Great scoring in MJT Vancouver Junior Championship
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2017-03-22
Vancouver, B.C. (March 21, 2017) – Great scoring was recorded out of a packed field of junior golfers from four different provinces as well as the USA during three days of competition in the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s (MJT) season opening Vancouver Junior Championship at University Golf Club, Vancouver, BC, on March 18,19 and 20, where players were competing for titles in seven age divisions on the Boston Pizza-sponsored program. A hole-in-one on the third hole on day two was also recorded by Brandon Frechette, 15, of Lake Country, BC, earning him a special Miura Golf Gift Certificate.
"The scores posted were outstanding especially in very wet spring conditions, with Susan Xiao our Overall Girls Champion and Andrew Spalti the Overall Boys Champion," said Neil Bidewell, MJT Tournament Director. "The greens at University Golf Club were fantastic, which helped.”
Fantastic scoring by 15-year-old phenomenon Susan Xiao, 15, of Surrey, BC, saw her post a 54-hole total of seven under par after she fired outstanding rounds of 69, 68, 72 (209) to go low overall for the tournament and win the MJT Girls 15-18 Hoselton trophy. “I feel honoured and proud (to win),” she said. “The highlight of this event definitely was meeting and seeing all my friends, but the key reasons for my victory were hitting the greens and making birdie putts.”
An intense battle in the Juvenile Boys division was heated up by a blistering 66 on day two from Andrew Spalti, 16, of Vancouver, BC, who held on to win by two strokes over strong competition with his five-under-par total (71, 66, 74 =211), earning a direct exemption into the BC Junior Boys Championship. “I had confidence in my game – I was too focused on my own game to be worried about my competitors,” he said. “I hit a ton of greens this week and to know that my game is in shape at this time of year is very comforting.”
MJT Vancouver Junior Boys Champion was 17-year-old Chandler McDowell of Springbrook, AB, who shot 69, 71, 73 (213) for a six stroke winning margin and a direct exemption into the International Junior Masters in East Aurora, NY. He stated afterwards that his ball striking and putting helped him win, and that ‘winning this event is very nice – it’s a good way to kick off the 2017 season and hopefully propels me into playing well every event.’
The MJT Girls U15 Hoselton trophy was won by Angela Arora, 12, of Surrey BC, who shot rock-solid rounds of 78, 77, 79 (234) to win her division by ten strokes, stating afterwards, “I feel I was able to bounce back whenever I messed up. I played with awesome people this week! All of my competitors had me worried because everyone is really, really good.”
Another Surrey resident, Justin Bjornson, 11, carded a sterling 72 on day three to secure the MJT Peewee Boys championship trophy, firing 81, 75, 72 (228) to win by eight strokes. “The highlight of this event for me was holing out from 106 yards with my pitching wedge on hole 14 for eagle,” he said. “I feel great and can’t wait to play at Morgan Creek in the next event.”
The event’s Bantam Boys champion was Andy Luo, 14, of Burnaby, BC, who shot 74, 70, 77 (221) to win by four strokes. He stated, “I am very happy about this win because I shot under par on day two and won the (season’s) first MJT tournament.”
And wrapping up the division titles was Kai Ji, 22, of Abbotsford, BC, who won the new MJT Collegiate division for players aged 19 to 23 with scores of 79, 75, 72 (226).
For the PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and Golf Town Performance Award winners, please visit the tournament page on the MJT website.
The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in British Columbia is the MJT Humber College PGM Classic at Morgan Creek Golf Club in Surrey on April 15 and 16. For more information or to register, please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour presented by Boston Pizza 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 presented nationally by Boston Pizza and supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 70 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-12 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players which also qualify juniors for international competitions. The program offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's 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 provincial, national, university and professional level.
MEDIA CONTACT: Elaine Denton, Director of Marketing & Administration, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1-877