Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Canada’s most-played competitive junior golf circuit, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), continued its massive momentum in Manitoba this past weekend with another packed field in the MJT Order of Merit Series at St. Boniface Golf Club in Winnipeg, MB.  A waitlisted field of 87 talented athletes aged 19U competed in six divisions over May 17 and 18 for custom crystal trophies, adidas Golf shoes, qualifying spots into the MJT East Coast Junior Championship, and shortlist spots for MJT Team Canada to the Jack Newton International Junior Classic in Australia.

Players were tested by shifting spring conditions throughout the weekend, as darkening skies forced both girls’ divisions to shorten round one to nine holes before a cold and challenging final round crowned the division winners. The strong turnout and competitive fields continued what is shaping up to be an unprecedented season for junior golf in Manitoba.

The MJT Bantam Boys division featured one of the event’s biggest highlights when 13-year-old Oliver Sisson of Elm Creek, MB, recorded a hole-in-one on the fifth hole during round one before finishing third on the podium with a 174 total. Taking the division honours was James Qiu, 13, of Surrey, BC, who carded rounds of 76 and 79 for a 155 total, powered by three birdies. The BC resident said, “It feels good to win and also to find a lot to improve upon,” while noting that heavy rain in round one made it ‘hard to get the club dry.’

Gavin Carver, 17, of La Salle, MB, edged out a tightly packed leaderboard in the MJT Junior Boys division, posting rounds of 76 and 80 to finish at 156 and secure a one-shot victory. Carver recorded five birdies over the 36-hole competition while battling through difficult spring conditions.
 

Payton Chapman, 15, of Winnipeg, MB, topped the MJT Girls 15-19 division with scores of 44 and 82 for a 126 total after the opening round was shortened due to darkness. Chapman said it “feels great,” adding that she is ‘always happy to be out here, doesn’t matter the result.’ During the closing stretch, she focused on staying present, reminding herself to ‘stay focused on the present shot, stay in your shoes, try to make par.’
 

In the MJT Juvenile Boys division, Ryder St. Laurent of Île Des Chênes, MB, opened his season in winning fashion with rounds of 78 and 77 for a 155 total. The 15-year-old made five birdies throughout the tournament, stating that he ‘love[s] to start the season with a win to get the confidence going.’ St. Laurent also praised the event, saying MJT was ‘always run amazingly.’
 

Thirteen-year-old Angelina Sitarz of Winnipeg, MB, earned top spot in the MJT Girls U15 division after posting scores of 40 and 85 for a 125 total in the shortened-format event. Sitarz said she was glad she ‘came back with closest-to-the-pin,’ and reflected on the difficult conditions by saying, “Weather was terrible all weekend, rain and cold, but played through it.”
 

Ryan Small, 12, of Winnipeg, MB, finished atop the MJT Peewee Boys division with rounds of 88 and 84 for a 172 total. When asked how he felt about the win, Small simply responded, “Good.” Approaching the final hole, his focus was ‘one shot at a time.’

 

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 Manitoba is the waitlisted MJT Zeal Series at Larters at St. Andrews, taking place June 6-7 in St. Andrews. For more information on the MJT and upcoming events, visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

1. Gavin Carver (17), La Salle, MB | 76, 80 (156)

2. Ty Brewster (17), Steinbach, MB | 79, 78 (157)     

2. Brayden Boge (18), Winnipeg, MB | 76, 81 (157)

 

1. Payton Chapman (15), Winnipeg, MB | 44, 82 (126)

2. Camryn Thomas (16), Winnipeg, MB | 41, 90 (131)           

3. Brooke Henderson (18), Portage La Prairie, MB | 53, 92 (145)
 

1. Ryder St. Laurent (15), Île Des Chênes, MB | 78, 77 (155)

2. Darren Hesom (16), Morden, MB | 77, 82 (159)

3. Ethan Reimer (16), Steinbach, MB | 80, 81 (161)

 

1. Angelina Sitarz (13), Winnipeg, MB | 40, 85 (125)

2. Kate McMillan (14), East St. Paul, MB | 51, 98 (149)          

3. Anabel Pinette (13), East St. Paul, MB | 58, 110 (168)
 

1. James (CHENRUI) Qiu (13), Surrey, BC | 76, 79 (155)         

2. Grant Secord (14), La Salle, MB | 83, 87 (170)       

3. Oliver Sisson (13), Elm Creek, MB | 90, 84 (174)    

MJT Peewee Boys: St.Boniface GC: Par 72, Ydg 5719, Slope/Rating 119/67.9

1. Ryan Small (12), Winnipeg, MB | 88, 84 (172)

2. Jackson Kippen (12), Winnipeg, MB | 90, 89 (179)

2. Jack Holmes (11), Winnipeg, MB | 88, 91 (179)
 

Qualified and Shortlisted Players:

MJT East Coast Junior Championship
Boys: Jackson Kippen, Grant Secord, Ryder St. Laurent, Ty Brewster and Brayden Boge

Girls: Angelina Sitarz, Payton Chapman

Jack Newton International Junior Classic (MJT Team Canada to Australia) (Shortlisted)

Boy: Ryder St. Laurent

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