Bath Low Overall With 69-68 & Li Nails Hole In One At Storm-Shortened MJT Junior Golf Hub Classic At Lakeridge Links
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- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-09-06
BROOKLIN, Ontario — The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, Canada’s number-one played junior golf tour, entered the finishing stretch of its 2021 Ontario Junior Tour schedule in Brooklin, with the MJT Junior Golf Hub Classic at Lakeridge Links Golf Club. This two-day event had close to 90 juniors competing for titles in six divisions and a last chance to qualify for the MJT National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf in British Columbia this October. Stormy weather forced the tournament to be shortened to 27 holes for three of the divisions.
Low overall score went to 15-year-old Marshall Bath, of Courtice, ON, who picked up his second MJT title after firing outstanding scores of 69 and 68 (137) in the MJT Juvenile Boys Division. “I felt amazing coming into this week and the win shows that my hard work is paying off,” said Bath about his second-ever MJT start. “I would say my driving and putting really helped me out in this tournament.” North York, ON, golfer Ryan T. Chen, 16, carded 68 and 79 (147) to take home second place. Another highlight in the division was a hole-in-one on the eighth hole during the first round at Lakeridge Links Golf Club by 16-year-old Grant Li, of Mississauga, ON. Li finished T14th in the division (82-84).
Matthew Rastogi, 14, of North York, ON, won the MJT Bantam Boys Division with rock-solid scores of 74 and 72 (146), his second MJT title of the year. Rastogi, who had a one-shot lead after the first day, showed his talent on day two after winning by five shots. “I knew the course well and my game was in good shape, so I was pretty confident going into the tournament,” commented Rastogi. “My putting was responsible for getting me the win as I made most of my putts around five feet.” Bo Dong, 13, of Toronto, ON, finished the division runner-up with scores of 76 and 75 (151).
Andy Dai, of Markham, ON, continues to show his elevated play in the MJT Peewee Boys Division with another win on the Junior Tour, this time with a pair of 73s (146). “I felt confident going into the tournament because I played well in the practice round, and my putting was responsible for the win” said Dai, who has emerged as a national champion candidate with his fifth title of the year at Lakeridge Links Golf Club. Another Markham golfer, Dawson Lew, 12, finished second with scores of 78 and 75 (153).
Three players tied at the top of the leaderboard in the MJT Junior Boys Division after 27 holes of competition. Wellesley, ON, golfer Andrew Rouble, 17, shot 35 - 77 (112), Christopher Sobil, 17, of Courtice, ON, was 39 - 73 (112), and another Courtice golfer Charley Stephen, 17, carded 36 - 76 (112). Emerging victorious from a playoff was Rouble, with his second consecutive MJT win. “I think my tee shots were most responsible for getting me the win as I was able to keep the ball in play,” commented Rouble. “The course challenged every part of my game and I was happy to get the win.”
With weather making it too dangerous to go into a playoff for the two tied at the top of the leaderboard in the MJT Girls 15-19 Division, first place was determined as a tie between 17-year-old golfers, Carly Crooks, of Scarborough, ON, and Alessandra Christine Nagayo, of Toronto, ON. Crooks fired 40 - 72 (112) while Nagayo scores were 36 after nine holes on the first day and a score of 76 (112) on the second day.
Adding to her lead in the MJT Ontario Girls U15 Order of Merit standings was 13-year-old Angela Cai, of Oakville, ON. Cai sat two shots back after the first day after her nine-hole score of 40 but came back shooting 73 (113) on day two to win the division by four shots. “I wanted to gain as many Order of Merit points as possible,” commented Cai. “Getting the win in this event definitely helps.” Richmond Hill, ON, player Bridget Yu, 13, finished runner-up with a nine-hole score of 38 and a 79 (117) on the second day.
Booster Juice BounceBack Awards for the best improvement in score in round two over round one went to Edward Li of Markham, ON, Cooper Pope of Saugeen Shores, ON, and Christian Rotundo of Thorold, ON. 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.