Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) launched its Manitoba Mini Tour schedule on May 16 at Kildonan Park Golf Course in Winnipeg, where young athletes aged 12U took on cold early-spring conditions in the first MJT Mini Tour event of a record-setting season for participation in Manitoba as a whole.

Competing across five divisions, players battled for custom medals, premier prizes, and highly sought-after qualifying opportunities into major events later this year, including the FCG World Championship, the MJT Mini Tour National Championship, and shortlist spots into the Uswing Mojing Junior World Golf Championship.

Caleb O’Brien, 12, of Melville, SK, fired a strong 75 featuring three birdies to lead the way in the MJT Boys 11-12 division. With qualifying spots on the line, O’Brien said, “I feel good. With a win, I can go to Nationals and I got that today.” He added that down the stretch he was ‘trying to stay composed and stay even to keep the lead’ if he had it.
 

Ten-year-old Ana Talampas of Winnipeg, MB, carded a 95 to finish atop the MJT Girls 11-12 division at Kildonan Park Golf Course, managing the cool and windy spring conditions in Manitoba’s Mini Tour season opener.
 

The MJT Boys 9-10 division saw Connor Hanska, 10, of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, MB, put together one of the top rounds of the tournament with a one-over-par 70. Hanska’s impressive performance included three birdies and an eagle; afterwards he said, “It feels good,” while adding that although ‘it was windy,’ the event was ‘fun, overall.’
 

Leah Klippenstein, age 10, of Winnipeg, MB, posted a score of 105 in the MJT Girls 9-10 division and was thrilled with both her performance and progress. “It feels great and I feel like I have improved from last year,” she said, later praising the tournament experience by saying, “I think the event was perfectly organized. I would 100% rate it 10/10.”
 

In the MJT Boys 8U division, seven-year-old Liam Penner of Mitchell, MB, recorded a score of 82 while competing in what he described as ‘sunny and windy’ conditions. Penner summed up his day simply, saying he was ‘very happy’ with the result.

 

Top finisher scores and the list of qualified and shortlisted players are noted 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 the MJT Mini Tour at Southside Golf Course, in Grande Pointe on June 20. For more information, or to view the upcoming Manitoba MJT Mini Tour schedule, please visit www.maplejt.com.

Top Finishers by Division
 

MJT Boys 11-12: Kildonan Park: Par 69, Ydg 5198, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Caleb O'Brien (12), Melville, SK | 75           

2. Ethan Sitarz (11), Winnipeg, MB | 81         

3. Noah Lafreniere (11), St. Pierre-Jolys, MB | 85

 

1. Ana Talampas (10), Winnipeg, MB | 95

MJT Boys 9-10: Kildonan Park: Par 69, Ydg 3600, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Connor Hanska (10), Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, MB | 70          

2. Levi Penner (10), Oakbank, MB | 85           

2. Easton Faskerti (85), Stonewall, MB | 85

MJT Girls 9-10: Kildonan Park: Par 72, Ydg 3600, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Leah Klippenstein (10), Winnipeg, MB | 105          

2. Makayla McLeod (8), Brandon, MB | 111

MJT Boys 8U: Kildonan Park: Par 69, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Liam Penner (7), Mitchell, MB | 82

2. Neven Childerhouse (8), Winnipeg, MB | 96          

3. Roger Mymin (7), Winnipeg, MB | 97
 

Qualified and Shortlisted Players
FCG World Championship 
Boys: Liam Penner, Connor Hanska
Girls: Didn’t meet scoring requirements

MJT Mini Tour National Championship
Boys: Liam Penner, Connor Hanska, Caleb O'Brien
Girls: Didn’t meet scoring requirements

 

Uswing Mojing Jr. World Golf Championship (Shortlisted)
Boys: Liam Penner, Connor Hanska
Girls: Didn’t meet scoring requirements
 

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