Impressive Scoring From 13-Year-Olds In MJT Ford Series Finale At Mayfair Lakes
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2020-10-16
RICHMOND, British Columbia — Canada’s number-one played junior golf tour made its way to Richmond, BC, to close out its 22nd regular season at the MJT Ford Series at Mayfair Lakes Golf Course. A wait-listed field, many of whom were trying to get one last competition in before the big championship, battled for titles in six divisions as well as for the chance to win a new car from Cam Clark Ford with a hole-in-one.
There were incredible performances by 13-year-olds in the field, boys and girls. Ryan Liang, 13, of Vancouver, BC, earned his third consecutive MJT victory in the Bantam Boys Division after firing rounds of 71 and 70 (142), ending up as the only competitor in the field to finish with a score under par. “It feels great to win three in a row,” commented Liang, who has had a tremendous ending to his 2020 season. “It’s nice to win an [event] under par and trust in my game.”
Playing up in the MJT Girls 15-19 Division, 13-year-old Vanessa Zhang earned her second consecutive MJT win with impressive scores of 72 and 76 (148). The Vancouver golfer made three birdies in her final nine holes of the opening round to give herself a solid lead going into the second day. “I made some critical putts on the back nine of both rounds,” commented Zhang. “It feels good to get the win right before the big championship at Morgan Creek as I now feel confident going into that one.” Zhang will be looking to make her mark next week at the MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf.
The MJT Junior Boys Division saw another quality performance from Russell Howlett. The 18-year-old player from Delta, BC, fired rounds of 72 and 73 (145) to win the title by seven shots. “My game was all around consistent,” remarked Howlett. “I’m happy to have won and am looking forward to the National Championship.”
Building himself a five-shot lead after the first day, 12-year-old Alex Zhang earned another Hoselton trophy in the MJT Peewee Boys Division. The Richmond golfer fired scores of 70 and 75 (145) including an eagle and four birdies to win the title by six shots. “I did a great job of avoiding the water,” commented Zhang, who relied on his accuracy off the tee to put him in prime scoring positions throughout both days. “It feels good to win another [event] on the MJT.”
The beat keeps going for MJT veteran champion, Danny Im, 16. The Langley, BC, golfer successfully defended his title from last year recording scores of 71 and 76 (147). “I know I could have done better, but it feels good to get the win,” remarked Im, who will be back at it in just a few days for the MJT National Championship. “I did a great job of staying cool and coming back after hitting some poor shots.”
Twelve-year-old Ha Young Chang picked up another victory in the MJT U15 Girls Division with scores of 73 and 79 (152). The talented golfer from Surrey, BC, inched out the win thanks to her strong performance in the first round. “I didn’t play as well as I would have liked in the second round,” commented Chang. “But I didn’t lose focus and kept going and I’m very happy to get the win.
Full results from the event can be viewed here. This event marks the conclusion of the 2020 MJT regular season in BC, and 2021 Early Bird Memberships will become available in December.
About Ford
Ford of Canada employs over 23,000 talented individuals in the fields of finance, sales and marketing, information technology, manufacturing and engineering, and human resources. This diverse workforce is responsible for the manufacturing and assembly operations that bring 320,000 vehicles and 425,000 engines to market. At Ford we are proud to be Canada’s longest-established automaker and remain committed to building a strong future in Canada. www.ford.ca.
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.