Duchscher dominates at Swift Current’s MJT Ford Series stop
Swift Current, SK – (August 27, 2018) – Some fine golf was on display in Swift Current, SK, this past weekend, when Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour players turned out to compete in the MJT Ford Series-Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit Championship at Elmwood Golf Club. Three wins out of the seven divisions were settled by a maximum of two shots, and each division winner earned a direct exemption into the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship at the Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix, AZ, November 8 to 11.
The tournament was preceded by the Cypress Motors Go Golf! Junior Clinic on August 24 at Elmwood Golf Course which offered a free introduction to golf to boys and girls ages 6 to 12 in the community. Cypress Motors and Ford Canada also sponsored a hole-in-one contest to win a new Ford Focus during the competitive tournament on August 25 and 26, where several players came close to winning the exciting prize.
Overall low medalist in the tournament was MJT Junior Boys winner Steven Duchscher, 18, of Saskatoon, SK, who shot an impressive one-under par total of 141 over the two days. Duchscher opened his tournament by firing a three-under par 68 and backed it up with a two-over par 73 on day two. “It feels very good to finish off my season with a win and I played well all weekend long,” said Duchscher, who was able to hold off Golf Saskatchewan’s Junior Boys Champion, Josh Nagy, 17, also of Saskatoon, who pushed hard on day two but came up short, shooting 78, 70 (148).
In a tightly contested MJT Juvenile Boys division, Rylie Seaman, 15, of Lethbridge, AB, won the title after shooting 71, 75 (146) to beat runner-up Nolan Burzminski, 16, of Medicine Hat, AB, by two strokes (71, 77=148). “I eagled the 14th hole to go three up on Nolan,” Seaman said. “On the final hole my thoughts were to just hit it on the green and two putt for par. I am excited and happy that I was able to win.”
The MJT Bantam Boys title went to 14-year-old Cole Bergheim of Red Deer, AB, after he fired 73, 75 (148) to win by a single shot over Cort Tunall, 14, of Kindersley, SK (76, 73=149). Bergheim said the highlight of his day was his second to last hole where he drove the greenside bunker on a par four and got up and down for birdie to put him in the lead. He added, “On the final hole I had a one stroke lead and the hole was really windy. I knew I had to make par and I did. It feels good to come out on top.”
Max Regier, 12, of Saskatoon, won the MJT Peewee Boys division in convincing fashion after shooting 73, 76 (149). After the round, Regier was quoted saying, “My best hole was probably number nine – I was able to birdie it the first day and par it the second. I’m very excited to win this tournament. I fought hard against some other great golfers and it’s just good that I could get it done.” Runner-up honours went to Darien Herlick, 12, of Weyburn, SK, eight shots back after shooting 75, 82 (157).
Sarah Grieve, 15, of Saskatoon, was consistent all weekend after shooting 83, 84 (167) to hold on to a one-shot victory over Carey McLean, 16, of Deer Valley, SK in the MJT Girls 15-18 division. “I feel great about winning my division title because it gives me confidence going into the MJT National Team Challenge in Niagara Falls in a couple of weeks,” said Grieve.
In the MJT Girls U15 division, 12-year-old Ella Kozak of Yorkton, SK, shot consecutive scores of 84 for a two-day total of 168. “My best hole of the tournament was the 8th hole,” she stated, which was the hole where she made a birdie (two) both days.
And finally, in the MJT Collegiate division, Jax Gipman, 19, of Martensville, SK, shot 74, 79 (153) for a 14 stroke victory over Logan Crawford, 22, of Red Deer, AB (83, 84=167). “It’s a huge honour to win my division title. I’ve worked so hard this season and I’m so happy it has paid off,” said Gipman, who cited his best hole as number four where he hit great tee shots both days to inside of 10 feet.
Full results and overall event highlights are posted on the MJT website, which shows winners of the PLYR Long Drive, PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin and MJT Comeback Awards as well as the Academy Order of Merit standings.
This tournament wraps up a very successful season in Saskatchewan for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour. Early bird memberships for 2019 will be available in December; for more information, please visit www.maplejt.com.
About Ford: Ford of Canada and the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) are proud to continue with the successful MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics – an initiative that introduces golf for free to young people, teaching them a game they can benefit from their entire lives. Many thousands of kids have participated in this program since 2006. Clinics have been held in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan where participating Ford Dealers offer free MJT Ford Go Golf! Junior Clinics conducted by PGA of Canada Professionals to children in their community. Ford and the Ford Dealers Association wish to support amateur sport in their communities by introducing children to golf, encouraging them to learn the fundamentals, and rewarding them for their efforts. www.ford.ca
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, the Collegiate Tour for 19-23 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11 to 18 which are also qualifiers 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. For more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com
Media Contact: Russ MacKay, Operations Manager, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour rmackay@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF www.maplejt.com
