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Junior golfers win national titles at Tsawwassen Springs

Maple Junior Golf Tour's Mini Tour finale attracts players from across the country
junior golf
Vancouver-golfer Lucy Lin fired rounds of 71 and 70 (141) at Tsawwassen Springs to earn back-to-back Maple Leaf Junior Golf Mini Tour National Championship titles.

Tsawwassen Springs welcomed young golfers from across the country last month for the Maple Junior Tour’s Mini Tour National Championship.

The event featured two days of competition with players qualifying based on performances in their regional MJT Mini Tour circuits.

Playing through rainy and windy conditions, the young athletes competed on the well-manicured Springs’ layout, all hoping to take home the coveted National Championship title in one of the six divisions

The MJT Boys 11-12 Division saw spectacular scoring from BC players who flooded the top of the leaderboard.

Carding a pair of 69s (138) to win by one shot was 12-year old Jerry Li of Vancouver. He recorded eight birdies over the 36 holes, managing to outlast an incredibly talented field of golfers.

“My key to victory was my driving and getting the ball in play,” said Li. “I was also able to make my eight and ten-foot putts.”

 Li, who won the first event on the 2020 BC Mini Tour circuit, returned to the winner’s circle at the right time becoming the 2020 MJT Mini Tour Boys 11-12 National Champion. Finishing runner-up was Surrey, BC’s Sukhraj Singh Gill, 12 (70-69).

The MJT Mini Tour Girls 11-12 National Champion was Vancouver-golfer Lucy Lin, 10, who fired rounds of 71 and 70 (141) to earn back-to-back National Championship titles after her Girls 9-10 victory last year.

 Lin, who had not finished outside the top five on the 2020 BC Mini Tour circuit, played very consistent golf, making five birdies and many pars on her way to victory.

“I had been working hard on my short game,” she commented. “My putting today was also good.”

Ha Young Chang of Surrey fired rounds of 75 and 70 (145) to take home second place. The MJT Mini Tour Boys 9-10 National Champion was 10-year old Jonathon Xia of Surrey. He shot 69 and 76 (145) to win the title.

Xia, who picked up two wins on the MJT BC Mini Tour season this year including at the recent MJT Harry White Little Masters at Kings Links by the Sea, showed why he deserved to be at the top of leaderboard making six birdies in total, five of them coming on the first day.

The MJT Boys 8U Mini Tour National Championship title was captured by eight-year old Jackson Wang. The Surrey, BC-resident fired an opening round of 76 to take a one-shot lead and took it low on the second day shooting an excellent 67 (146) to win the division title by three shots. Wang, who earned his ticket to this event after an impressive win at the MJT Harry White Little Masters at Kings Links by the Sea, continued his momentum by putting on a solid performance at Tsawwassen Springs.

 “I hit my drives straight and that put me in good position,” remarked Wang. “My putting was much better at this [event] and I’m happy to win.” Eight-year old Mason Garant, of Windsor, ON, after firing a round one score of 77, made an excellent run at the title shooting 69 on the second day. Garant’s brilliant efforts earned him a runner-up finish.

Becoming a Mini Tour National Champion in the MJT Girls 9-10 Division was nine-year old Kathleen Dunn. The Surrey, BC-player carded 85 and 82 (167) to earn the title by three shots.

Eight-year old Riviera Lindholm, of Toronto Girls 8U National Champion after her winning scores of 86 and 85 (171). Lindholm’s Mini Tour campaign has included one win last year and a runner-up finish this year. Her game came together at the perfect time as she now adds the National Championship title to her repertoire. “The key to my win was staying happy and calm,” commented Lindholm.