Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

A waitlisted field of 118 junior golfers from three provinces descended on the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course in Banff, AB, over the May long weekend, for the MJT adidas Golf Series on May 17-18, one of six adidas-sponsored events on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) schedule in 2026. The Banff stop ran alongside a second Victoria Day weekend MJT adidas Golf Series event in neighbouring Saskatchewan, as the national series continues to attract strong fields across Western Canada.

 

Players competing in six divisions were welcomed with premium tee gifting and an awards table filled with standout adidas Golf prizes, with the opportunity to qualify for the MJT East Coast Junior Championship, Junior America’s Cup Team Alberta, and the MJT National Tour Challenge. Spring weather in the mountains created an added challenge, as snowfall rendered round one unplayable and forced the tournament into a shortened 18-hole format.

The MJT Junior Boys division delivered one of the weekend’s many exciting finishes, as 17-year-old Kade Trefanenko of Spruce Grove, AB, defeated Ian Bavis of Dead Man’s Flats, AB, on the first playoff hole after both players carded excellent rounds of 2-under-par (69). Trefanenko secured the victory with a par and reflected afterward on the moment, saying, “It feels really good. I have put in countless hours preparing for moments like that playoff, and it is surreal it finally paid off.” He added simply, “It was amazing!”

 

Olivia Johnson, 17, of Calgary, AB, put together a rock-solid performance to win the MJT Girls 15-19 division with an even-par 71, highlighted by three birdies. “It feels really good to have my first win of the year at one of my favourite courses,” Johnson said, adding that throughout the round she focused on ‘sticking to my game and trying to stay steady with my play.’

 

In the MJT Juvenile Boys division, Jayden Popik of Sherwood Park, AB, earned a hard-fought one-stroke victory after firing a 72 that included four birdies. The 16-year-old credited his offseason preparation for the result, saying, “I’ve worked hard this winter to improve, so it’s nice that the work is paying off.” Popik also shared that he ‘had a lot of fun playing a nice course in a competition.’

 

The MJT Girls U15 division came down to the narrowest of margins, as Rachel Adamis, 13, of Edmonton, AB, edged Alexis Leung of Calgary, AB, on countback after both players finished tied for the lead at 85. Adamis secured the victory based on her back-nine score and described the result as both ‘shocking’ and ‘amazing,’ adding, “I can’t believe that it came down to my back 9!” The win marked her first MJT title, and she later rated the event ‘10/10, everyone was awesome.’

 

Another playoff unfolded in the MJT Bantam Boys division, where 14-year-old Sebastian Rothzén of Calgary, AB, outlasted Jett Meckelborg of Riverside Estates, SK, after both players tied at the top with a score of 77. Rothzén sealed the result on the first extra hole and praised the tournament atmosphere afterward, saying, “Very exciting and great setup. MJT always does a good job to make all events memorable.” He also rated the event a ‘10/10, I’m coming back for as long as I can.’

 

Sutton Ulmer, 12, of Calgary, AB, captured the MJT Peewee Boys division title by a single stroke after a strong round of 79 powered by three birdies. Ulmer called the victory ‘extra special’ as it marked his first MJT win, saying, “It feels great.” He also spoke highly of the Banff stop, noting, “Coming to Banff is always my favourite event of the year. It was a great experience; I can’t say enough good things about the MJT.”

 

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

 

Next up in Alberta is the heavily wait-listed MJT Northern Alberta Xtreme Classic at Stony Plain Golf Course, taking place June 20-21 in Stony Plain. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

1. Kade Trefanenko (17), Spruce Grove, AB | 69 *Won Playoff

2. Ian Bavis (17), Dead Man's Flats, AB | 69   

3. Kyle Oakenfold (18), Calgary, AB | 72

 

1. Olivia Johnson (17), Calgary, AB | 71          

2. Tristyn Anderson (16), Calgary, AB | 73      

3. Charlie Duchnij (18), Airdrie, AB | 77
 

1. Jayden Popik (16), Sherwood Park, AB | 72            

2. Christian Leung (15), Calgary, AB | 73        

3. Solomon Tong (16), Heritage Pointe, AB | 75
 

1. Rachel Adamis (13), Edmonton, AB | 85 *Won Countback

2. Alexis Leung (13), Calgary, AB | 85

3. Corina Ko (14), Calgary, AB | 90

 

1. Sebastian Rothzén (14), Calgary, AB | 77 *Won Playoff

2. Jett Meckelborg (14), Riverside Estates, SK | 77    

3. Harrison Wells (14), Edmonton, AB | 78

MJT Peewee Boys: Banff Springs: Par 71, Ydg 5607, Slope/Rating 117/65.6

1. Sutton Ulmer (12), Calgary, AB | 79           

2. Jimmy Guan (12), Richmond, BC | 80         

3. Ronnie Li (12), Calgary, AB | 81

Qualified and Shortlisted Players:
MJT East Coast Junior Championship

Boys: Sutton Ulmer, Sebastian Rothzén, Jayden Popik, Kade Trefanenko

Girls: Rachel Adamis, Olivia Johnson

MJT National Tour Challenge

Boys: Sebastian Rothzén, Jayden Popik, Kade Trefanenko

Girls: Rachel Adamis, Olivia Johnson

About adidas Golf: adidas is a global leader in the design and manufacture of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories, committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to help athletes perform at their best. Founded in 1949 by Adolf “Adi” Dassler, adidas has grown to become one of the most recognized brands in the world, known for its iconic three-stripe logo and its dedication to sustainability, inclusivity, and performance. With a focus on creating cutting-edge products for athletes across a variety of sports, adidas is committed to inspiring and empowering individuals to unlock their full potential, both in sport and in life. Through collaboration with athletes, designers, and partners, adidas continues to drive progress in the world of sports and fashion, delivering high-quality products that combine style, functionality, and sustainability.

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