Three Playoffs Highlight MJT Manitoba Series At St. Boniface
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- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-07-24
Top junior golfers around the province competed for titles in six divisions at the MJT Manitoba Series at St. Boniface Golf Club in Winnipeg, MB, where playoffs were needed to determine three of the division winners. The event offered a valuable opportunity for members to gain crucial points on the MJT Order of Merit presented by RBC, leading to qualification for the MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas at Morgan Creek Golf Club in British Columbia this October.
The MJT Junior Boys Division saw a tie at the top of the leaderboard with a total score of 150 between Carman, MB, golfer Samuel Sullivan, 18, (72-78=150) and Winnipeg, MB, resident Jordon McDonald, 17, (74-76=150), forcing a playoff. Emerging victorious to earn his first MJT win since 2019 was McDonald. “I played some very steady golf,” commented McDonald. “The MJT Junior Boys Division has such a strong field and it feels great to get the win.” Sullivan had to settle for runner-up while 2020 MJT Manitoba Order of Merit Winner, Trey Ross, 18, of Winnipeg, MB, finished in third place with scores of 76 and 75 (151).
Similarly in the MJT Juvenile Boys Division, there was a tie for the lead with total scores of 150 between 15-year-old Hayden Delaloye, of Neepawa, MB, who had fired a pair of 75s, and 15-year-old Austin Boge, of Winnipeg, MB, who had come from behind with scores of 78 and 72 to force the playoff. Taking home the title and winning his fifth MJT Junior Tour title over the last four years was Delaloye. “I played smart golf and never got down on myself,” commented Delaloye, when asked about the key to his victory. “It feels great to get the win because I haven’t played my best golf recently and this is a great boost.” Boge finished in the runner-up spot while 16-year-old Jack Rudick, of Winnipeg, MB, fired a pair of 77s (154) to finish in third place.
Only three shots separated the top five players in the MJT Bantam Boys Division that also needed extra holes to determine a winner. With a tightly packed leaderboard throughout the competition, Winnipeggers Brayden Boge, 13, (79-79), 13, and Terence Rafferty, 14, (81-77), 14, finished tied at the top with a total score of 158. Cleaning up a three-footer and winning the playoff was Boge, who picked up his first MJT win of the season and fourth win in the last two years. “I tried really hard not to give up and come back after a bad hole,” commented Boge, who showed poise and perseverance throughout the competition. “I feel super happy and pumped to go into a playoff and come out with the win.” Rafferty finished the division in second while 14-year-old Jackson Delaurier, of Dauphin, MB, shot scores of 84 and 75 (159) to come back and round out the podium in third place.
Winnipeg’s Hudson Hunnie took home the title in the MJT Peewee Boys Division at St. Boniface in convincing fashion after firing scores of 82 and 76 (158). The 12-year-old was competing in just his third ever MJT event and has slowly made his way to the top after finishing third and then second in his previous two starts. “I think the most important factor to winning this tournament was getting to know the speed and breaks of the greens,” commented Hunnie, who placed a major emphasis on scoring around the greens. “I’m really excited that my game is good enough to come through and get the victory.”
The MJT Girls 15-19 Division saw 16-year-old Elle Wood, of Winnipeg, MB, record scores of 107 and 95 (202) to take home the division title over Annika Russell, 15, also of Winnipeg (109, 101). “I stayed calm throughout my game and never got upset over one shot,” commented Wood.
Kayla Tomsic, 14, of Winnipeg, came out to compete in her first ever MJT Junior Tour event in the Girls U15 Division, shooting 111-115. “It’s exciting to play on the MJT and I stayed positive in both my rounds.”
The MJT Junior Tour in Manitoba will make a stop in Carman next month for the MJT Manitoba Series at Carman Golf Club on August 19 and 20. Registration remains open and more details 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.