Unity's Justin Wood won the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour season opener at the Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current last weekend.
Wood, 19, posted two under-par rounds of 69 and 70 for a two-day total of 139. The score was enough to claim the low overall and MJT Junior Boys' 17-19 title while enduring rain and lightning delays
"Being under par both days was nice to do," Wood said. "I was most nervous waiting in the clubhouse to see if I was low overall. I feel very happy with this win - I've put a lot of work in and to finally break through is really rewarding."
Runner-up in the division was 19-year-old Mike Flegel of Moose Jaw, who carded rounds of 71 and 73 for a total of 144. Bengough's Tyrin Foley, 18, shot 69 on day two to snag third with a total score of 147.
In the MJT Bantam Boys' 14 and under division, North Battleford's Kristian Houk, 14, finished fifth with a two-day total of 157. His rounds of 77 and 80 left him six strokes back of Calgary, Alta.'s Bradley McKeating, who made the trip worth his while by posting rounds of 75 and 76 for a score of 151 to take the title.
"It was a race from hole 10 on - the lead changed so quick I was just able to pull it off and make a putt on 18 for the win," said McKeating. "It's the best feeling in the world because it is my first junior win."
McKeating won by two strokes over Saskatoon's Bradley Moser, 14, and Connor Scissons, 14, who each shot 78, 75 (153) to tie for second.
More than 80 young golfers teed it up at the Boston Pizza-presented MJT Junior Worlds Qualifier and Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit Series Season Opener May 18 and 19, competing for titles in seven divisions and the chance to qualify for the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, Calif. this July.
The field comprised players on the MJT Mini Tour for ages 12 and under, as well as players up to the age of 19 on the regular tour. Mini Tour players competed over 18 holes May 19. The division winners, who are now all shortlisted for spots in the Junior World Championships, were Tess Bakus, 9, of Swift Current for Atom Girls with a round of 128, Koby Faubert, 10, of Wadena for Atom Boys who posted 112 and Rylie Seaman, 11, of Lethbridge, Alta. for Peewee Boys with a one-round score of 86.
On the MJT Tour, 14-year-old Noah Kozack of Regina, who was playing up a division, closed with the low round of the tournament and won the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 title by three strokes over Carson Harcourt, 16, of Kipling.
Kozack's second round 68 led him to a total of 141 strokes. Harcourt shot a 71 and 73 over the two-day tournament.
"It feels good to start off the year right," said Kozack, who cited being able to read the greens and make putts when needed as key to his victory.
Matt Bean, 15, of Saskatoon shot 71 and 75 for a third-place total of 146.
In the girls' division, it was an easy win for Regina's Lisa Reid, 19, who shot 80 and 78 and "played her own game," eagling No. 17 hole for a highlight.
"It feels good! I'm very proud of myself," she said.
Chloe Sies, 15, of Melville shot a two-day total of 175 for second. Redcliff, Alta.'s Lauren Koenig, 14, posted scores of 96 and 85 to finish third.
Sies and Koenig are now shortlisted for the Junior World Championships, together with Kozack and Harcourt. Final spots are subject to the outcome of the other MJT qualifiers across the country.
The two-day tournament also featured skills competitions, where divisional winners were Reid, Saskatoon's Keighton McNab, Matt Bean and Drew Kocur of Regina in the Mr. Lube Long Drive. In the Sundog Eyewear Closest-to-the-Pin, the winners were Sies, Adam Forbes of Saskatoon, Roman Timmerman of Saskatoon and Swift Current's Logan Tisdale. Golf Town Comeback Awards for best second day improvement in score went to Noah Bankowski of Saskatoon, Jordan Unger of Saskatoon, Logan Tisdale and Tyrin Foley.
The next Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop in Saskatchewan is the MJT-Golf Saskatchewan OOM Series at Deer Valley Golf and Estates in Deer Valley on June 14th and 15th, a qualifier for MJT Team Canada to Australia. For more information or to register please visit www.maplejt.com or call 1-877-859-4653.
