Some outstanding scores were recorded during the Odlum Brown Classic, a major ranked event on Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, which played out in great weather on Northview Golf Course in Surrey, July 27 to 29, starting on the Canal Course with a cut after 36 holes for the final round on the Ridge Course.
Kim Abbott, Odlum Brown Limited’s Vice President of Sales and Business Development, was on hand to present awards to top finishers out of the 110 junior golfers, who were competing for titles in six divisions in the Professional Golfers’ Association of British Columbia-endorsed tournament, plus exemptions into the North American Junior Amateur in Phoenix, Arizona and MJT Indian Wells International Players Championship in Palm Springs, California.
In the girls’ division, not only were 12 and 14 year olds playing up in Girls 15 and 19 divisions, but they were shooting under-par rounds each day.
It took an eight under-par from 12-year-old Euna Han of Coquitlam (69-70-69=208), and 14-year-old Tiffany Kong of Vancouver (68-69-71=208) to result in a tie for first place, forcing a playoff that resulted in Kong being crowned the MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of B.C. junior girls’ champion.
“I chipped in for eagle on the 18th hole during round one and am very proud about my results after practicing a lot,” Kong said in a press release. “This event was a great opportunity to see if I have anything to work on before the Canadian junior girls in Saskatchewan. I am very proud about my results and how I played to earn this place.”
Kathrin Chan, 15, of Richmond, took third just one stroke back with outstanding scores of 67, 69, 73 (209).
In the junior boys’ division, excellent scores of 71, 71, 71 (213) won the MJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of B.C. champion’stitle for Connor McLellan, 19, of Chilliwack, who cited this rock-solid consistency as the reason for his victory.
“Northview is a course I love. When I began to falter, I would come back nicely with pars or birdies. I wasn’t feeling very good about my game this week, but seeing three 71’s in a row makes me feel better and excited for future events again.”
Runner-up was Harry Bains, 17, of Surrey, (73, 75, 70=218) and a brilliant 67 on day two vaulted Tyler Leclair, 18, of North Vancouver, into third place (80, 67, 72=219).
MJT veteran Khan Leetriumphed asMJT juvenile boys’ champion after the 15-year-old from Surrey fired 70-71-74 (215) for a 10-stroke victory over runner-up Andy Kim, 15, of Langley, who had played a consistent three days going 75-75-75 (225), but could not catch up to Lee’s under-par first two rounds. “Everything was great,” said Lee. “My putting was better than before and my game plan was solid. I feel happy for winning my divisions by a lot of strokes and on my home course.”
Braeden Cooper, 14, of Vernon, deservedly claimed the MJT bantam boys’ champion’s title, securing his first MJT win with great scores of 72-71-73 (216). Sean Buckles, 14, of Vancouver tailed Cooper the whole way but lost sight of him on the last day going 71-74-78 (223), while Andy Jang, 14, of Langley came third in the division after shooting 73-79-81 (233).
Stellar play in theMJT Girls U15 division saw Julie Ju, 14, from Vancouver, win with a three-day score of 77-75-79 (231). Ju held off the competition by nine strokes, with runner-up Luyang Jiang of Langley battling back on the third day but still falling short going 83-81-76 (240). “I feel good and proud but I have to improve,” Ju stated after the event.
Richmond prodigy Brycen Ko, gave himself the best birthday present by winning theMJT Odlum Brown Classic-PGA of B.C. peewee boys’ champion’stitle. Ko turned 12 on July 29 and won his third MJT junior tour title of the season with a fantastic three-day score of 220 (78-69-73), a commanding 27-stroke victory over the rest of the field.
Ko said after his win, “I played in this event to gain experience and because MJT is a really well-run organization. My tournament highlight was having a good streak of birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie.”
The 18 winners of the on-course competitions were as follows:
Mr. Lube Long Drive Competition Winners
U15 Girls: Julie (Youn Soo) Ju • West Vancouver
15-19 Girls: Hannah Lee • Northview Golf & Country Club • Surrey
Peewee Boys: Brycen Ko • Shaughnessy G&CC • Richmond
Bantam Boys: Sean Buckles • Seymour • North Vancouver
Juvenile Boys: Andrew Spalti • Shaughnessy G&CC • Vancouver
Junior Boys: Owen Xiong • Redwoods golf course • West Vancouver
Sligo Closest-to-the-Pin Competition Winners
U15 Girls: Sienna Kraus • Swaneset • Maple Ridge
15-19 Girls: Belinda Lin • Morgan Creek GC • Surrey
Peewee Boys: Luke Quanson • The Derrick Golf and Winter Club • Edmonton
Bantam Boys: Sean Buckles • Seymour • North Vancouver
Juvenile Boys: Davide Kaiser • Kelowna Golf and Country Club • Kelowna
Junior Boys: Tanvir Kahlon • Core Golf Academy, Orlando, FL • Surrey
Golf Town Comeback Award Winners
U15 Girls: Emily Xu • Redwoods • Burnaby
15-19 Girls: Ji Na Choi • Port Moody
Peewee Boys: Brycen Ko • Shaughnessy G&CC • Richmond
Bantam Boys: Eddie Wang • Northland GC • North Vancouver
Juvenile Boys: Luke Rodrigue • Meadow Gardens • Anmore
Junior Boys: Tyler Leclair • Seymour G&CC • North Vancouver
McLellan and Kong receive exemptions into the MJT Indian Wells International players championship and the North American junior amateur, respectively.
