MJT Harry White Little Masters Champions Crowned At Kings Links By The Sea
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2020-08-19
DELTA, British Columbia — Honoring a legacy of junior golf development, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour hosted one of the great junior golf competitions in British Columbia, the 54th MJT Harry White Little Masters at Kings Links by the Sea in Delta on August 10 and 11. This event was founded by the legendary Harry White who was both a catalyst to the ignition of junior golf in BC and mentor to countless of young athletes aspiring to play golf competitively. Continuing to follow the new player health and safety protocols set forth by the MJT, this year’s competition featured 36 holes of golf, fantastic prizes, and inspiring camaraderie among competitors aged 12 and under on the MJT Mini Tour.
Completing the comeback in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division was 11-year-old Jim Zhu. The Vancouver golfer carded a 75 on the first day to sit two shots back of the lead. Zhu made his move on day two, firing a 70 with six birdies to win the division by one shot. “The key to my victory was my putting,” commented Zhu, who had no problem draining his birdie putts on the second day. 12-year-old Michael Li, of Vancouver, recorded consistent scores of 73 both days (146) to finish in second place.
The MJT Boys 9-10 Division witnessed Surrey resident Jonathon Xia, 10, propel ahead of the field on the second day to win his seventh MJT Mini Tour title since 2018. Xia fired an opening round of 78 to sit in a tie for the lead and took control of the situation carding a 75 on the second day to win by three shots. “It feels good to win,” commented Xia who picked up his first MJT Harry White Little Masters title.
Spectacular scoring came from the MJT Boys 8U Division where eight-year-old Jackson Wang, of Surrey, BC, fired rounds of 73 and 69 (142) to win by two shots. “I just tried to say calm and relax out there,” commented Wang. “I feel very happy and excited to win!” Wang held off an incredible second-day surge from seven-year-old Bentley Hoogerdyk, of Victoria, BC, who carded rounds of 78 and 66 (144) to take home the runner-up spot.
12-year-old Ha Young Chang continues to impress on the MJT Mini Tour picking up her fourth 2020 win in the Girls 11-12 Division. The Surrey rising star fired scores of 80 and 72 (152) to win the division by four shots. “I’d like to give a special thank you to my coach for the good instruction,” commented Chang after her win. Chang has been making the transition to the Junior Tour this year, playing in multiple events on the BC circuit and it is just a matter of time before she breaks out and earns her first win on the junior tour.
Capturing the victory in MJT Girls 9-10 with identical rounds of 83 (166) was 10-year-old Karrisa Zhao, of West Vancouver. “The key to my win was my supportive family and friends,” mentioned Zhao when collecting her trophy. “It feels like I won the lottery; I feel so happy!”
Bringing her game to BC from Winnipeg, MB, was seven-year-old Maisy Shewchuk. Shewchuck recorded scores of 101 and 93 (194) to win the MJT Girls 8U Division. “I had lots of practice,” commented Shewchuck, who prepared well for such a prestigious event. “It feels great to win.”
Full results can be viewed here. The grand finale for the MJT Mini Tour, the MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs in Tsawwassen, BC, runs next week on August 20 and 21. More information about the event can be found online at www.maplejt.com.
About the MJT
The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour 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 supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts close to 90 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.