Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

 

Strong winds and spontaneous rain showers were experienced over the May long weekend by the Manitoba team on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), causing challenges for both the Mini and Junior Tour events conducted. The MJT Mini Tour stop was the first of the season for the 12U players and held at Maplewood Golf Course in St. Pierre-Jolys on May 18, while the MJT Junior Tour (U19) stop was held at St. Boniface Golf Club in Winnipeg on May 19 and 20.  A combined total of 80 young athletes took part in the tournaments; results of the Mini Tour stop, where winds reaching up to 78km per hour forced the tournament to be cut short after just nine holes, are detailed below. 

 

Braving the challenging weather, Angelina Sitarz, 11, and Tomas Scarcello, 11, both of Winnipeg, MB, shot the low overall scores for the Girls and Boys divisions respectively, and received exemptions into the MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club in British Columbia this August, along with three other players out of the field of young beginners to tournament golf. Top finisher scores and highlights are detailed below.
 

The next MJT Mini Tour stop in the province is at Winkler Centennial Golf Course in Winkler, MB, on June 1, 2024. To register or for more information, please visit the MJT website at www.maplejt.com.

 

1. Leah Klippenstein (8), Portage La Prairie, MB | 62
 

Leah Klippenstein, 8, from Portage La Prairie, MB, remained calm despite the wild weather to shoot 62 in the MJT Girls 8U Division. 

 

1. Angelina Sitarz (11), Winnipeg, MB | 38

2. Sadie Blazeiko (11), Winnipeg, MB | 44

3. Annika Gording (11), East St Paul, AB | 53
 

Eleven-year-old Angelina Sitarz of Winnipeg, MB, delivered a solid performance in the MJT Girls 11-12 division and won with a commanding eight-stroke lead, leaving her feeling ‘really happy and accomplished.’ Sitarz emphasized her prowess in the short game as the standout moment of her success.
 

1. Ezra Kelly-Kupfer (7), Winnipeg, MB | 63

 

An enthusiastic Ezra Kelly-Kupfer from Winnipeg, MB, came out to shoot 63 in the MJT Boys 8U division and described the event as ‘super duper good,’ highlighting the friendships he’s building as one of the key elements of the tournament.

 

1. Ryan Small (10), Winnipeg, MB | 40

2. Joshua Fullante (8), Winnipeg, MB | 42

2. Jackson Kippen (10), Winnipeg, MB | 42

 

In a closely contested race that featured a tie for second, 10-year-old Ryan Small from Winnipeg, MB, secured the top spot in the MJT Boys 9-10 Division. "I feel happy," noted Small, attributing his win to his effective approach shots.
 

1.Tomas Scarcello (11), Winnipeg, MB | 48

2. Aaron Hill (11), Winnipeg, MB | 49

3. Nickolas Manegold (11), Winnipeg, MB | 50

 

With only four strokes separating the top four competitors in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division, Tomas Scarcello, 11, of Winnipeg, MB, credited his victory to his exceptional chipping.

 

MJT Mini Tour National Championship: Tomas Scarcello, Ryan Small, Ezra Kelly-Kupfer, Angelina Sitarz, Leah Klippenstein

 

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