Scott Cowx Certified Academy Wins Major-Ranked MJT National Team Challenge Presented By Freedom 55 Financial
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2020-09-28
NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, Ontario — In a unique Canadian junior golf event featuring collegiate style scoring, 90 players took part in the annual MJT National Team Challenge (NTC) presented by Freedom 55 Financial at Royal Niagara Golf Club in Niagara on the Lake, ON. This three-day World Amateur Golf Ranking event, also ranked AJGA PBE Stars, Junior Golf Scoreboard and other associations, featured 15 of the top academies from across Ontario and Quebec, participating in both team and individual competitions under sunny skies and prime scoring conditions.
Scott Cowx Certified Academy came from behind on the last day to win the team trophy by two shots after recording scores of 312, 297, and 304 (913). The team consisted of Kavith Ranchagoda, Michael Weber, Sam Hogan, Nolan Piazza, Skylar Kew, and Ella Weber who all contributed to the team score at least once over the three days. Ranchagoda led the way with his performance as he finished in an individual tie for fourth out of 60 competitors with scores of 75, 74, and 75 (224).
Team Golf Ontario, represented by Ben MacLean, Justin Matthews, Peter Blazevic, Luke Delgobbo, Sarah Gallagher, and Hailey McLaughlin, took second place after leading for the first two rounds. Each player contributed at least one score each day, finishing with team scores of 299, 305, 311 (915). Gallagher’s individual performance placed her in a tie for second out of 30 players in the Junior Girls division.
Team Quebec, represented by Lydia St-Pierre, Yasmine Qureshi, Hugo Denis, Samuel Breton Gagnon, Mathieu Lafontaine, and Felix-Antione Levasseur, took third place with scores of 303, 310, and 303 (916). Denis and Gagnon led the way for Team Quebec, contributing each day of the competition and finishing tied for seventh place individually in the Junior Boys division.
Two of the three players tied for the lead in the MJT Junior Boys division went to the Escarpment Course for a playoff to determine an individual winner. Emerging victorious on the first extra hole was 17-year old Dayton Price, of Mississauga, ON, and the Ontario Golf Academy at Whistle Bear team, who had come back after recording scores of 75, 72, and 76 (223). “I was able to keep the ball in play and just stay focused for 18 holes,” commented Price. “It feels awesome – I’m very grateful to be able to compete against these talented boys.” Finishing tied for second were Ontario Golf Academy at Whistle Bear team-mate 15-year old Andreas Diogenous (75, 73, 75=223), of Cambridge, ON, with 17-year old Shawn Shera (76, 73, 74=223), of Windsor, ON, and A 21 Academy.
After a rollercoaster three rounds, 17-year old Alexis McMurray of Oakville, ON, and the ClubLink Academy (Vaughan) team, came out on top to win the MJT Junior Girls individual trophy by two with scores of 74, 84, and 72 (230). McMurray saved her best round for last, including two birdies on the front nine. “I trusted my shots and stayed positive even when I was struggling,” McMurray said. “I love this event where we are able to compete as a team and I’m very proud to have won against an amazing players and very competitive group of girls.” Finishing tied for second were Kelly Zhao, 14, of North York, ON and Nick Starchuk Golf Academy ( 77, 77, 78=232) and Sarah Gallagher, 16, of Burlington, ON and Team Golf Ontario (75, 77, 80=232)
To view the Team results in pdf format, please click here. For individual results, please click here. For more information, please visit the MJT website at www.maplejt.com.
About Freedom 55 Financial
Freedom 55 Financial, a division of London Life Insurance Company, offers financial security advice and planning to Canadians through its more than 3,700 financial security advisors across Canada. Freedom 55 Financial offers London Life’s own brand of life insurance, savings and investments, retirement income, annuities, and mortgage products to Canadians.
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.