Li Wins Playoff In MJT Mini Tour At Cultus Lake
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2020-07-15
CULTUS LAKE, British Columbia – The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, continuing with its new player health and safety protocols, rolled into beautiful Cultus Lake, BC, on July 12, to host the MJT Mini Tour at Cultus Lake Golf Club.
Players age 12 and under came from across BC to compete for titles in six divisions, the first of which was Boys 11 to 12, where an exciting playoff was needed to determine the winner between Port Coquitlam-resident Eric Li, 12, and Pitt Meadows-resident Jaden August, 11. Li, who had a spectacular start, made five birdies in his first 10 holes. That was met by consistent play by August who crept back in the second half of the round. With both players firing 64s at the par 63 golf course, extra holes were required. After Li’s approach on the first playoff hole left himself short-sided, he made a remarkable up and down to take the division title after the first playoff hole. “I played quite well today,” commented Li. “I wasn’t thinking about the other players and I stayed patient.”
Making his first appearance in the winner’s circle was North Vancouver’s Tyson Valk, 10, in the MJT Boys 9-10 Division. Valk fired a 67 at Cultus Lake Golf Club to win his first career MJT Mini Tour title. “My putting was great,” he mentioned, attributing his win to his performance on the greens. “I never gave up and trusted my swing.”
Richmond-golfer, Jason Zhang, carded a 75 in the MJT Boys 8U Division to win the title by four shots. The eight-year old golfer, who finished second in his last MJT Mini Tour appearance at Musqueam Golf Course just recently, stepped up the podium to card his first career win at Cultus Lake.
Continuing her fantastic MJT Mini Tour performances in the MJT Girls 11-12 Division was 12-year old Ha Young Chang. The Surrey junior star, who won this same event in 2019, defended her title firing a 72 to win by three shots and claim the Low Overall Girls score. “I think I won because I never lost focus,” commented Chang when asked about her victory. “My game plan was to win and I never gave up.”
Port Moody-golfer, Lilian Zhao, 10, also fired a great round of 72 off the MJT Girls 9-10 tees to take the win in her division. Zhao made her moves on the par three’s at Cultus Lake, playing all seven of them at even par. “I just did my best,” commented Zhao. “It was a great experience to win.”
In the Girls 8U Division, Laura Zhao, of Vancouver won the title after carding an 86. The six-year old golfer, who practices and trains out of Golf Progress Hub, the Official Scoring Sponsor of the MJT BC Mini Tour, said, “I am very grateful to win this tournament because it is my first MJT [event].” With a successful start to her MJT career, Zhao will be looking to develop more of her competitive game over the years on Canada’s number-one played junior golf tour.
Full results of the event can be viewed here. The next MJT 12U stop in BC will take place in Tsawwassen with the MJT Mini Tour at Tsawwassen Springs, on July 16. 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.