (11), Maple, ON | 79, 69 (148)

2. Adam DiBernardo (12), Scarborough, ON | 75, 78 (153)    

3. Luke Milligan (12), Severn, ON | 84, 87 (171)

Derek Zhao, 11, of Maple, ON, staged a dramatic comeback in the MJT Peewee Boys division, following up an opening round of 79 with a blistering 69, highlighted by six birdies, for a 148 total. “To win this tournament, it feels very successful. After the first day, I was behind by 4 strokes. However, today I persevered and shot under par,” Zhao said. He also praised the event environment, adding, “The staff are extremely kind and it helps make me feel more safe and makes the experience better.”

Qualified Players: 

MJT National Tour Challenge

Boys: Bennett Alexander, David Kowalewski, Ben Julie, Garrett Henderson

Girls: Miranda Zhang, Rainah Bajwa

About Humber College Professional Golf Management Program: Humber College’s Business Administration - Professional Golf Management program is a ‘Recognized PGA of Canada program.’ Learning from industry pros, students gain hands-on experience with the latest golf technology, software and equipment in our world-class, Golf Lab facility, and receive golf coaching, club fitting and swing analysis from our team of PGA of Canada members. Our program also includes two six-month paid co-op internships. Our students have the opportunity to play on the Humber Hawks varsity golf team, the most decorated golf team in Canada. To learn more on the Humber College Professional Golf Management (PGM) Program, visit their website here.

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