Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Manitoba's youngest golfers continued a record-setting season on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada's leading junior golf tour, as the MJT Mini Tour made its latest stop at Southside Golf Course in Grande Pointe on June 20. A talented field of young competitors teed it up across six divisions, showcasing their skills while competing for division titles, custom medals, and qualifying spots into MJT Mini Tour Nationals in British Columbia later this summer.
 

With participation reaching new heights in Manitoba this season, the event provided another opportunity for the province's rising stars to gain competitive experience and measure their games against some of the region's top 12U talent.

Eleven-year-old Jack Holmes of Winnipeg, MB, led the MJT Boys 11-12 division after posting a round of 79. Holmes credited his father for helping turn the day around, saying, “I was not playing well at the start, so he helped.” After his round, he summed up the experience simply: “Great, I had lots of fun.”

Competing in the Girls 11-12 division, 10-year-old Ana Talampas of Winnipeg, MB, carded a score of 94. Talampas highlighted her father's role in her development, noting that he taught her how to read putts, hit her irons straight, and keep her driver in the fairway. She also praised the event atmosphere, saying, “It was fun, the staff was great, and the prizes were awesome.”

Oakbank's Levi Penner, age 10, topped the MJT Boys 9-10 division with a score of 87, winning by three strokes. Penner pointed to his father and caddie as a key source of support throughout the round and described Southside Golf Course as a ‘good course’ while calling it a ‘fun event.’

A round of 85 earned Winnipeg's Paulina Brunner first place in the MJT Girls 9-10 division. The 10-year-old's strategy was straightforward: ‘Focus.’ Asked what was on her mind down the stretch, Brunner offered a memorable answer: ‘I was thinking of my hamburger.’

 

Winnipeg golfer Neven Childerhouse fired a division-leading 76 to outpace the MJT Boys 8U field. The eight-year-old credited a strong support team that included his mom on the bag, coach Jeff Heiland, and a competitive group of fellow players. Childerhouse gave the tournament a glowing review, saying, “10/10 – great experience. I'm making new friends and looking forward to the next tournament. Always great swag and prizes!”
 

In the MJT Girls 8U division, Avery Meilleur, 8, of Ste-Geneviève, MB, recorded a score of 111 while completing her first tournament. Staying positive and taking pride in reaching the finish line were her priorities down the stretch. Reflecting on the day, Meilleur rated the experience ‘10/10,’ adding that she appreciated both the prizes and the positive attitudes of the group.

 

Top finisher scores and the list of qualified 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 The Players Course, Winnipeg, on July 19. 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: Southside GC: Par 63, Ydg 4000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Jack Holmes (11), Winnipeg, MB | 79         

2. Ethan Sitarz (11), Winnipeg, MB | 82         

3. Lachlan Froese (10), Winkler, MB | 85

 

1. Ana Talampas (10), Winnipeg, MB | 94

MJT Boys 9-10: Southside GC: Par 63, Ydg 3600, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Levi Penner (10), Oakbank, MB | 87           

2. Easton Faskerti (9), Stonewall, MB | 90      

3. Kairo Vilela (10), Ajax, ON | 95

MJT Girls 9-10: Southside GC: Par 63, Ydg 3600, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Paulina Brunner (10), Winnipeg, MB | 85   

2. Leah Klippenstein (10), Winnipeg, MB | 96            

3. Makayla McLeod (8), Brandon, MB | 107

MJT Boys 8U: Southside GC: Par 63, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Neven Childerhouse (8), Winnipeg, MB | 76          

2. Foster Chekosky (8), Winnipeg, MB | 80    

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

MJT Girls 8U: Southside GC: Par 63, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0

1. Avery Meilleur (8), Ste-Genevieve, MB | 111

 

Qualified Players* must meet scoring requirements
MJT Mini Tour National Championship
Boys: Neven Childerhouse, Jack Holmes
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