Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s number one Junior Golf Tour, swung into action at the impeccably manicured Deer Valley Golf and Estates near Regina, SK, for the MJT Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit (OOM) Series event. Nestled in the scenic Qu'Appelle Valley, Deer Valley Golf Club was witness to a show put on by elite junior golfers under near perfect conditions on July 15-16.
 

Participants were competing for titles in six divisions and the opportunity to be short-listed for MJT Team Canada to the Jack Newton International Junior Classic in New South Wales, Australia, in October, and the National Team Challenge in Fenwick, ON, this September. 

 

Low overall honours for Girls and Boys respectively went Tayla Perry, 15, of Regina, SK, in MJT Girls 15-19 (80,82=162) and Ethan Hunter, 14, of Casa Rio, SK, in MJT Juvenile Boys (79,72=151). Following their division wins, both Perry and Hunter have been short-listed for Team MJT at the National Team Challenge.

Other leading performances resulted in division titles for Jordan Heller, 17, from Regina, SK, in MJT Junior Boys (154), Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, 13, from Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Girls U15 (172), Thomas Pilon, 13, of Saskatoon, SK, in MJT Bantam Boys (153), and Jun Lee, 11, of Regina, SK, in MJT Peewee Boys (148).

 

Top finisher scores, quotes from the winners and the list of qualified players follow below. For full tournament results, please visit the MJT website here; results from the Projekt/2UNDR Long Drive, PLYR Closest to the Pin, Booster Juice BounceBack Awards and Academy Points standings are posted here.
 

The next stop in the province is the MJT Zeal Series at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon, SK, on July 29-30, 2024. For more information, please visit the MJT website at www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Peewee Boys: Deer Valley: Par 71, Ydg 5185, Slope/Rating 123/71.3

1. Jun Lee (11), Regina, SK | 74, 74 (148)       

2. Keaton Kreklewich (12), Melville, SK | 77, 72 (149)            

3. Dalton Stephens (12), Craik, SK | 87, 83 (170)

Jun Lee, an 11-year-old from Regina, SK, has mastered the art of staying cool under pressure. "I practiced for hours trying to get better every day. I would tell myself if I have a bad shot that I will do better on the next hole," he shared. Lee's secret to success? A laid-back attitude and a pinch of self-confidence. "I don't get mad, I just have to play my game, and it will be good," he said.
 

MJT Bantam Boys: Deer Valley: Par 72, Ydg 5904, Slope/Rating 130/69.2
1. Thomas Pilon (13), Saskatoon, SK | 76, 77 (153)    

2. Ayden Melsted (14), Wynyard, SK | 78, 76 (154)   

3. Cohen Hepburn (13), Saskatoon, SK | 78, 77 (155)

 

Saskatoon’s Thomas Pilon, 13, snagged his first division win with a mix of nightly golf sessions and a laser-focused finish. When asked about his prep, Pilon stated, "Just going out every night and playing helped me the most." As the tension mounted in the final few holes, he revealed, "I knew I was close - I just had to stay focused down the stretch." Reflecting on his experience, he added, "It was really well done, and I had a lot of fun," proving that dedication, a sharp focus, and a dash of fun can pave the way to victory.

MJT Juvenile Boys: Deer Valley: Par 72, Ydg 6341, Slope/Rating 138/71.2

1. Ethan Hunter (14), Casa Rio, SK | 79, 72 (151)       

2. Dante Gamble (15), Duck Lake, SK | 78, 79 (157)   

2. Kai Kriekle (15), Regina, SK | 78, 79 (157)
 

Ethan Hunter from Casa Rio, SK, has done it again, adding another division win to his growing collection. When asked about his winning secret, Hunter said, "I just tried to focus on the next shot and not get too ahead of myself." He added, "I took today's round one shot at a time," showing that even at 14, mastering the art of Zen can lead to victory.
 

1. Jordan Heller (17), Regina, SK | 74, 80 (154)          

2. Brody Sawchyn (19), Saskatoon, SK | 80, 78 (158)

2. Davin Karst (19), Assiniboia, SK | 75, 83 (158)

Seventeen-year-old Jordan Heller from Regina, SK, has snagged a MJT Team Canada short-listed position to Australia (JNJG International) with his win and couldn't be more pumped. “I practiced keeping the ball in play and not having mental lapses from lack of focus," Jordan said about his preparation strategy. "This is a huge confidence boost for me and gives me that much more incentive to win again!" Heller gave the event a 10/10 rating, adding, "Deer Valley was a great course in fantastic shape and super thankful for the maintenance crew out here."

MJT Girls U15: Deer Valley: Par 71, Ydg 5185, Slope/Rating 125/71.3
1. Youran (Yoyo) Zhu (13), Saskatoon, SK | 86, 86 (172) 

2. Yuna Lee (14), Regina, SK | 88, 91 (179)

3. Kathy Han (14), Saskatoon, SK | 115, 92 (207)

 

Youran (Yoyo) Zhu, a 13-year-old from Saskatoon, SK, has cracked the code to golfing success with a simple mantra: "I try to tell myself that every hole is a fresh start, and to not linger on my score on the last hole." Her philosophy clearly paid off with her victory, and she added, "I feel really happy and I'm going to continue to practice throughout the summer!" When it comes to the MJT experience, Zhu's review is glowing: "I feel like MJT is doing a really good job. 10 out of 10!"

MJT Girls 15-19: Deer Valley: Par 71, Ydg 5185, Slope/Rating 128/73.1
1. Tayla Perry (15), Regina, SK | 80, 82 (162)

2. Sarah Henderson (16), Saskatoon, SK | 95, 98 (193)          

3. Hailey Thunderchild (17), Quinton, (Kawacatoose First Nation), SK | 107, 103 (210)

 

Fifteen-year-old Tayla Perry from Regina, SK, took a commanding lead in round one and never looked back, cruising to her first win of the season. When asked about her strategy, Perry shared, "Mentally, I prepared by taking it shot by shot and keeping my calm even if I'm not playing very well." She declared, "This win definitely boosted my confidence. My plan for the rest of the season is to continue to play well and compete in a lot more tournaments." 

 

Team MJT at the National Team Challenge Short-Listed Position: Tayla Perry and Ethan Hunter

MJT Team Canada to Australia (JNJG International) Short-Listed Position: Ethan Hunter and Jordan Heller

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