NEWS RELEASE
MJT MINI TOUR
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Under clear blue skies in Puslinch, Ont., the MJT Mini Tour stopped at Victoria Park Valley Golf Club on July 29, where a strong field of over 30 young golfers aged seven through 12 were sharpening their competitive skills.
These pint-sized pros were vying for titles in six divisions and the coveted chance to qualify for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship in British Columbia this August.
Notable performances resulted in division wins for Adam DiBernardo, 11, of Scarborough, Ont., in MJT Boys 11-12 (68), Katia Nahirniak, 12, of Georgetown, Ont., in MJT Girls 11-12 (91), Jax Vescan, 10, from Mississauga, Ont., in MJT Boys 9-10 (68), Matea Boras, 9, from Burlington, Ont., in MJT Girls 9-10 (82), Ethan Cai, 8, of North York, Ont., in MJT Boys 8U (77), and Islay Oh, 8, of Toronto, Ont., in MJT Girls 8U (75).
Top finisher scores, quotes from each division winner, and the list of qualified players are noted below. Full results are posted on the MJT website here.
The next MJT Mini Tour event in the province is at Beaverdale Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont., on Aug. 12. To register or for more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.
Top Finishers
MJT Girls 8U: Victoria Park: Par 62, Ydg 3072, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Islay Oh (8), Toronto, Ont. | 75
2. Sophie Wang (8), Barrie, Ont. | 77
3. Grace Black (8), Paris, Ont. | 101
Islay Oh, 8, Toronto, Ont., is back on the MJT Girls 8U podium after a string of second-place finishes. "Yesterday I had a lesson with my coach and fixed my swing," she shared, proving that sometimes all it takes is a little fine-tuning to go from silver to gold. Reflecting on her victory, Islay added: "Whenever I feel a little discouraged, I will think back to this day and I will become more confident."
MJT Girls 9-10: Victoria Park: Par 62, Ydg 3686, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Matea Boras (9), Burlington, Ont. | 82
2. Evelyn He (9), Toronto, Ont. | 87
2. Brinley Lau (10), Toronto, Ont. | 87
Matea Boras, a nine-year-old from Burlington, Ont., is racking up the medals in the MJT Girls 9-10 division. When asked about her secret to success, Boras simply said, "I take deep breaths and focus on fundamentals.” With her calm focus and medal collection, she's taking the golfing world by storm, one deep breath at a time.
MJT Girls 11-12: Victoria Park: Par 62, Ydg 3990, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Katia Nahirniak (12), Georgetown, Ont. | 91
Twelve-year-old Katia Nahirniak from Georgetown, Ont., had the rare challenge of facing off against her toughest competitor: herself. As the only entrant in the MJT Girls 11-12 division, Nahirniak displayed grit and determination, shooting a 91. "I stay focused by trying not to think about my score," she said. She added: “This experience helps me think that I actually am good enough to play with people that are better than me."
MJT Boys 8U: Victoria Park: Par 62, Ydg 3072, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Ethan Cai (8), North York, Ont. | 77
2. James Plunkett (8), Guelph, Ont. | 81
2. Logan Metzen (7), Etobicoke, Ont. | 83
Eight-year-old Ethan Cai from North York, Ont., showcased his budding golf prowess with a strong front nine, featuring not one, but two birdies. When asked about his winning approach in MJT Boys 8U, Cai shared his approach: "I prepared for this tournament by playing the golf course and telling myself to play normal." Reflecting on the event, he couldn't hide his excitement: "I rate this event a 10 out of 10 because this event is challenging and fun."
MJT Boys 9-10: Victoria Park: Par 62, Ydg 3686, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Jax Vescan (10), Mississauga, Ont. | 68
2. Kyle Scott (10), Guelph, Ont. | 75
3. Jaxon Mitchell (10), Burlington, Ont. | 76
Jax Vescan, a 10-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., pulled away from the competition and didn’t look back, winning the MJT Boys 9-10 title. When asked how he handles the pressure, Vescan shared his mantra: "I take a couple of deep breaths and say, 'I got this.'" This win clearly means everything to him, as he confidently stated, "This win gives me a boost to win more."
MJT Boys 11-12: Victoria Park: Par 62, Ydg 3990, Slope/Rating 0/0.0
1. Adam DiBernardo (11), Scarborough, Ont. | 68
2. Jay Shukla (12), Mississauga, Ont. | 72
2. Wilson Zhou (12), Toronto, Ont. | 72
Adam DiBernardo, 11, from Scarborough, Ont., finally broke through to the winner's circle after many near-misses. "I just played a lot with my family, and that helped me get better. Every round helped me," he shared. Commenting on his triumph, DiBernardo said, "It means a lot to me because I've come second and third a lot, and it feels great to break through and win."
Qualified Players:
MJT Mini Tour National Championship (highest ranked player not already exempt): Sophie Wang, Evelyn He, Katia Nahirniak, Griffin Mott, Kyle Scott, Wilson Zhou
About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour is Canada’s #1 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 partners across various tiers, including Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels. The MJT hosts more than 100 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.
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