Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Under hot and humid conditions in Waterloo, ON, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada's leading junior golf circuit, made a stop on July 13 and 14 at the historic Grey Silo Golf Course, renowned as the original home of the LPGA’s Manulife Classic. This highly anticipated event, boasting the largest field of the year so far, was part of the MJT Zeal Series. Over 90 talented young golfers took to the course, showcasing their skills and competing for top honors in a display of junior golf excellence. The great hosts at Grey Silo Golf Course even provided a convenient shuttle service between holes, ensuring a seamless experience for all participants.
 

Players in the tournament were competing for titles in six divisions and the opportunity to be short-listed for both 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 went to Spencer Shropshire, 16, of Ramara, ON, MJT Juvenile Boys winner (68,70=138), and Ziqing (Judy) Lin, 16, of Markham, ON, winner in MJT Girls 15-19 (79,73=152). Both Shropshire and Lin have been short-listed for Team MJT in the National Team Challenge.

Other excellent performances resulted in division wins for Jameson Staab, 17, from Kitchener, ON, in MJT Junior Boys (145), Alexis Card, 13, from Cambridge, ON, in MJT Girls U15 (144), Oscar Lin, 13, of Markham, ON, in MJT Bantam Boys (146), and Gerry Kou, 12, of Markham, ON, in MJT Peewee Boys (146). 
 

Top finisher scores and quotes from the division winners, who were each rewarded with a stylish pair of Zeal sunglasses, are noted below along with the list of qualified players.  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 Ontario Series at Sawmill Golf Course, in Fenwick, ON, July 20-21, 2024. For more information, please visit the MJT website at www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Girls U15: Grey Silo GC: Par 71, Ydg 5197, Slope/Rating 120/69.0
1. Alexis Card (13), Cambridge, ON | 74, 70 (144)      

2. Krisline Truong (13), Mississauga, ON | 74, 76 (150)          

3. Grace (HyunYi) Kim (12), Burlington, ON | 80, 77 (157)

Thirteen-year-old Alexis Card from Cambridge, ON, celebrated her second consecutive MJT division win after coming off a recent top-10 finish in the Ontario Provincial Championship. "Just finished U19 which was my warm-up for this weekend," Card quipped, clearly treating the previous event as a stepping stone to success. She rated the event a solid "10/10," emphasizing her satisfaction with the competition.

MJT Girls 15-19: Grey Silo GC: Par 71, Ydg 5653, Slope/Rating 130/72.1

1. Ziqing (Judy) Lin (16), Markham, ON | 79, 73 (152)           

2. Jadelina Tep-Chhun (17), St. Thomas, ON | 81, 77 (158)   

3. Gloria Shen (15), Richmond Hill, ON | 90, 89 (179)

Ziqing (Judy) Lin, 16, from Markham, ON, finally broke her streak of five consecutive second place finishes with a winning strategy that included ‘eat well and sleep well.’ When asked about her mental approach, Lin advised, "Don't think about the scores.” With her recent victory, Lin declared she now had ‘boosted confidence,’ which will help ensure her continued success.

 

1. Gerry Kou (12), Markham, ON | 74, 72 (146)         

2. Max Sue (11), Markham, ON | 81, 79 (160)

Gerry Kou, a 12-year-old from Markham, ON, claimed first place once again with an impressive 14-stroke lead in MJT Peewee Boys. When asked about his winning formula, Kou cryptically shared, ‘good rest, and lots of practice.’ 

 

MJT Bantam Boys: Grey Silo GC: Par 71, Ydg 6081, Slope/Rating 123/68.5
1. Oscar Lin (13), Markham, ON | 70, 76 (146)           

2. Dustin Zhao (12), Maple, ON | 76, 75 (151)           

3. Brennan Turner (14), Fenwick, ON | 73, 79 (152)
 

Returning to the MJT, thirteen-year-old Oscar Lin, of Markham, ON, posted a win with his recent performance, racking up an impressive five birdies. How did he manage such a feat? According to Lin, it's all about the offseason grind: "During my off-season, I have started to go to the gym to hopefully hit the ball further. I've gained about 20 yards, allowing me to reach greens more consistently." But it's not all about brute force for this young golfer. Lin revealed, "My coach and I have been working to control some of my on-course management and emotion control." Clearly, his strategic approach both on and off the course is paying off in spades.

MJT Juvenile Boys: Grey Silo GC: Par 71, Ydg 6532, Slope/Rating 126/70.9

1. Spencer Shropshire (16), Ramara, ON | 68, 70 (138)         

2. Brayden Card (15), Cambridge, ON | 70, 70 (140)  

3. Carter Banton (16), Kitchener, ON | 76, 71 (147)

Spencer Shropshire, 16, from Ramara, ON, coming off a recent top-10 finish in the Ontario Provincial Championship, won the MJT Juvenile Boys and Low Overall title in style. "Just try to stay the course and stay out of my head," he explained, regarding his game-winning strategy. Declaring his confidence ‘boosted! Can't wait for the rest of the season,’ Shropshire is clearly set for continued success. 

 

1. Jameson Staab (17), Kitchener, ON | 71, 74 (145)

2. Mark McLeod (18), Guelph, ON | 74, 72 (146)

3. Austin Brianka (16), Omemee, ON | 73, 75 (148)

In a stroke of brilliance on the fairways, Jameson Staab, 17, of Kitchener, ON, clinched his first victory of the MJT season in MJT Junior Boys. "I practiced a lot of short game before and I saw it pay off after I finished both rounds," he shared, proving that sometimes the secret to success is just around the green. Engaging in the art of conversation mid-round also paid off: "I talked to my group members during the round and the pace was fast, so I got into a nice rhythm." 

 

 

Team MJT at the National Team Challenge Short-Listed Position: Ziqing (Judy) Lin and Spencer Shropshire

MJT Team Canada to Australia (JNJG International) Short-Listed Position: Jameson Stabb and Carter Banton

 

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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