It was an extra special stop on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) at Tor Hill Golf Course on June 28 and 29 in northwest Regina.
Not only did over 85 top juniors from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba travel to the Queen City for the 36-hole event, Carla and Trever Crozier were on hand to welcome the players at registration. The Crozier’s daughter Hallie played her first MJT event at Tor Hill several years ago before building an impressive resume leading to college at Ferris State University. Hallie has since suffered a brain injury. The family wanted to be at the event to welcome the players and thank many for the support since Hallie’s incident down in Michigan last year.
On the course, two junior women stole the show and added titles to their season.
Youran Zhu of Saskatoon won her third event of the year taking the under-15 women’s age group by nine shots over Alyxa Melsted of Wynyard. The two have competed hard against each other all season, Melsted has one win in Swift Current this season, Zhu’s only second place showing.
Newcomer Callie Glover is playing well too, the Foam lake golfer was third.
Tayla Perry of Regina won the women’s 15 to 19 age group with an impressive showing of 72 and 77, 10 shots better than Yuna Lee, also of the Queen City.
Warman player Tina Liu was in the hunt as well placing third at 164.
The under-13 men’s division was won by Hudson Deibert of Regina. The 10-year-old carded rounds of 74 and 79. His 153 was 18 strokes better than second place golfer Cohen Bridge of Corman Park.
Rising star Jun Lee has another in. The Royal Regina Golf Club shooter held off 21 other competitors to win the under-15 men’s age group in a playoff over Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte. Each player had a score of 144 after 36 holes.
Melville’s Keaton Kreklewich placed third with rounds of 79 and 74.
The champions in the under-17 and under-19 men’s age groups were won by a brother duo from Strathmore, Alta.
Connor Riou won the under-17 division with a score of 150, just three shots better than Humboldt’s Tryce Wallin and Kolton Spenst of Saskatoon.
Parker Riou won the men’s overall competition with a score of 145 (73,72).
Hudson Heistad of Avonlea was second i the under-19 category at 155. Isaac Shanks of Regina rounded out the podium in the junior age bracket.
To see the complete results of the event click here.
The next MJT event is July 28 and 29 at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club.
The next Order of Merit Tour on the junior circuit is the Notah Begay III Saskatchewan Championship at Dakota Dunes Golf Links starting on Wednesday, June 2.
All photos courtesy Jeff Chambers.