Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Canada’s leading junior golf tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), held the 19th annual MJT Odlum Brown Classic, another Elite Series event, at Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club in Surrey, BC, from July 27–29. A waitlisted field of more than 100 athletes from five Canadian provinces and China competed across six divisions in the WAGR-ranked tournament, battling for division titles, exceptional prizing, and valuable Order of Merit bonus points toward qualification for the 28th annual MJT National Championship presented by adidas Golf in Florida this November. After 36 holes on a championship-calibre layout, the field was cut, with only the top performers advancing to the final round of the 54-hole showdown.

Proudly supported by Odlum Brown, a longtime advocate for junior golf, the tournament carried added significance as the final provincial qualifier, with players chasing direct exemptions into the MJT National Tour Challenge in Ontario and shortlist spots for the Sergio Garcia Junior Championship in Spain.

Defending champion Esther Cheon, 16, of Langley, BC, successfully retained her MJT Odlum Brown Girls 15-19 title after putting together three remarkable under-par rounds of 67, 69, and 71 for a tournament total of 207. Cheon amassed 15 birdies during the event and said her flatstick set the tone early. "My putting was on fire the first day," she remarked. Reflecting on the victory, she added, "I always love playing MJT tournaments and this tournament was special for me as I won back-to-back from last year."

Seventeen-year-old Preston Proudfoot of Squamish, BC, opened the Elite event with a stellar three-under-par 69 and went on to claim the MJT Odlum Brown Junior Boys title with rounds of 69, 76, and 71 for a 216 total. Proudfoot recorded an impressive 15 birdies over the three-day event, crediting his success to staying patient throughout the tournament. "Stick to my game and stay in the moment," he said of his strategy, adding that "the putt on hole nine helped build momentum going into the back."

 

Representing Hong Kong, China, Thorsten Iu, 14, delivered three spectacular rounds of 72, 72, and 73 to finish atop the MJT Odlum Brown Juvenile Boys division at 217. Iu relied on a disciplined approach throughout the tournament, explaining his game plan was to "stay consistent and play safe." After securing the victory, he described the week as "an amazing experience for me, very enjoyable."

 

Twelve-year-old Lucy Li of Vancouver, BC, rallied with three fantastic rounds of 73, 74, and 76 before prevailing over fellow Vancouver golfer Tiffany Rao on the first playoff hole to capture the MJT Odlum Brown Girls U15 title. Li's tournament featured 11 birdies and an eagle, and she credited her iron play for creating scoring opportunities. "Definitely my iron game because it helped me get close to save par or get a birdie," she said, while noting her strategy was to "play safe, I didn't need to get too aggressive."

 

Surrey, BC's Daniel Moon, 14, combined three outstanding rounds of 73, 68, and 76 to earn the MJT Odlum Brown Bantam Boys title with a 217 total. Moon's week included 14 birdies, and after firing a four-under-par second round, he focused on protecting his advantage down the stretch. "I just tried to protect my score," he explained, before rating the tournament experience "10/10, it was great."

 

Moris Henwood, a 12-year-old from Victoria, BC, pieced together consistently strong rounds of 76, 74, and 74 to secure the MJT Odlum Brown Peewee Boys division with a 224 total. His steady play was highlighted by eight birdies and an eagle over three days, with Henwood pointing to "my putting and driving of the golf ball" as the strongest parts of his game. Asked to rate the event, his response was simple: "100/100."
 

Top finisher scores and the list of qualified players are noted below. Results from the Bomber Long Drive and PLYR Closest to the Pin competitions, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards, and Academy Points can be found here.  

 

Next up in British Columbia is the MJT Order of Merit Series at Swan-e-Set Bay Resort & Country Club taking place August 10-11 in Pitt Meadows. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

1. Preston Proudfoot (17), Squamish, BC | 69, 76, 71 (216)  

2. Ryan LePrieur (17), Langley, BC | 74, 74, 74 (222)

3. Blake Thornhill (17), Whistler, BC | 78, 72, 75 (225)
 

1. Esther Cheon (16), Langley, BC | 67, 69, 71 (207)  

2. Lilian Zhao (16), Port Moody, BC | 69, 75, 75 (219)           

3. Christy Man (15), Richmond, BC | 76, 78, 72 (226)
 

1. Thorsten Iu (14), Central, Hong Kong, China | 72, 72, 73 (217)

2. Zhiyang Peng (16), Vancouver, BC | 73, 74, 72 (219)

2. Lucas Vizzutti (16), Powell River, BC | 73, 73, 73 (219)

MJT Girls U15: Hazelmere: Par 72, Ydg 5279, Slope/Rating 114/71.3

1. Lucy Li (12), Vancouver, BC | 73, 74, 76 (223) *Won Playoff

2. Tiffany Rao (12), Vancouver, BC | 78, 73, 72 (223)

3. Avery McAbee (13), Mission, BC | 77, 76, 76 (229)

 

1. Daniel Moon (14), Surrey, BC | 73, 68, 76 (217)

2. James (Chenrui) Qiu (13), Surrey, BC | 72, 72, 77 (221)     

3. Ethan Wang (13), Victoria, BC | 81, 72, 77 (230)

3. Minxing Matt Li (13), Surrey, BC | 74, 73, 83 (230)

MJT Peewee Boys: Hazelmere: Par 72, Ydg 5279, Slope/Rating 111/66.1

1. Moris Henwood (12), Victoria, BC | 76, 74, 74 (224)          

2. Matthew Liang (12), Vancouver, BC | 73, 77, 75 (225)      

3. Derek Hsieh (12), Vancouver, BC | 74, 79, 77 (230)

Qualified and Shortlisted Players
 

Boys: Daniel Moon, Thorsten Iu, Preston Proudfoot

Girls: Tiffany Rao, Esther Cheon

 

Boys: Preston Proudfoot

About Odlum Brown Limited: Odlum Brown Limited is an independent, BC-based, full-service investment firm providing disciplined investment advice and objective research with a singular focus on clients. Established in 1923, the firm offers a full range of investment products including equities, fixed income, mutual funds and GIC’s; and financial, retirement and estate planning through its wholly owned subsidiary, Odlum Brown Financial Services Limited. For more information visit www.OdlumBrown.com member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

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