May 17, 2025
New Minas (Wolfville), NS
Rafihs rule the leaderboard in MJT Mini Tour’s KenWo stop
Canada’s number one-played junior golf tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), brought top-tier competition to the East Coast over the May long weekend, hosting a full-field event at KenWo Golf Club in New Minas (Wolfville), Nova Scotia. Seventy-two young athletes in total teed it up under heavy skies in two tiers - the MJT Mini Tour for 12U and the MJT Junior Tour for 19U. The former competed over 18 holes on May 17 only, while the latter played 36 holes on both May 17 and 18. Results of the MJT Mini Tour, where titles in five divisions and coveted qualifying spots in the MJT Mini Tour National Championship and the World Stars Junior Golf Championship were on the line, are covered below.
The Rafih siblings made it a family affair with wins in two divisions. The first was achieved by Nazzim Rafih, 11, from Wolfville, NS, in MJT Boys 11-12 (69). His sister, Niyah Rafih, 8, followed in her older brother’s footsteps and won the MJT Girls 8U title (111). Other fine performances resulted in division wins for Alex MacDonald, 10, from Fall River, NS, in MJT Boys 9-10 (88), Adelyn Harris, 9, of Wolfville, NS, in MJT Girls 9-10 (118), and Jaxon Brown, 7, of Dartmouth, NS, in MJT Boys 8U (114).
Quotes from the division winners, top finisher scores and the list of qualified players are detailed below. Full results are posted on the MJT website
here.
The next MJT Mini Tour event in the region is at Countryview Golf Club in Fairview, PE, taking place June 14. To register or for more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers by Division
MJT Boys 11-12: KenWo GC: Par 70, Ydg 5000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Nazzim Rafih (11), Wolfville, NS | 69
2. Elie Yazbek (11), Timberlea, NS | 80
3. Ellis Robbins (12), White Rock, NS | 98
Eleven-year-old Nazzim Rafih of Wolfville, NS, lit up his home course with a sizzling 69 to win the MJT Boys 11-12 division for the second MJT event in a row, finishing one under par with five birdies. “I feel really good because I shot my personal course record,” said Rafih. When asked which pro he would choose to play a round with, he didn’t hesitate: “Tiger Woods, because I would learn a lot from him.”
MJT Boys 9-10: KenWo GC: Par 70, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Alex MacDonald (10), Fall River, NS | 88 *Won Playoff
2. Hudson Reid (8), Greenwich, NS | 88
3. Callum Burge (8), Amherst, NS | 90
Alex MacDonald, 10, of Fall River, NS, continued his winning streak on the MJT with a second straight victory in the MJT Boys 9-10 division, this time clinched in dramatic fashion. After finishing tied at 88 with Hudson Reid, 8, of Greenwich, NS, MacDonald sealed the win on the first playoff hole with a confident performance under pressure. “It feels great to handle the pressure and win the tournament,” said MacDonald, who is quickly proving he can rise to the occasion when it counts.
MJT Girls 9-10: KenWo GC: Par 70, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Adelyn Harris (9), Wolfville, NS | 118
2. Sophia Fraser (10), Bedford, NS | 133
In the MJT Girls 9-10 division, nine-year-old Adelyn Harris of Wolfville, NS, made her 18-hole debut one to remember, shooting 118 to capture her very first tournament win. “It feels good because this is my first time playing 18 and because I won,” said Harris. “This is my first time winning and not tying.” A milestone moment!
MJT Boys 8U: KenWo GC: Par 70, Ydg 3400, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Jaxon Brown (7), Dartmouth, NS | 114
2. Dexter Williams (8), Enfield, NS | 122
3. Roderick Sutherland (8), Enfield, NS | 125
Jaxon Brown, 7, of Dartmouth, NS, topped the MJT Boys 8U division with a score of 114, earning a big win in New Minas. When asked which pro he would love to tee it up with, Brown didn’t hesitate: “Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy, because they’re the best.”
MJT Girls 8U: KenWo GC: Par 70, Ydg 3400, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Niyah Rafih (8), Wolfville, NS | 111
2. Sophie Grandmaison (8), Porters Lake, NS | 134
In the MJT Girls 8U division, local rising star Niyah Rafih, 8, of Wolfville, NS, claimed her second straight MJT win of the season with a personal-best score of 111. “Good, I shot my personal best!” said a smiling Rafih, when asked how it felt to take the title on her home turf. Her advice for fellow competitors? “Have fun and try your best.”
Qualified Players* must meet scoring requirements
·MJT Mini Tour National Championship
Boys: Hudson Reid
·World Stars
Boys: Elie Yazbek
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