Junior Golf Talent Showcased in Full Field at MJT’s Highwood Stop in High River

By THE MAPLE LEAF JUNIOR GOLF TOUR

HIGH RIVER, Alberta — The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour was proud to partner with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Athletics department to host the 2019 MJT Alberta Junior Championship Preview presented by SAIT Trojan Athletics at Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River, on June 22 and 23, where a spectacular weekend of golf included a playoff finish and impressive scoring, despite a rainstorm.

Members of the SAIT Trojans Golf team and staff came out to support the young junior golfers in this tournament, which served as a preview to the Alberta Junior Championship that will take place later next month. Boys and girls competed for titles in seven divisions as well as for spots on MJT Team Canada to Australia’s JNJG International Junior Classic.

A highlight-reel playoff finish occurred in the MJT Girls 15-18 Division where it took four extra holes for 16-year old, MacKenzie Baustad, of Calgary, AB, to win against 15-year old, Brooke Brezovski, of St. Albert, AB. Baustad (72, 74 - 146) built up a six-shot lead after the first round but was met by a career-best performance by Brezovski (78, 68 - 146) who carded a 68 in her final round and forced the playoff. “I stuck to my game and remained calm out there,” said Baustad. “Brooke had an incredible round and I really enjoyed playing with her and the rest of my playing partners throughout the tournament.” 

Georgia Barr, 14, came back from a two-shot deficit after the first round to win the MJT Girls U15 Division by four shots (84, 77 - 161). The Calgary-resident improved her score by seven shots on the second day after sitting in third place after her opening round. “It feels amazing to get a come-from-behind win, especially after not playing my best on the first day,” commented Barr. “I got to test my game on a tricky course and to perform under that pressure is a great step forward in my game.” Three-time MJT champion Brooke Frerichs, 14, of Calgary, carded rounds of 82 and 83 (165) to take second place in the division. 

The MJT Junior Boys title went to 18-year old Elias Theodossopoulos with scores of 78 and 71 (149). The Calgary-native was sitting in fifth place after his opening round but came out charging on day two, improving by seven shots to come back and win the Hoselton trophy. “It feels good to win after being down four shots after my first round,” said Theodossopoulos. “It shows that the work I’ve been doing pays off.” Finishing tied for second in the division were Nolan Collins (77, 75 - 152), 18, of Calgary, and Caden Park (75, 77 - 152), 17, of Springbank, AB. 

Four-year MJT veteran and six-time Junior Tour champion, Tommy McKenzie, fired scores of 72 and 74 (146) to win the MJT Juvenile Boys Division by four shots over 15-year old, Logan Graf (76, 74 - 150), of Sylvan Lake, AB. The 16-year old McKenzie, of Calgary, sat one shot behind after the first day and played steady golf all the way to victory. “It feels great to win this tournament with such good competition and on a tough golf course,” he commented. “I had a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to the next one.” Four other players finished in a tie for third place in the competitive division with scores of 155.

Priddis, AB player, Bradin Stahl, 14, claimed the win in the MJT Bantam Boys Division with rounds of 74 and 72 (146). Stahl said, “It feels great to win at a golf course like Highwood.” The five-year MJT veteran attributed his win to his play on the greens, “My lag-putting was on point, especially the one on 18 on the second day.” Ethan Wilson, 14, of St. Albert, AB, finished just two shots behind in second place after he carded a pair of 74s (148) on his way to a third career runner-up finish. 

Edmonton, AB’s Tate Bruggeman, 12, took home the Hoselton trophy in the MJT Peewee Boys Division for his third consecutive tournament. Bruggeman, who shot scores of 70 and 75 (145), got off to a hot start to the tournament. “The highlight of the tournament was holing out for eagle on the second hole on the first day,” he claimed, notching up his eighth career MJT win in 23 starts. Rounding the division in second place was Calgary’s Charlie Gillespie, 12, who fired rounds of 87 and 79 (166). Gillespie has yet to finish outside the top three in a tournament.  

The MJT Collegiate Division was captured by long-time MJT competitor, Dakota Smith with scores of 77 and 76 (153). Smith earned his third career MJT victory at Highwood, second of the 2019 season so far. “Even though I didn’t play my best golf, it’s a great feeling to win and I played consistent-golf over the weekend.” Runner-up in the division was 19-year old, Jarrett Bossert. The Fort Saskatchewan, AB native, carded scores of 86 and 75 (161). 

For PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and the MJT Booster Juice Comeback Award winners, please visit the highlights page for the tournament here. Finalists for the Team to Australia will be announced once qualifying has completed across the country.

The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in the province is the MJT Ford Series -PGA of Alberta Junior Championship at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club in Calgary from July 15-17. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.


About SAIT Trojan Athletics
The SAIT Trojans are one of the original founders of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), which was formed in the 1964-65. Since then, the Trojans have captured countless medals in a variety of sports, including 16 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national championships, 128 ACAC team championships and 67 ACAC individual championships. As of 2018-19, the Trojans have nearly 200 student athletes who compete in eight ACAC sports. More information can be found by going to saittrojans.com.

About the MJT
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s number one-played 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 presented nationally by Boston Pizza and supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts close to 80 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7 to 12 year olds, the Collegiate Tour for 19 to 23 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11 to 18 which are also qualifiers for international competitions. The program offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's 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 provincial, national, university and professional level. For more information, see www.maplejt.com.