Bath Cleans Up In MJT Ontario Series At Timber Ridge, Stephen Wins Playoff
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- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-08-24
BRIGHTON, Ontario — The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) hosted the MJT Ontario Series at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton, where players in six age divisions were vying for valuable points on the MJT Order of Merit presented by RBC to help qualify for the MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas.
The MJT Junior Boys Division needed extra holes to determine a winner after two players finished tied at the top of the leaderboard after two days of play. Courtice, ON, golfer Charley Stephen, 17, shot 74 and 79 (153) while 18-year-old Matteo Ramzan, of Whitby, ON, shot 81 and 72 (153). After a tough start to his second round, Stephen eventually held on for the win emerging victorious from the playoff. “My short game with an emphasis on putting was responsible for getting me the win,” commented Stephen. “After the win, I feel confident going into my next event.” Ramzan finished runner-up while 18-year-old Owen Mailhot, of Whitby, ON, recorded scores of 78 and 76 (154) to finish in third place just one shot out of the playoff.
Marshall Bath, 15, cleaned up in the MJT Juvenile Boys Division after coming back with a great second round to win the title by four shots. The Courtice, ON, player fired scores of 78 and 70 (148) climbing up the leaderboard right away on the second day and never looking back. “It feels great to get the win in my first MJT event ever,” commented Bath. “This tournament was a great booster for the rest of my season.” Owen Henry, 16, of London, ON, finished the division runner-up with scores of 77 and 75 (152).
Holding on for the win in the MJT Bantam Boys Division was 14-year-old Russell Aide, of Stirling, ON. Aide fired rounds of 75 and 77 (152), good enough to win the title by three shots after having a two-shot lead after the first day. “I always expect my competitors to play well and I just had to stay focused,” commented Aide. “Most of my drives were in the fairway which gave me a big advantage.” Runner-up was Erin, ON, golfer Will Hindemit, 13, who fired rounds of 77 and 78 (155).
Some spectacular play from 12-year-old Vasili Gianakas, of Kleinburg, ON, secured his victory over Jaxon Easter, 11, of Windsor, ON, in the MJT Peewee Boys Division after he fired rounds of 74 and 72 (146) for his second MJT title in a very impressive opening season on Canada’s most played junior golf tour. “I’d say that all parts of my game were solid,” commented Gianakas. “But my driving and wedges were the key to the low rounds.”
Rounding out the competition was Stouffville, ON, player Rachel Sidor, 16, who carded 96 and 83 (179) to take home the title in the MJT Girls 15-19 Division over Olivea Pope, 16, of Saugeen Shores, ON, while 13-year-old Saige Sandhu, of Mississauga, ON, recorded scores of 89 and 94 (183) in the MJT Girls U15 Division.
The MJT Booster Juice BounceBack Awards for most improved score in round two over round one went to Rachel Sidor, Jaxon Easter, Cooper Pope, Michael Collett, and Austin Kuiack. Full results can be viewed here. The MJT Junior Tour next heads to Carlisle, ON, to host 90 competitors in the MJT Ontario Series at Carlisle Golf and Country Club. More details can be found 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.