The two-day MJT FCG World Golf Championship Qualifier at Northview Golf & Country Club saw two young Surrey golfers win their age divisions.
The tournament, played Friday and Saturday (March 28-29), included playoffs in two of six divisions on the challenging Canal course, known for tree-lined fairways and strategic water features.
Blake Newell, 17, from Surrey, won the MJT Junior Boys title while fellow Surrey resident James C.R. Qiu claimed the MJT Peewee Boys trophy.
Newell fired rounds of 72 and 69 for a 141 total, highlighted by nine birdies over two days.
“This tournament was a 10/10 experience," he said later. "The amenities like the food, range balls, and tee gifts made it great.”
Meanwhile, James C.R. Qiu had rounds of 74 and 69 (143), highlighted by five birdies. The 12-year-old credited his off-season improvements for the strong start, sharing, “I improved my putting over the winter and changed my irons,” with golfing tips from his dad.
At Northview, players were competing for exemptions into other golf events including the International Junior Masters, MJT East Coast Junior Championship, MJT National Tour Challenge and NextGen Pacific Championship.
The MJT Bantam Boys division saw one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament, with a four-way playoff needed after Jack Guo, 13, of West Vancouver, Jackson Wang, 13, and Jayden H X Zhu, 13, both of Langley, and Kaden Phan, 14, of Vancouver, all finished tied at 143. Guo emerged victorious after a thrilling battle that concluded on the third extra hole.
Another playoff win took place in the MJT Girls U15 division, where Bihan (Bella) Yang, 13, of Vancouver, defeated fellow Vancouver golfer Rikki Liu, 13, with a birdie on the first extra hole, after both players finished tied for the lead at 149.
Full results and photos are posted on maplejt.com.
Next up for the MJT is the Junior Worlds Qualifier, April 5–6 at Morgan Creek Golf Course in South Surrey.
