The wins on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour keep coming for Unity's Justin Wood.
The 19-year-old golfer finished one under par over the two-day tournament to win the MJT-CPGA of Saskatchewan Junior Boys' 17-19 championship at The Willows Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon last week. It was his third MJT title of the season. Wood finished two strokes ahead of 17-year-old Leighton Bearchell from Moose Jaw.
"On the first day I made a tough triple, but I bounced back with birdies on two of my last three holes," said Wood. "Leighton and I had a great back-and-forth battle both days. It feels good to take the first three titles of the year."
With the win, Wood is in first place of both the national and provincial rankings of the Cleveland Golf Order of Merit. He has earned a total of 1,100 points so far this season.
Prince Albert's Cory Selander and Regina's Adam Schoettler tied for third place with a two-day total score of 149.
A total of 106 young golfers participated in the tournament, competing for titles in eight divisions.
Meadow Lake's Diehl Normand won the Juvenile Boys' 15-16 title. He also closed with a two-under-par 70 for a two-day total of 146. Normand edged Regina's Noah Kozack by two strokes.
"I almost had a hole-in-one and a hole-out for an eagle on 10 during my final round," said Normand, who also won his division's long drive and closest-to-the-pin competitions. "Noah had me worried. I wasn't sure if I was low enough to beat him today. I feel really good because it was my first victory on the MJT."
Kade Johnson of Yorkton finished in third, shooting a three-over-par 75 both days.
Bradley Moser of Saskatoon was crowned the Bantam Boys' 14 and under champion after carding a two-day total score of 150. He held off Ronnie Postnikoff from Medicine Hat, Alta. by one stroke.
"My personal highlight was birdieing the last hole for the win and shooting even par the second day," said Moser, who came from behind for the victory. "I was three back of first and two back of second to start the day and four back coming into the last hole. I didn't give up and picked up the win."
Andrew Campbell of Saskatoon placed third in the division with a total score of 155.
Back-to-back rounds of 82 handed the girls' championship title to 15-year-old Kayla Sawchuk of Prince Albert. She cited keeping her focus and staying positive with a steady mental game as keys to her victory.
"There were lots of new girls in this tournament and the scores were close. It's good to know that all the practice showed in my placing," said Sawchuk.
Chloe Sies of Melville, who barely made it to the tournament due to the flooding, finished in second after shooting rounds of 83 and 88. Third place went to Lloydminster, Alta.'s Taylor Swift, who carded rounds of 93 and 92.
Mini Tour players, which is for ages 12 and under, competed over 18 holes on July 4. The Atom Girls' and Boys' division winners were siblings Delihja, who shot 113, and Drayjon Sparvier , who shot 83, of Cowessess First Nation, SK. The Peewee Boys' division winner was Saskatoon's Carter Wingert with a score of 72.
Kayla Sawchuk also won her division's Mr. Lube longest drive competition. Diehl Normand, Saskatoon's Jordan Bean and Adam Schoettler won their respective longest drive competition. In the Sundog Eyewear closest-to-the-pin competition, the winners were Normand, Stephanie Chelack of Calgary, Alta., Saskatoon's Cole Nagy and Zach Hurd of Prince Albert. The Golf Town comeback awards for best second day improvement in score went to Courtney Wichihin of Sturgeon Lake, Jack Fischer of Regina, Jarrett Brehmer of Balgonie and Tyrell Wees of Regina.
The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Saskatchewan is the MJT Prodigy Series at Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert July 30 and 31.
