Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

March 13-14, 2023
Pitt Meadows, BC

Successful start to MJT silver anniversary season at Golden Eagle; players qualify for four major events

After another record member sign up, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s number one-played junior tour, successfully launched its 25^th anniversary season of 100 events across Canada at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, BC, this week. Winners were crowned in six age divisions despite windy and wet spring conditions, which tested the players and made scoring tough after snow last week.  

“We were lucky to get the tournament in and, based on the week’s forecast, we dodged a bullet,” said Chris Hood, MJT Tournament Director.  The competitive young golfers received tee gifts as well as a 25^thAnniversary MJT member gift package at registration and were treated to Panago Pizza following play. Top results from each division as well as the eight players who qualified for spots into four different high level junior events are highlighted below.

Top Finishers

MJT Girls U15: Par 72, Ydg 5831

Jenny Kwon won in a very tough field in the MJT Girls U15 Division, claiming the Low Overall Girls title and a direct exemption into the FCG Callaway World Championship along the way.  “This was the first tournament of the season, and during the winter break I practiced my mental abilities,” said Kwon, 13, of Vancouver, BC.  “I feel proud, yet this wasn’t the best season start.  I need to improve my short game, especially my putting.”

MJT Girls 15-19: Par 71, Ydg 5831

A smaller field in MJT Girls 15-19 saw Hui Yu of Burnaby, BC, claim victory with some solid play.  “I just came back from another tournament and was feeling pretty non-confident, so it was a great boost to win,” she stated.

MJT Peewee Boys: Par 72, Ydg 5831       

Another spot in the FCG Callaway World Championship went to Tiger Zhao, 12, of Vancouver, BC, who won the MJT Peewee Boys title by four strokes. Zhao stated, “It feels good to start the season with a win. My highlight was making four birdies on the course.”

MJT Bantam Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6141

Thomas Xu, 13, of Vancouver, BC, spent a little more time at the range on day two and the hard work paid off as he claimed victory in a tight race for the MJT Boys Bantam title. “It feels great (to win) since I tried my best even when I wasn’t playing my best,” he said. “My highlight was making a tough long putt for birdie and my goal is to simply keep playing my best and improving.”

MJT Juvenile Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6590

The only player to break par during the tournament was Eric Joo, 16, of Coquitlam, BC, who won both the MJT Juvenile Boys and Low Overall Boys title with solid rounds of 71-75.  Joo qualified for the MJT Future Stars Invitational presented by ATB, along with direct exemptions into both the BC Junior Boys and FCG Callaway World Championships. His highlight of the week was cited as ‘hitting a good drive on the last hole and closing out the victory today.’

MJT Junior Boys: Par 72, Ydg 6590

MJT Junior Boys winner, Tristan Jackman, whose goals are to ‘have a successful season and get a scholarship down south,’ won his division title by four strokes, qualifying for the prestigious International Junior Masters in East Aurora, New York. He stated, “Starting off the season with a win will give me confidence going forward.” 

Full Results, TaylorMade Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack award winners and a photo gallery are posted online here.

This event was also a qualifier for various major tournaments, and the successful players were:

MJT Future Stars Invitational and BC Junior Boys Championship – Eric Joo

International Junior Masters – Tristan Jackman

FCG Callaway World Championship

• Boys 11-12      Tiger Zhao       
• Boys 13-14      Hongzhao (Thomas) Xu
• Boys 15-16      Eric Joo
• Boys 17-18      Jason Yang
• Girls 11-12       Grace Guan
• Girls 13-14       Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon

The next stop in the province is the three-day, WAGR-ranked MJT Humber College PGM Classic at University Golf Club in Vancouver, BC, from March 18-20, 2023.  For more information, please visit www.maplejt.com. 

About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour 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 supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts 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: Trent Matson, National Operations Director, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour