Zhao Siblings Shine; Playoff Needed At MJT Mini Tour At Tsawwassen Springs
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-04-21
TSAWWASSEN, British Columbia — The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour, held its second stop of the 2021 BC Mini Tour circuit for 12U players on April 18, at Tsawwassen Springs in Tsawwassen. Following strict COVID-19 protocols in accordance with the province of BC, the MJT operated the Mini Tour stop for members in six age divisions under all health and safety guidelines.
Tiger Zhao, 10, of Vancouver, BC, narrowly took home the low score honors in the MJT Boys 9-10 Division, firing a score of 75 at Tsawwassen Springs. Zhao, who has been playing on both the MJT Mini and Junior tours for a couple of years now, showed his experience yesterday by coming back after a tough start. Zhao’s score of 41 after nine holes was not up to his usual high standards, but his perseverance led him to making three birdies and shooting 34 on the back side to finish on top. “I really have to thank my mom (caddy),” commented Zhao. “She calmed me down and made me re-focus so I could have a good back nine.” Finishing one shot behind Zhao was 10-year-old Gordon Chen, of Port Moody, BC, with a score of 76.
Tiger Zhao’s younger sister, Laura Zhao, seems to be following in the same footsteps as her older brother, taking home the low score honors in the MJT Girls 8U Division. The seven-year-old rising star recorded a score of 89 marking one of her best finishes on the MJT Mini Tour since beginning last year. “My brother and I practice and help each other all the time,” said Zhao. “We were working on my putting last week and today it was really good.”
Adding to his successful start to the 2021 MJT season was 11-year-old Jeevyn Lotay, of Burnaby, BC. Lotay shot 79 to finish tied at the top of the leaderboard with 10-year-old Tiger Xie, of Surrey, BC, also shot 79 in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division. Needing a playoff to finish the day, Lotay drained an eight-foot putt for par on the first hole, making a great up-and-down to take the pole position over runner-up Xie. “I had a good back nine after a tough start,” said Lotay, who made two of his three birdies on the back side.
The MJT Boys 8U Division witnessed seven-year-old Surrey golfer, Ziping Chen, shoot a 78 to finish at the top of the division. Chen played smart and consistent golf making nothing higher than a bogey even after being in trouble. “The key for me was my putting,” commented Chen. “I made lots of putts and only made pars and bogeys.”
Nine-year-old Jenny Guo, of West Vancouver, BC, recorded a score of 81 at Tsawwassen Springs to grab the low score honors in the MJT Girls 9-10 Division. Guo, who had one tough hole on the front nine, bounced back remarkably towards the conclusion of her round to finish on top.
Taking the low score honors by just one shot in the MJT Girls 11-12 Division was 12-year-old Rose Chen, of Langley, BC. Chen, who is beginning her transition onto the MJT Junior Tour, solidified her progression after shooting 82 at Tsawwassen Springs. “It was a great day to play golf,” she said. “Even though I didn’t play my best, I stayed focused and has lots of fun.” 11-year-old Lilian Zhao, of Port Moody, finished second with a score of 83.
All scores can be viewed on the MJT website here. The MJT Mini Tour will be in Vancouver, BC, on May 22, for the MJT Mini Tour at Musqueam Golf Course. More information on the program 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 member functions across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 12U, and multi-day stops for players aged 11-19. 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.