Honoring a legacy of junior golf development, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour hosted one of the province’s great junior golf competitions — the 54th annual MJT Harry White Little Masters at Kings Links by the Sea in Ladner last week.
The event was founded by the legendary Harry White who was both a catalyst to the ignition of junior golf in BC and mentor to countless of young athletes aspiring to play competitively. White passed away in 2018 at the age of 72.
Continuing to follow the new player health and safety protocols set forth by the MJT, this year’s tournament featured 36 holes of golf, fantastic prizes, and inspiring camaraderie among competitors aged 12 and under on the MJT Mini Tour.
Completing the comeback in the MJT Boys 11-12 Division was 11-year old Jim Zhu.
The Vancouver golfer carded a 75 on the first day to sit two shots back of the lead. Zhu made his move on day two, firing a 70 with six birdies to win the division by one shot over Michael Li.
The MJT Boys 9-10 Division witnessed Surrey resident Jonathon Xia, 10, propel ahead of the field on the second day to win his seventh MJT Mini Tour title since 2018. Xia fired an opening round of 78 to sit in a tie for the lead and took control of the situation carding a 75 on the second day to win by three shots.
Spectacular scoring came from the MJT Boys 8U Division where eight-year old Jackson Wang, of Surrey fired rounds of 73 and 69 (142) to win by two shots.
“I just tried to say calm and relax out there,” commented Wang. “I feel very happy and excited to win!” Wang held off an incredible second-day surge from seven-year old Bentley Hoogerdyk, of Victoria, who carded rounds of 78 and 66 (144).
Ha Young Chang continues to impress on the MJT Mini Tour picking up her fourth 2020 win in the Girls 11-12 Division. The 12-year-old Surrey rising star fired scores of 80 and 72 (152) to win the division by four shots. Chang has been making the transition to the Junior Tour this year, playing in multiple events on the BC circuit and it is just a matter of time before she breaks out and earns her first win on the junior tour as well.
Capturing the victory in MJT Girls 9-10 with identical rounds of 83 (166) was 10-year old Karrisa Zhao, of West Vancouver.
Winnipeg’s Maisy Shewchuk recorded scores of 101 and 93 (194) to win the MJT Girls 8U Division.
The grand finale of the MJT 2020 Mini Tour takes place next week at Tsawwassen Springs.
