Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

British Columbia witnessed yet another chapter in its storied golf history as Canada’s number one Junior Golf Tour hosted the 58th annual MJT Harry White Little Masters at the stunning Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, BC, July 8-9. Founded by the late, legendary Harry White, a trailblazer in junior golf development in Canada, this showcase two-day event for young golfers aged 12 and under on the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour remains a testament to his enduring legacy.

 

Players competed for titles in six divisions and the chance to qualify for both the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in British Columbia and the Champion of Champions World Invitational in Ross Inner, Enniskillen, UK. A standout moment occurred with a thrilling hole-in-one on the sixth hole by Lucas Huang, 9, from Vancouver, BC, in the MJT Boys 9-10 Division. All the juniors received great tee gifts as well as pizza courtesy of Panago Pizza.

 

The MJT Little Masters champions, who were presented with trophies by Brad Newell, owner of Kings Links and founder of Head’s Up Guys mental health initiative, were Jason Zhang, 12, of Richmond, BC, in MJT Boys 11-12 (145), Emily Yan, 11, from Vancouver, BC, in MJT Girls 11-12 (152), Raymond Wang, 9, from Bothell, WA, in MJT Boys 9-10 (144), Luna Zhou, 9, of Vancouver, BC, in MJT Girls 9-10 (148), Jerry King Zhao, 8, Regina, SK, in MJT Boys 8U (162), and Yoyo Zhang, 7, from Richmond, BC, in MJT Girls 8U (206).

 

Top finisher scores, quotes from the division winners, and the list of qualified players are featured below. Full results, as well as results from the Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin competitions are posted on the MJT website.

 

The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is at Guildford Golf Club in Surrey, BC, on July 22. To register or for more information, please visit www.maplejt.com.

 

MJT Girls 8U: Kings Links: Par 72, Ydg 3000, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Yoyo Zhang (7), Richmond, BC | 104, 102 (206)

2. Amira Lu (7), Vancouver, BC | 99, 117 (216)

 

Richmond's Yoyo Zhang, age 7, brought a delightful mix of focus and fun to the tournament, winning the MJT Harry White Little Masters Girls 8U trophy. "I played a practice round with my friend for this tournament," said Zhang, who maintained concentration by thinking intently about each shot. While celebrating her victory, Zhang summed up her post-game plans with charming simplicity: "I want ice cream," proving that even champions have a sweet tooth!

 

MJT Girls 9-10: Kings Links: Par 72, Ydg 4200, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Luna Zhou (9), Vancouver, BC | 76, 72 (148)

2. Victoria Shen (10), Surrey, BC | 76, 76 (152)

3. Chloe Chu (10), Delta, BC | 75, 83 (158)

Luna Zhou, a 9-year-old from Vancouver, BC, came prepared for the tournament with a unique preparation routine which helped her win the MJT Harry White Little Masters Girls 9-10 trophy by four shots. "I played 4 days in a row for this tournament," she said. When asked about her focused mindset on the course, Zhou explained, "I stayed focused by only thinking on my shot." 

 

1. Emily Yan (11), Vancouver, BC | 79, 73 (152)

2. Velvet Haynes (12), Kelowna, BC | 82, 74 (156)

3. Chloe Lam (10), Vancouver, BC | 87, 79 (166)

Eleven-year-old Emily Yan from Vancouver, BC, delivered a strong second round to win the MJT Harry White Little Masters Girls 11-12 title, proving that ‘by not worrying about strokes,’ good things happen. Her victory has her feeling validated: "This win lets me know that my practice is working. My plans for the season are to continue practicing to improve more." 
 

1. Jerry King Zhao (8), Regina, SK | 78, 84 (162)         

2. Sawyer Morrow (5), Vancouver, BC | 86, 83 (169)

Eight-year-old Jerry King Zhao made the long trek from Regina, SK, worth it by winning the MJT Harry White Little Masters Boys 8U title, bringing with him a playful attitude and some sage advice: "Forget the test and be focused on playing." His dedication didn't just show in his game, but also in his growing passion: "It increased my love for the game." 

 

1. Raymond Wang (9), Bothell, WA | 72, 72 (144)

2. Felix Qu (9), North Vancouver, BC | 73, 73 (146)

3. Theo Zhou (10), West Vancouver, BC | 77, 76 (153)

Bothell, Washington’s Raymond Wang, aged 9, crossed borders to show off his prowess and win the MJT Harry White Little Masters Boys 9-10 title. Not only did he keep his cool with back-to-back pars, scoring a remarkable 72 each round, but Wang also treated spectators to a feathered frenzy with an astonishing 10 birdies across two rounds.

 

1. Jason Zhang (12), Richmond, BC | 74, 71 (145)

2. Stephen Gu (11), Vancouver, BC |76, 71 (147)

3. Parker Andrews (12), Fort St. John, BC | 74, 74 (148)

Jason Zhang, 12, of Richmond, BC, shot great rounds of 74 and 71 to claim the MJT Harry White Little Masters Boys 11-12 title by two strokes. His secret weapon? "I play video games before the tournament," he confessed. On his putting strategy, he shared, "I just think about my stroke, and if I miss, I just remember I still got a good putt." 

 

Qualified Players:
MJT Mini Tour National Championship (highest ranked player not already exempt): Luna Zhou, Emily Yan, Jerry King Zhao, Raymond Wang, Jason Zhang
Champion of Champions World Invitational qualified players: Luna Zhou, Emily Yan, Jerry King Zhao, Raymond Wang, Jason Zhang

 

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