Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 18-20, 2016
Calgary, AB

108 juniors compete in MJT Ford Series at McKenzie Meadows; Bean wins playoff and six MJT-PGA of Alberta Junior Champions crowned in 54-hole event

Calgary, AB – (July 21, 2016) – A packed field of 108 junior golfers on Canada’s number one-played junior golf tour took to the links at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta, this past week, to compete in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Mini Tour, Ford Series and PGA of Alberta Junior Championship, a major event on the MJT Alberta's 2016 schedule.

The Mini Tour ran on Monday July 18th and results can be viewed online, whereas the Junior Tour ran Monday through Wednesday July 20th, where elite players competed for PGA of Alberta Junior Champion titles in six age divisions as well as the chance to qualify for the International Team Challenge (ITC) presented by Freedom 55 Financial near Niagara Falls, ON, and the International Players Championship (IPC) presented by Miura Golf at Jasper Park Lodge, AB. In addition, a number of juniors came close to winning a 2016 Ford Focus SE in a hole-in-one contest sponsored by Ford of Canada and Woodridge Ford.

Matt Bean, 17, of Canmore, AB, carded 76, 69, 70 (215) to win Low Overall and the MJT Junior Boys Champion’s Title on the first playoff hole over Logan Hill, 19, of Red Deer, AB, who had tied for the lead in regulation play at 215 with rounds of 70, 71, 74.  "This was a great test as I enter the Canadian Junior in Newfoundland," stated Bean.  "I had a little help from my coach in Saskatchewan on my mental game and it helped out a lot."  Finishing alone in third was Jeff Masse, 18, of Lethbridge, AB, with three solid rounds of 73, 75, 70 (218).

16-year old Zachary Farkas of Calgary (69, 71, 78 = 218) lead from wire to wire and was crowned MJT Juvenile Boys Champion. Runner-up was Jordan Bean, 15, of Canmore, who shot 77, 69, 76 (222). Shooting the low round of the day and matching the best of the week was Brodie Shields-Tyler, 15, of Calgary, who carded 74, 82, 68 (224) to move into the top three in this division.

Ryan Hodgins, 14, of Medicine Hat, AB, who recently represented the MJT at the IMG Academy Junior Worlds in San Diego, CA, shot solid rounds of 76, 76, 71 (223) to best second round leader Richard Dou, 13, of Calgary, (74, 76, 77=227) and win the Bantam Boys Champion title.  Hodgins, whose next event is the MJT International Players Championship at Fairmont Jasper Park Golf Club presented by Miura Golf, credited ‘strong irons play and solid putting’ as his key to victory.  Finishing one back of second place was Cole Bateman, 14, of Calgary, who rebounded after a tough first day with scores of 85, 73, 70 (228) to finish alone in third for the Bantams.

12-year old Luke Quanson of Edmonton, AB, shot steady rounds of 76, 74, 78 (228) to best the field and claim the MJT Peewee Boys Champion’s title.  Quanson's victory ‘felt very good, as the competition on the MJT is really good, and the events are fun.’  Finishing two back was Cole Bergheim, 12, of Red Deer, who shot 78, 76, 76 (230) followed by Bradin Stahl, 11, of Priddis, AB, who finished with 78, 85, 73 (236). 

MJT Girls 15-19 Champion was 19-year old Daria Leidenius of Ponoka, AB, who shot three solid rounds of 75, 79, 77 (231) to claim title over Alicia Easthope, 17, of St. Albert, AB (80, 79, 77=236).  Leidenius credited ‘solid ball striking and a good mental approach’ as her keys to victory and a ‘good attitude’ if things went poorly each day.  Finishing in third place was Shaye Leidenius, 19, of Ponoka, who carded 80, 79, 84 (243).

Stephanie Chelack, 14, of Calgary, careered on the first and second days with fine scores of 76, 76, 84 (236) and claimed the MJT Girls U15 Champion’s Title. Chelack said, “I putted so well the first two days and I am glad I won after my career rounds on days one and two.  I just kept thinking one shot at a time both days and it worked very well." Second place went to 13-year old Grace Bell of Calgary, who finished well back with rounds of 87, 83, 84 (254), followed by MJT newcomer Tatyana Nyambane, 14, of Dubai, who shot 85, 91, 79 to finish third.  Nyambane and her brother Bradley came from Dubai to play specifically in the MJT at McKenzie Meadows before heading to Pinehurst, NC, to compete next week.                            

Members who qualified for MJT Team Alberta into the ITC in Ontario were Matt Bean, Zach Farkas and Daria Leidenhuis, and for the IPC in Jasper, Farkas, Ryan Hodgins and Alicia Easthope. In addition, eighteen prizes were awarded to Ford Long Drive, MJT Closest-to-the-Pin and Golf Town Comeback Winners in the tournament, whose names are all listed on the tournament page on the MJT website.

The next MJT Alberta stop is the Mountain View Credit Union Classic at Olds Golf Club on August 8-9, 2016.  For more information on the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.

About the MJT:

The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s number-one played 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 generously supported by Boston Pizza and Premier Partners Ford of Canada, TuGo, Cleveland Golf, Srixon and Aquafina, in addition to valued Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 60 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-12 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players which also qualify juniors for international competitions. The program offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's 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 provincial, national, university and professional level.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour - Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing and Administration edenton@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF