Sam Bratvold is awarded his prize for winning the first Alberta MJT event of the season after a four-hole playoff last weekend.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
ktaniguchi@medicinehatnews.com@@kellentaniguchi
The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour teed off in Alberta on June 12 and 13 for its first tournament of the 2021 season, with Hatter Sam Bratvold taking home first place in the MJT Junior Boys Division after a four-hole playoff with Spruce Grove’s Connor Kurysh at the MJT Ford Series at Stony Plain Golf Course.
“It was a pretty intense playoff,” said Bratvold. “We both started with a birdie, pared the second hole, we both birdied the third hole, and the last hole I was able to drive the green and then I two-putted for a birdie to win. It was pretty exciting.”
The MJT was supposed to start on May 1, but due to COVID-19 restrictions the tour started six weeks late. Bratvold says although the competition wasn’t happening, he was still able to work on his game during the pandemic since golf courses were still open – but he missed competing.
“There were definitely a little bit of nerves and stuff … but for the most part, it felt pretty natural out there and it was exciting,” he said. “It feels great because golf is fun in itself, but the competition makes it a lot better and just being out with the guys I’ve played with through the last three, four years was pretty nice.”
The 19-year-old is in his final year with the MJT and he hopes to carry the momentum into the rest of the season, adding he’s excited for a busy summer season. Bratvold plans to play golf at the university level next year and pursue an amateur, or possibly professional career.
Sadiq Jiwa, marketing and communications manager for the MJT, says he could tell the players were excited to be back on the course last weekend.
“There was definitely this vibe of being happy and grateful to be out on the golf course and playing,” he said.
“We’re just excited to get back up and running again. We’ve missed the kids, providing that atmosphere and those tournaments for the kids to compete in, play in and we’re looking forward to another great season, looking forward to see how these kids grow and develop on and off the golf course.”
Last year, the MJT looked a lot different due to COVID-19, says Jiwa. Golfers were only allowed to show up at a certain time before their tee time, they controlled walkways and limited spectators and, in some cases, had zero fans on the course. Jiwa says there is a lot to look forward to this year.
“I think everyone is looking forward to a sense of normalcy and the MJT stands with that notion as well. Our priority is obviously keeping the players, keep the staff, keep our personnel healthy and safe and minimize all types of exposure,” said Jiwa. “But the biggest and most important thing for us is providing that opportunity for kids to play, going back to our motto of developing champions in golf and in life and for us to be able to at least provide these competitive spaces.
Jiwa says there were three events scheduled for the first six weeks of the season that had to be rescheduled, but no tournaments will be missed this year – it’s a condensed schedule.
The next MJT tour in Alberta is from June 19-20, which is the Alberta Junior Preview Presented by Junior Golf Hub at Carstairs Golf Club.
