Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

The picturesque Cheam Mountain Golf Course in Chilliwack, BC, buzzed with excitement this past Sunday as the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada’s number one Junior Tour, took center stage. The British Columbia leg of the MJT Mini Tour for 12U players drew an impressive field of 78 young athletes, vying for titles in six divisions and coveted spots in the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, BC. 

 

With intense competition and remarkable displays of talent, the event was a showcase of junior golf prowess in Canada. Highlights of the tournament included a playoff in MJT Boys 11-12, won by Luke Gamley of North Vancouver, BC over Minxing Matt Li of Surrey, BC, after both tied for the lead with a score of 62, as well as a tie for Low Overall Score between 10-year-olds Theo Zhou of West Vancouver, BC, and Ivan Yang of Surrey (61).  Other notable performances resulted in division wins for Annabel Zhao of Richmond in MJT Girls 8U (72), Karyme Zhao of Richmond in MJT Girls 9-10 (65), Chloe Lam of Vancouver in MJT Girls 11-12 (67) and Ethan Jiang of Vancouver in MJT Boys 8U (65). 

 

Top scorers who were not already exempt qualified for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in Tsawwassen, BC, in August, and are listed below along with their scores and quotes from the division winners are featured below. Full results, as well as results from the Closest-to-the-Pin competition are posted on the MJT website.

 

The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is at Cultus Lake Golf Club in Cultus Lake on June 30. More information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour can be found online at www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Girls 8U: Cheam Mountain GC: Par 56, Ydg 2515, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Annabel Zhao (8), Richmond, BC | 72         

2. Chloe Yang (8), Richmond, BC | 74

3. Chloe He (7), Richmond, BC            | 76
 

Eight-year-old Annabel Zhao continued her winning streak on the MJT by edging out a two-stroke victory in MJT Girls 8U. Zhao delivered an impressive performance despite the nerves. "I was nervous and excited at the same time," she admitted. Her secret to staying focused and composed under pressure was simple yet effective: "I tell myself it's going to be okay."

 

MJT Girls 9-10: Cheam Mountain GC: Par 56, Ydg 2515, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Karyme Zhao (10), Richmond, BC | 65        

2. Tiffany Yang (10), Richmond, BC | 66         

3. Joanna Lin (9), Vancouver, BC | 68

3. Stella Sun (9), White Rock, BC | 68

 

Ten-year-old Karyme Zhao from Richmond, BC, seized her first triumph of the season on the lively MJT circuit by two shots over her nearest rivals.  Zhao's determination secured her the MJT Girls 9-10 title, along with the Low Overall Score among the Girls divisions. "This is my first 1st place win on MJT. It means a lot to me. I will continue my hard work!" she exclaimed. 

 

1. Chloe Lam (10), Vancouver, BC | 67           

2. Angela Li (11), Vancouver, BC | 69

3. Lucy Li (10), Vancouver, BC | 70
 

Chloe Lam, 10, from Vancouver, BC, showcased a formidable performance on the back-nine to close with a solid score of 67. Reflecting on her victory, Lam expressed, "It was nice to win. The round went very quick." Lam attributed her success to rigorous preparation, noting, "I went to the course to practice a lot and practiced putting at home every day."

 

1. Ethan Jiang (8), Vancouver, BC | 65            

2. Eric Wu (8), Richmond, BC | 65      

3. Sawyer Morrow (5), Vancouver, BC | 78

 

In a battle for first place, Ethan Jiang, 8, of Vancouver, BC, emerged victorious after a countback finish over fellow 8-year-old Eric Wu in MJT Boys 8U. Reflecting on his game, Jiang stated, "My way is not getting angry, I just focused on the new shot." His enthusiasm for the circuit was evident as he declared, "I love it, it's the best tournament in Canada."

 

1. Theo Zhou (10), West Vancouver, BC | 61

2. Ivan Yang (10), Surrey, BC | 61
3. Zhongjun Daniel Qi (9), Surrey, BC  | 64     

3. Jaden Gu (10), Surrey, BC | 64        

3.Everett Quewezance (9), Kamloops, BC | 64

In the closest race of the tournament, 10-year-old Theo Zhou from West Vancouver clinched the top spot in a countback finish over Ivan Yang, also 10, in MJT Boys 9-10. Both players tied for the Low Overall Score for boys. Reflecting on his strategy, Zhou shared, "I thought about staying focused on each shot and hit one shot at a time." His preparation paid off, as he revealed, "I've been reading a book these days called Mindset for Young Athletes." This helped him stay mentally sharp throughout the event.

 

1. Luke Gamley (11), North Vancouver, BC | 62 *Won playoff          

2. Minxing Matt Li (11), Surrey, BC | 62         

3. David Chaofan Wu (10) Richmond, BC | 63

 

In a thrilling finale in MJT Boys 11-12, Luke Gamley, 11, from North Vancouver, BC, claimed victory on the second hole of a playoff against Minxing Matt Li, 11, from Surrey, BC, by sinking a clutch six-foot putt. Gamley remarked, "Playing in the playoff gave me a lot of confidence." When asked about his strategy for staying composed under pressure, he shared, "I take a couple of deep breaths." 
 

MJT Mini Tour National Championship (highest ranked player not already exempt): Chloe Yang, Karyme Zhao, Angela Li, Eric Wu, Jaden Gu, Luke Gamley.

 

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