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MJT Team Canada Wins Hard Fought Battle in Mexico
CUERNAVACA, MEX: The 5th annual International Junior Golf Team Invitational concluded in victory for the Canadian contingent last week at Club de Golf Santa Fe in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
The eight junior golfers on MJT Team Canada successfully defended their title from last year after a close, tight battle, finishing with a two point winning margin in the unique match play format.
Teams representing the countries of Canada, USA, Mexico and Guatemala played best ball matches in the first round, alternate shot on the second, and singles matches in the third and final round. The event celebrated youth, sport and cultural diversity, and was covered by FOX Sports in Mexico.
MJT Team Canada was selected from qualifiers held across the country earlier this season by the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), Canada’s only national junior tour run by Golf Professionals. The team, which was sponsored by Travel Underwriters - Official International Events Partner of the MJT - included Kristina Gargaro, 16, of Port Moody, BC, Mitchell Lock, 18, of Mission, BC, Brett Webster, 18, of Abbotsford, BC, Breanne Neufeld, 16, of Coaldale, AB, Craig Gibson, 17, of Brooks, AB, Cornel Smith, 18, of Regina, SK, Josh Bamberger, 16, of Waterloo, ON, and Will Thornburrow, 16, of Toronto, ON.
Opening ceremonies were attended by embassy officials and dignitaries from the State of Morelos, and featured the Mexican army band playing national anthems as a player from each team raised their country's flag.
"The opening day ceremony was an emotional experience. The kids were so proud to represent their country and enjoyed all the pomp and circumstance," said Nan Mitzel, chaperone to the U.S. Team.
Dean Lock, MJT Team Captain, had nothing but good things to say about the undertaking by the Canadians: “Once again this was a fantastic opportunity and experience for everyone involved. The competition was even tougher this year and it was an honour to accompany the Team who represented Canada so well. From bonding during the practice round, to the three rounds of competition and the social experiences integrated into the event by the organizers, the whole event was superb. I was very proud of each and every one of the Canadian players and know this is a lifetime experience they will always remember."
MJT Team Canada will be returning to Mexico in 2007 for the 6th annual event, where the popularity of the international matches has even more countries booked to send teams.
As a not-for-profit association, the national Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) is presented by Boston Pizza and helps develop Canada's junior golfers, offering clinics, tournaments, international competitions and more. Now in its eighth season, the MJT is proud to provide juniors with high level international opportunities that take the game far beyond the course and highlight the program’s purpose of developing champions – in golf and in life. From free introductory clinics sponsored by Ford to 40 tournaments in 7 provinces across Canada including the major CPGA Zone-endorsed junior championships, the MJT offers a quality experience for players. For more information please visit www.maplejt.com.
Contact: Elaine Denton
Director of Marketing and PR, MJT
1-877-859-GOLF
edenton@maplejt.com
COMMENTARY ON THE PLAY:
DAY ONE: BEST BALL MATCHES
Match 1: Canada: Will Thornburrow, Cornel Smith
Mexico: Roberto Ruiz, Mario López
USA: Jens Bracht, Tyler McDougall
Canada got ahead early on the Mexicans: they were four up on them through six holes so they started to focus on the Americans where they were two down at the turn after Bracht made a birdie on the 9th hole. Thornburrow made 13 or 14 pars and Smith made three or four birdies so they made a great best ball team and Canada ended up winning 5 and 3 over the Mexicans and finishing all square with the Americans.
Match 2: Canada: Brett Webster, Kristina Gargaro
Mexico: Ana Alicia Malagon, Kristoffer Ventura
Guatemala: Sebastian Fernandez, Jose Beltranena
Canada got off to a shaky start making bogeys on the first two holes. The Mexicans made a couple of 30 footers on the front and Guatemala also made some good birdies. On the back nine the Mexicans continued to make putts and Guatemalans struggled which allowed Canada to win a couple of holes, but they never got a lead against either team and lost both matches - to Mexico 5 and 3, and to Guatemala 2 and 1.
Match 3: Canada: Craig Gibson, Josh Bamberger
Mexico: Luis Felipe Torres, Guillermo Saldaña
USA: Paul Mitzel, Cory Mehl
Gibson had a great start shooting 32 on the front nine which gave Canada a 4-up lead on the Americans and 2-up lead on the Mexicans. To start the back nine, the Americans came on making birdies on 10 and 11 but Canada managed to hold them off to win. Luis Felipe Torres had a great back nine having only 10 putts which got Mexico back all square after 18 holes. Canada beat USA 2 and 1, and tied Mexico.
Match 4: Canada: Mitchell Lock, Breanne Neufeld
Mexico: Ornella Arrizon, Jonathan Noble
USA: Sean McMullen, Katie Saucier
Canada got off to a rocky start missing two short birdie putts on holes 1 and 2. They were holding their own for the first six holes but then the Americans caught fire making three straight birdies and leaving Canada three down. They started a come back, making some putts at the end and finished up beating Mexico 3 and 2 and losing 2 down to the USA on the 18th hole.
DAY TWO: ALTERNATE SHOT MATCHES
Match 1: Canada: Craig Gibson, Kristina Gargaro
USA: Jens Bracht, Tyler McDougall
Mexico: Luis Felipe Torres, Kristoffer Ventura
Canada started off really solid; Gargaro chipped in on hole 3 to take a commanding lead on both teams. Both players made clutch shots and putts to stay in the game and after 9 holes were 4 up to the US and 3 up to Mexico. Some costly missed putts saw them lose momentum and the USA extended the match to 18 holes, losing on the 18th. The Mexicans took Canada to 17 holes where Canada ended up winning 2 and 1.
Match 2: Canada: Josh Bamberger, Brett Webster
Mexico: Ana Alicia Malagon, Mario Lopez
USA: Paul Mitzel, Cory Mehl
Canada played steady on the front and got to a one up lead after 9 on both countries. They then lost a couple of holes on the back to the USA and got to 2 down with 3 to play. Canada then won 16 with a par, won 17 with a par, and on 18 hit it on the green to 5 feet, putting pressure on both teams. Canada made the birdie putt and won both matches one up.
Match 3: Canada: Will Thornburrow, Mitchell Lock
USA: Sean McMullen, Katie Saucier
Mexico: Roberto Ruiz, Jonathan Noble
Poor putting cost the Canadians the matches today. The alternate shot format worked out well for the Mexicans and they were one under when the match ended on the 14th. Some solid putting from the Americans allowed them to pull away from us on holes 11 through 14.
Match 4: Canada: Cornel Smith, Breanne Neufeld
Mexico: Guillermo Saldaña, Ornella Arrizon
Guatemala: Sebastian Fernandez, Jose Beltranena
Canada got off to a shaky start but then started to bring it all together. The Guatemalans started out fine and just got better from there. The Mexicans unfortunately could not get the putter going and got knocked out early. Canada played as well as they could but Guatemala had lots of distance off every tee, very beneficial in alternate shot.
DAY THREE: SINGLES MATCHES
Match 1: Canada: Mitchell Lock
Guatemala: Jose Beltranena
Mexico: Kristoffer Ventura
Canada lost to Guatemala 5 and 4 and to Mexico on the 18th hole. “I started off playing well on the front nine but simply got outplayed by Beltranena, “ said Lock. “Ventura missed some short putts so I had an early lead on him, but on the back nine I started playing poorly and lost a bunch of holes in a row.”
Match 2: Canada: Breanne Neufeld
Guatemala: Sebastian Fernandez
Mexico: Jonathan Noble
“I got off to a really good start,” said Neufeld, “I continued to execute good shots leaving me 4-up to Mexico after nine and 3-up on Guatemala. After the turn, both countries picked up their games and beat me 2-up (Mexico) and 3 and 2 (Guatemala).”
Match 3: Canada: Craig Gibson
USA: Sean McMullen
Mexico: Luis Felipe Torres
“After 5 holes I was up in the match with the American and one down to the Mexican, who had consistent putting all round. With an even par 36 on the front nine, I ended up being 2-up on the USA and 1-down to Mexico. After a bad bogey on 11, I dropped to 1-up and 2-down respectively. I needed to finish strong. I made three straight pars and the Mexican struggled with his game. I beat him on the 18th 2-up and beat USA 1-up after his steady play all day.”
Match 4: Canada: Kristina Gargaro
USA: Katie Saucier
Mexico: Roberto Ruiz
“I struggled on the front nine,” said Gargaro. “Mexico started off with a birdie and fired low numbers throughout the entire round. Katie (Saucier - USA) and I had a close match going on. After nine I was 3-down to Mexico and 2-down to the USA. Mexico won 5 and 3 while USA took me to 18. I was 1-down going to 17 where I struck a 7-wood to 3-feet, made birdie and was all square going to 18 where an easy tap in par won me the match.”
Match 5: Canada: Josh Bamberger
USA: Paul Mitzel
Mexico: Ana Alicia Malagon
“I battled on the front nine with Paul (Mitzel),” said Bamberger. “After being 2-down through 4 holes I managed to get it to 1-down after a birdie on 9. Malagon struggled and I was fortunate enough to beat her 5 and 4. Paul played very well on the back nine, shooting an even par 36, but I was able to make some key putts and birdies at the right time to be all square going into 17. On 17, both Paul and I put out shots in the left greenside bunker. I managed to get up and down and as a result took a 1-shot lead going into 18, which was my first lead of the day. On 18 I hit a very nice approach shot to about 6 feet and after Paul missed his birdie putt I only needed two putts to win and I managed to do just that to win 1-up over USA.”
Match 6: Canada: Will Thornburrow
USA: Jens Bracht
Mexico: Mario Lopez
“A quick start put me in the lead after 5 holes,” said Thornburrow. “A short missed putt on 6 seemed to get the others going. Bracht went 4-under on the next four holes including an eagle on the 7th. He never looked back and finished Lopez and I off on 14 and 15. After a good birdie on 15 I brought myself to within one point of Lopez. I made a good save on 17 and watched him miss his putt. Heading to 18 one down, I hit a good drive and a great second. Lopez drained his 15-footer for par. I left the 12-foot birdie putt short on the lip and lost one down. Bad putting cost me the matches today.”
Match 7: Canada: Brett Webster
USA: Tyler MacDougall
Mexico: Ornella Arrizon
“I got off to a good start going 2-up on both countries after 3 holes,” assessed Webster. “I lost a few in the middle of the front 9 but ended up getting to even with the USA and 3-up on Mexico after 9 holes. I got into trouble with the USA on the back and never really recovered, so ended up losing to them on 15 after beating Mexico on 14.”
Match 8: Canada: Cornel Smith
Mexico: Guillermo Saldaña
USA: Cory Mehl
“Mexico was pretty solid and didn’t make too many mistakes,” summarized Smith. “After 11 holes I was 2-down to USA and after 17 I was 1-up so I grinded extremely hard to get those points. A bad break on 18 cost me the hole to both countries, but a tie with USA gave us the win so in the end every hole counted.” He added “I am just really glad to have met so many great people as well, especially team Canada who were the greatest team mates I could have asked for.”
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