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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

April 24-25, 2004
Lethbridge, AB

For Immediate Release April 25, 2004

OUTSTANDING 7-UNDER-PAR SCORE WINS SPOT TO NEW YORK TOURNAMENT
ON MAPLE LEAF JUNIOR GOLF TOUR


Lethbridge, AB ? A young golfer from the Kootenays will be heading to New York to take part in a top international junior tournament after a fine performance in a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event this past weekend.

Will Porter of Cranbrook, BC, shot an outstanding total score of 7-under-par to win the 1st Choice Savings Series at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge ? the opening event of the season in Alberta for the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT).

Several impressive scores were recorded from the highly competitive field of close to 100 young golfers, who came from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Porter, who came from behind to claim the Boys 14-16 division title with his two rounds of 69-66 for a 135 total score, credited his putting for his victory. ?My putting helped me even more in the second round,? he said. ?It feels awesome to come from behind with a low round.?

An exemption into the 52nd East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York goes to Porter, who finished one shot ahead of first round leader Dale Stypula, also of Cranbrook. Stypula had opened with an excellent 4-under-par 67 and finished with a 69 for a total score of 136.

Third place in the Boys 14-16 division went to Jesse Galvon of Dewinton, Alta., at 3-under-par (70-69=139) while Mitchell Fox of Okotoks had to settle for fourth place with a total score of one-under-par 141.

The Boys 17 and up division was won by Michael Knight of Calgary, who shot 77-69 for a 146 total score. ?My putting and my short game were key (to winning)?, Knight said. ?The course is in great condition with unbelievable greens. It feels great to win especially after my first round and how I was hitting the ball.?

Knight edged fellow Calgarians Brock Robillard and Stephan Sedor, who finished at 147 and 148 respectively. Taylor Scinski of Westlock placed fourth at 149.

The fast greens were also noted by the Boys 13 and under division champion, Jace Barros of Edmonton, who shot 73-71 for a 144 total score. ?My driving was good, my iron play was decent and I stayed out of trouble,? he said.

Runner-up to Barros was Nicholas Morelli of Red Deer, with Calgarians Christopher Dowling and Chris MacDonald in third and fourth place respectively.

Maple Leaf Tour veteran Mackenzie Renner of Coaldale, who took the Girls Division title with scores of (77-79=156), believed a short game lesson from MJT Tournament Director Dean Spriddle contributed to her win. ?I knew it was my first tournament so I wasn?t too worried, I just wanted to do my best,? she said.

Renner, who also won both the Mr Lube Long Drive and Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin Competitions, finished five strokes ahead of 14-year-old Juanita Rico of Calgary (82-79). In third and fourth place were Bari-Lynn Erais of Lethbridge and Breanne Neufeld of Coaldale respectively.

Other division winners in the Skills Competitions were Nicholas Morelli, Judd Blackwater (Lethbridge), Tyler Kemp (Lethbridge), Neil Pulongbarit (Edmonton), David Aldridge (Calgary) and Jamie Reimer (Calgary).

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, now in its sixth season, is presented by Boston Pizza and hosts tournaments for boys and girls aged 10 to 23 in four age divisions. The non-profit Tour is endorsed by PGA Tour veterans Dave Barr and Ray Stewart and is the only major junior tour in Canada run exclusively by Golf Professionals.

The next local Maple Leaf Tour event is the 1st Choice Savings Series at Land-O-Lakes Golf Club in Coaldale, May 8-9, a qualifier for the Callaway Golf Junior World Championships in San Diego, CA. For more information, please call 1-877-859-GOLF or visit www.maplejt.com.