Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Nearly 90 young golfers descended upon the picturesque Copper Point Golf Club in Invermere, BC, for the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s British Columbia stop this week. The MJT Western Championship presented by adidas Golf, held on July 23 and 24, marked the final event in the national six-tournament adidas Golf series on the MJT, and showcased some of the brightest junior golf talent on the West Coast. In hot weather, players competed fiercely for titles in six divisions and the chance to qualify for a shortlisted position in the MJT National Team Challenge presented by Canada Life at Sawmill Golf Course in Ontario this September. 

 

A hole-in-one was among the many highlights of the event, when, with a 52-degree wedge in hand, Sully Kufflick, 15, from Calgary, AB, aced the par-three seventh hole, sending the crowd into a frenzy. More thrilling action came from a showdown in the MJT Junior Boys division where a three-way playoff was needed after Bodey Billehaug, 18, from Okotoks, AB, along with Edmonton’s Nathan Piers, 19, and Kenny Taylor, 17, all tied for the lead with identical rounds of 72 and 71 (143). In the end, it was Piers who stole the spotlight, calmly tapping in for birdie on the first playoff hole to clinch both the Division and Boys’ Low Overall titles. 

 

Low overall honours for the Girls went to Alexandra Chiew, 18, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls 15-19 (81,79=160). Following their division wins, both Piers and Chiew have been short-listed for Team MJT at the National Team Challenge.

The MJT Peewee division also witnessed an epic battle as a pair of 12-year-olds needed a playoff after tying at 186 in regulation play. Tyson Laviolette of Calgary, AB, outplayed Blake Wagner of Sherwood Park, AB, on the third playoff hole to clinch the win. 

 

Other leading performances resulted in Division wins for Liam Czirjak, 15, of Rocky View County, AB, in MJT Juvenile Boys (146), Chase Strang, 14, from Airdrie, AB, in MJT Bantam Boys (147), and Tristyn Anderson, 14, of Calgary, AB, in MJT Girls U15 (157).

 

Top finisher scores and quotes from the division winners are noted below. Results from the London Drugs Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points can be found here. 

 

The next stop in the province is the highly rated, WAGR-ranked, MJT Odlum Brown Classic, taking place at Northview Golf Club and Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, BC, July 30 - August 1, 2024. For more information, please visit the MJT website at www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Junior Boys: Copper Point: Par 71, Ydg 6612, Slope/Rating 123/70.5

1. Nathan Piers (19), Edmonton, AB | 72, 71 (143) *Won playoff

2. Bodey Billehaug (18), Okotoks, AB | 72, 71 (143)   

2. Kenny Taylor (17), Edmonton, AB | 72, 71 (143)

 

In a thrilling showdown, Nathan Piers, 19, from Edmonton, AB, emerged victorious in a three-way playoff against Bodey Billehaug, 18, of Okotoks, AB, and Kenny Taylor, 17, also from Edmonton. Piers tapped in a birdie on the first extra hole, sealing the win. His advice? "Control the things you can control, accept the results," Piers wisely noted. Feeling confident heading into his collegiate year, he also praised the event, "10/10, the course was in great shape." 

 

1. Alexandra Chiew (18), Calgary, AB | 81, 79 (160)   

2. Darwyn Kormany (17), Kelowna, BC | 83, 83 (166)

3. Payton Lofgren (15), Calgary, AB | 88, 88 (176)

 

Alexandra Chiew, the 18-year-old from Calgary, AB, is getting quite comfortable in the winner's circle, clinching her latest victory by a whopping six strokes. "Work out, hang out with friends for balance, and practice plus hard work," she noted, regarding her strategy for success. "I'm really excited for the rest of the season and college golf coming up,” she said, adding, "This event was probably one of the best tournaments I've played."
 

MJT Juvenile Boys: Copper Point: Par 71, Ydg 6612, Slope/Rating 123/70.5
1. Liam Czirjak (15), Rocky View County, AB | 75, 71 (146)    

2. Owen Borggard (16), Calgary, AB | 74, 75 (149)

2. Sam Cook (15), Calgary, AB | 71, 78 (149)

 

Fifteen-year-old Liam Czirjak from Rocky View County, AB, won the MJT Juvenile Boys title by three strokes. "I’ve been focusing on getting good amounts of rest before my tournaments," he explained, "and I’ve also been hitting the gym and the range consistently." He added, "(This win) It really helps my confidence in my game. I’ll use this win to succeed in the future."

 

1. Chase Strang (14), Airdrie, AB | 75, 72 (147)          

2. Bennett Love (13), Red Deer, AB | 81, 70 (151)     

2. Solomon Tong (14), Heritage Pointe, AB | 77, 74 (151)     

2. Luke MacDonald (14), Calgary, AB | 75, 76 (151)

2. Luke Traverse (14), Revelstoke, BC | 75, 76 (151)

Chase Strang, 14, from Airdrie, AB, managed to stay ahead of a tough pack of four players nipping at his heels. How did he do it? By mastering the fine art of relaxation. "Mentally, I took a rest day to regroup and focus on my mental game," Strang shared, proving that sometimes the best way to get ahead is by taking a break. After clinching the win, he gave his stamp of approval: "10/10, it is a great course choice."
 

1. Tristyn Anderson (14), Calgary, AB | 79, 78 (157)
 

Tristyn Anderson, 14, from Calgary, AB, had a unique challenge at the MJT Girls U15 division—she was her only competition! "I refocused on every shot, took lots of practice swings, and checked my aim. I kept calm even after a bad shot," Anderson shared, proving that the toughest rival can be yourself. Despite the solo showdown, she praised the event's organization and the stunning course, saying, "This event was very well organized and the course was beautiful and in amazing shape." 
 

MJT Peewee Boys: Copper Point: Par 71, Ydg 5626, Slope/Rating 115/65.5
1. Tyson Laviolette (12), Calgary, AB | 93, 93 (186) *Won playoff

2. Blake Wagner (12), Sherwood Park, AB | 88, 98 (186)

 

In the MJT Peewee Boys division, the competition boiled down to a playoff showdown between Tyson Laviolette (12) from Calgary, AB, and Blake Wagner (12) from Sherwood Park, AB. Both tied at 186, but it was Laviolette who clinched the win. "I like to listen to music and have a snack," he revealed as his pre-tournament preparation. Reflecting on his experience, Laviolette rated it: "10/10, love the course!" 

Qualified Players:

Team MJT at the National Team Challenge Short-Listed Position: Alexandra Chiew and Nathan Piers 
 

About The adidas Group: The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around the core brands: adidas, Reebok and Reebok-CCM Hockey. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 53,000 employees. 

About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is Canada’s #1 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 partners across various tiers, including Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. The MJT hosts more than 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: Jessica Parker, marketing@maplejt.com 
Marketing Manager, MJT