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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 23-24, 2005
Riverview GC • Redcliff (Medicine Hat), AB

For Immediate Release ? April 25, 2005

Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour Qualifies More Players For Junior World Championships

REDCLIFF, AB: The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour?s event at the Riverview Golf Club in Redcliff, Alberta, played out in near perfect conditions for April last weekend, with winds during the second round proving to separate the field.

The two-day tournament, attended by players from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta, was a qualifier for 13 and 14 year olds on the Boston Pizza-sponsored junior tour for the 38th annual Callaway Golf Junior World Championships in San Diego, California, July 12-15, 2005.

Exemptions were awarded to Pamela Burneski of Surrey, BC and Neil Pulongbarit of Edmonton, AB.

The long hitting 13-year-old Burneski shot 78-74=152 to place second in the Girls division, eight strokes behind RCGA Future Links Pacific Champion Susan Nam, 18, of Edmonton, AB. Nam shot 75 and an amazing 69 for her second win on the MJT this season. ?My swing changes over the winter are paying off,? said Nam. ?When I rolled in a long putt on the third hole it was over.?

Breanne Neufeld, 15, of Coaldale, AB, scored 79-76=155 to claim third place.

Neil Pulongbarit, 14, of Edmonton, AB, shot 76-72=148 to finish tie-8th in the Boys 14-16 division but with the low score for 14 year olds to claim the spot in the Junior World Championships.

The top finishers in this division fought a tense battle down the stretch, with Jordan Orth, 16, of Cranbrook, BC, shooting 69-70=139 to edge out runner up Darren Hupfer, 16, of Edmonton, AB (70-70=140) and third place finisher Connor Elekes, 16, of Calgary, AB (71-70=141).

?I hit the driver really well and missed only three fairways,? said Orth. ?When I made the last putt I knew I had won; it means a lot for this year.?

In the very competitive Boys 13 and under division, Carson Kallis, 12, of Red Deer, AB, stayed focused to shoot 76-75=151 and win his first ever MJT title over the previous weekend?s winner, Scott Lowe, 12, of Calgary, AB (78-75=153).

?I concentrated on one shot at a time and not the score, focusing on my game and not the other people? said Kallis. ?Scott hung in on the back but I made birdie to his bogey. I finally broke through and won.?

Ryan Weere, 12, of Medicine Hat, AB, shot 76-80=156 to finish in third place in the division.

In the Boys 17 and up division, Kyle Morrison, 18, of Red Deer, AB, recorded a pair of 73?s to edge both Stephan Sedor, 18, of Calgary, AB (75-72=147) and Tom Cowan, 18, of Millarville, AB (70-77=147) by a single shot. ?It was tight all the way,? said Morrison. ?My game plan was to have patience and wait for birdies. This win gives me confidence and something to build on.?

Division winners of the Mr. Lube Long Drive competition were Sean Jedrusiak (Calgary, AB), Tagan Hygard (Medicine Hat), Kyle Morrison and Pamela Burneski. Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competition division winners were Carson Kallis, Brad Blair (Lanigan, SK), Ryan Tofani (Red Deer, AB) and Anisha Chong (Lethbridge, AB).

The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, now in its 7th season, is presented by Boston Pizza and is Canada?s only major junior tour run exclusively by Canadian PGA Professionals and endorsed by PGA Tour veterans Dave Barr and Ray Stewart.

The next local tournament is the MJT 1st Choice Savings Series at Land-O-Lakes Golf Club in Coaldale, May 7-8, a double qualifier for both the 53rd annual East Aurora International Junior Masters in New York and the Kingdom of Fife Team Matches in Scotland this August. MJT tournament director and National Women's Team Coach Dean Spriddle will captain the Maple Leaf Team of 8 junior boys who will be Canada's sole contingent competing in the Scotland matches. For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-GOLF.