Bowering best; locals dominate podium at MJT Whistler Junior Championship

 

Results Link 

The Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour held the MJT Whistler Junior Championship in picturesque Whistler, BC, on August 13 and 14, where Whistler Golf Course was in beautiful condition and ripe for scoring. Local golfers dominated the podium in three out of the seven age divisions: Bantam Boys, Girls 15-18 and the Collegiate division, however Low Overall score went to Vancouver’s Cole Bowering.

 

Bowering, 16, fired rounds of 70, 74 (144) to win the MJT Juvenile Boys title. He buckled down on the back nine to avoid losing the lead to runner-up, Riley Lai, 15, also of Vancouver, who closed with a great round of 72 to finish second with scores of 75, 72 (147). Their match was tied going into the 11^th hole during the second round, at which point Bowering would get the lead back and not relinquish it. “I feel great about the win, especially with a big push from the guys in my group in the middle of the round.”

 

The first division won by a Whistler local was in MJT Bantam Boys, where it took a playoff to determine the winner. Comeback Award winner, Stewart Walker, 13, of Whistler, BC, fired a one-under-par 70 on day two, which was 13 shots better than his opening round, 83, finishing his tournament with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to force a playoff with runner-up, Tony Bin, 14, of West Vancouver, BC, who had shot 76-77 (153).  Walker made a par (four) on the first playoff hole to capture the victory. Surrounded by support from local friends and family, Walker said he was thinking to himself on the final green, ‘Please don’t miss this three foot putt.’ He added, “I feel very excited (about winning) and thanks to everyone for coming out and for hosting this event.”

 

Another Whistler native and junior member at neighbouring Nicklaus North Golf Course, Kaitlyn Hill, 16, took home the MJT Girls 15-18 title with impressive rounds of 77, 75 (152). When asked why she decided to play this event, Hill said “I want to learn and become comfortable in pressure situations.” Hill played with the lead for the whole tournament, and was pressured on the back nine by runner-up Sherri Yang, 15, of Richmond, BC, who fired rounds of 79, 79=158.

 

Rounding out the trifecta of Whistler champions was Geordie Miller, 22, winner of the MJT Collegiate division. Miller, a six year veteran of the MJT, shot rounds of  80-74 (154) to run away with the title by 20 shots. Miller said, “It feels good (to win). I’ve had close calls in the past, so winning in my last tournament means a lot to me. MJT has lots of talented competition and the guys that put it on do an amazing job as well. Also, the resources that the MJT offer, like college recruiting, are incredible.

 

Rock-solid scores of 75, 70 (145) won the MJT Peewee Boys title for Jay Xu, 11, of Burnaby, BC, who took home the Hoselton trophy in convincing fashion with a 10 shot victory over 12 year old Vancouver resident, Jacob Knoblauch. Xu’s rounds were as solid as they come, highlighted by a three under par, 33, on the front nine of round two. “I feel very accomplished that I finally won a tournament this year”, said Xu. Xu will look to continue his fine play on the MJT’s Mini Tour events at Greenacres on Sunday, August 19 and the Mini Tour National Championship presented by Ford Canada at Tsawwassen Springs on August 23 and 24.

 

Justin Towill, 17, from Kelowna, BC, won a very close MJT Junior Boys division over Liam Kightley-Kauser, 17, of Surrey, BC. Towill’s rounds of 77, 81 (158) were two shots better than Kightley-Kauser’s 78, 82 (160). Towill commented about his final hole, saying, “I knew I was one shot ahead of two players – I was aggressive with my second and hit a great shot. I’m proud of myself for being able to come back from such a bad start.”

 

The MJT Girls U15 division saw Erin Lee, 13, from Langley, BC victorious for the third time this season on the MJT shooting 79, 74 (153). The highlight of Lee’s tournament came on the sixth hole during the second round where she said she “had a really long putt for birdie, and it went in.” Lee won the division by 13 shots over June Hsaio, 11, of Coquitlam, BC, who took home the MJT Comeback award for improving by 14 shots from day one to day two, shooting 90, 76=166.

 

The division winners eligible for exemptions into the prestigious MJT Boston Pizza National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf in Phoenix, AZ, this November, were Bowering, Walker, Towill, Xu and Lee. Full results and highlights are posted on the MJT website here, showing winners of the PLYR Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin Competitions, and MJT Comeback Awards, as well as a photo gallery.

 

With school starting again soon, the next MJT event in BC will be on October 13 and 14 – the MJT Ford Fall Series at Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club in Richmond. For more information, 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, 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