Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

A fantastic turnout of nearly 100 youth filled the fairways at Blue Devil Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta, on June 7, as the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) hosted two back-to-back events celebrating the game’s next generation. Under beautiful spring-like skies, kids aged five to 12 got their first taste of the game in a free Woodridge Ford Lincoln Go Golf! Junior Clinic, while tournament-ready players competed in a high-energy 18-hole MJT Mini Tour event for Alberta’s 12U talent.

In the tournament, players battled it out for titles in six age divisions, with an opportunity to qualify for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in British Columbia later this season, adding extra excitement to an already eventful day on Canada’s number one junior golf tour.

The day wrapped with some absolutely standout performances, securing division victories for Carter Martin, 12, of Millet, AB, in MJT Boys 11-12 (60), Sydney Preston, 12, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 11-12 (59), Jix Whitton, 9, from Rocky Mountain House, AB, in MJT Boys 9-10 (63), Brooke Sundquist, 10, from Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 9-10 (82), Blake Widmer, 8, of Edmonton, AB, in MJT Boys 8U (65), Joelle Ko, 8, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 8U (100).

Quotes from the division winners, top finisher scores and the list of qualified players are detailed below. Full results, as well as winners of the Closest-to-the-Pin competition, are posted on the MJT website here.

The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is presented by Edge School at Olds Golf Course, in Olds, taking place June 22. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.
 

1. Carter Martin (12), Millet, AB | 60  

2. Judah Hornstein (12), Calgary, AB | 61       

3. Jase Hansen (12), Magrath, AB | 66

Carter Martin of Millet, AB, fired a sharp 2-under-par 60 in the MJT Boys 11-12 division to claim the title by a single stroke. The 12-year-old notched four birdies and credited his mindset for the win: “It feels great! I feel like I played really good and stayed positive.” When asked what he enjoys most about the MJT, Carter shared, “Getting to meet new golfers my age.”
 

1. Sydney Preston (12), Calgary, AB | 59        

2. Sedona Weitz (12), Foothills M.D., AB | 63

3. Morgan Tucnik (10), Calgary, AB | 70         

3. Alexis Leung (12), Calgary, AB | 70

Twelve-year-old Sydney Preston of Calgary, AB, lit up the course in the MJT Girls 11-12 division with a fabulous 3-under-par 59, including seven birdies. “It feels wonderful, I’ve been working towards this moment, so it’s all paid off,” she said. “My favourite part is getting all the experience at each tournament.”

 

1. Jix Whitton (9), Rocky Mountain House, AB | 63    

2. Mika Bhamra (9), Calgary, AB | 65  

2. Rylan Hryhirchuk (10), Irma, AB | 65
 

Rocky Mountain House’s Jix Whitton, age 9, broke through with his first win of the season, carding a fine 63 with five birdies and an eagle in the MJT Boys 9-10 division. “(I feel) great! Very happy to win my first of the year,” he said. “It’s tough competition because I only won by two strokes!”
 

1. Brooke Sundquist (10), Calgary, AB | 82     

2. Christi Zhu (9), Calgary, AB | 86      

3. Blake Nguyen (9), Calgary, AB | 87
 

Ten-year-old Brooke Sundquist of Calgary, AB, captured the MJT Girls 9-10 division title with a solid score of 82. Reflecting on her strategy down the stretch, she stated it was to ‘keep my patience a lot of the time.’

MJT Boys 8U: Lil Devil GC: Par 62, Ydg 2646, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Blake Widmer (8), Edmonton, AB | 65       

2. Jordy Bain (8), Edmonton, AB | 69  

3. Mason Wilkes (8), Drayton Valley, AB | 78

Blake Widmer, 8, from Edmonton, AB, impressed in the MJT Boys 8U division after firing a round of 65, highlighted by three birdies. “It feels great to win this tournament,” said Widmer. When asked about his favourite part of competing on the MJT, he shared, “Having fun with golfers my age.”
 

1. Joelle Ko (8), Calgary, AB | 100       

2. Jagger Nguyen (7), Calgary, AB | 101          

3. Ava Deschamps (8), Calgary, AB | 102

Joelle Ko, also 8, of Calgary, AB, edged ahead in the MJT Girls 8U division, carding 100 to top her age group. “Very surprised,” she said, about her victory. “I was here to have fun and do my best.” Her favourite part of playing on the MJT? “I get to make more friends and experience a tournament.”

Qualified Players (must meet Scoring Criteria):

Boys: Mason Wilkes, Jix Whitton, Carter Martin

Girls: Sydney Preston

 

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