Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

August 8-9, 2017
Bragg Creek, AB

Two playoffs and three ties for Low Overall in MJT Prodigy Series at Wintergreen

Bragg Creek, AB. – (August 10, 2017) – Two divisional playoffs were needed and three players tied for the Low Overall score of 147 in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s Prodigy Series at the spectacular Wintergreen Golf Club in Bragg Creek, AB, August 8 and 9, where titles in seven divisions were up for grabs as well as direct exemptions into the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas at Reunion Resort in Orlando, FLA, this coming November.

The undulating greens were rolling true and challenged low scoring for all players. Cam Duffin, 17, of Red Deer, AB, fired 75, 72 and tied for the lead with Connor Dunlop, 17, of Strathmore, AB (74, 73), forcing a playoff for the Hoselton trophy which Duffin won on the second playoff hole with a solid par. “My highlights this season are coming fifth at the Junior Masters and now this win,” said Duffin, who will be competing in the MJT’s International Players Championship presented by Miura in Jasper next week.

The other Low Overall score was posted in the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 division, where Jordan Bean, 16, of Canmore, AB, fired 74, 73 (147) to beat runner-up Shiv Kaura, 16, of Calgary, AB, by one. “It was a really good time, I played well,” said Bean afterwards. “I had a couple of rough holes and then came back, played well for the rest of the round and was able to grind it out. I was glad I could play with some really great guys out here.”

The second playoff was held in the MJT Bantam Boys 13-14 division after Tommy McKenzie, 14, of Calgary, shot 72, 76 (148) for a share of the lead with Cooper Lindberg, 14, also of Calgary (77, 71). McKenzie made an up and down from the green side bunker on the par five first playoff hole and then a birdie on the second to win his second MJT title in a row. “My ball striking was the best part of my game for sure, because my putting wasn’t great,” said McKenzie. “I don’t think I had any one putts, I think (that last putt) was my first one putt of the tournament, honestly.”

The MJT Peewee Boys winner was Bradin Stahl, 12, of Priddis, AB, whose rock-solid rounds of 73, 76 (149) just held off Jaiden Koonar, 12, of Calgary (74, 76=150). Stahl said, “My day was pretty good, it was tough battling with Jaiden.  We had some close calls for being tied but I came through in the end. My best part of my game was my iron play, that is what really saved me.”

Sydney Scraba, 17, of Calgary, notched up another victory in the MJT Girls 15-18 division after carding 86, 82 (168) for an eight-stroke victory over runner-up Cassidy Couture, 18, of Calgary, (90, 86=176). “I had one really bad hole that cost my round but overall it was a really good day for me,” Scraba commented. “It’s a good golf course, the greens were running really well!”

Another Sydney - Sydney Kostreba, 13, also of Calgary -  was the MJT Girls U15 winner (83, 90=173) after beating Alanna Makarchuk, 14, of Taber, AB, by one stroke. “The best part of my game this week was being able to hit it consistently for both days,” Kostreba stated.

And finally, in the new MJT Collegiate Men’s division, the winner was Curtis Webster, 19, of Calgary, (78, 90=168) after he carded a two-stroke lead over Jacob Magee, 20, also of Calgary (76, 94=170).

Full results and overall event highlights are posted on the MJT website HERE, showing winners of the Miura ‘Respect the Game’ Award, PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and Golf Town Performance Awards. Each division winner also qualifies for a direct exemption into the MJT National Championship.

The final tournament on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour in Alberta this season is the MJT’s International Players Championship (IPC) presented by Miura at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course in Jasper, August 14 to 16, a special invitational event with players from Australia and Mexico also taking part. For more information, please visit  www.maplejt.com.

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 presented nationally by Boston Pizza and supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 70 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-12 year olds, the Collegiate Tour for 19-23 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11 to 18 which are also qualifiers 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. For more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com

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