Lanai Park, an 8-year-old golfer from Oakville, dominated the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) Mini Tour, claiming first place in the Girls 8U division at Centennial Park Golf Centre in Etobicoke on June 2, 2024. Park shot a 66 on a par 60 course with a yardage of 3225, she shot the lowest score out of all six age divisions.
Her victory in the 18-hole tournament, part of the Ontario circuit of the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT), qualifies her for the MJT Mini Tour National Championship at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, this August.
Reflecting on her win, Park said "I feel very happy about winning today." She praised the event hosts, saying, "You are awesome, keep up the great work!”
Despite the wet conditions, nearly 40 young players participated in the event, many making their tournament debut.
The executive-length course saw impressive scores, with winners in six age divisions earning spots in the upcoming national championship.
In Park's division, she placed first and beat her runner-up by 15 strokes.
According to a news release from tournament staff, the top finishers in the MJT Girls 8U division include:
- Lanai Park (8), Oakville, ON | 66
- Islay Oh (8), Toronto, ON | 81
- Grace Black (8), Paris, ON | 112
In an interview, Lanai told Oakville News, "I've never played in a MJT National championship before. I am nervous and excited there will be lots of good golfers."
When asked about her love for golf, Lanai said, "I love the competition and meeting new friends. I like the prizes and the medals that they give out."
Her advice to other young golfers? "If you golf a little every day, you will become a better golfer. My dad says the more I practice, the luckier I get."
Lanai is also not the only golfer in the family, as her two older twin sisters, Nobelle and Kaprice, play for Team Ontario.
Read more: Oakville twins rank one and two in golf tour qualifier
Lanai will be joined at the national championship by fellow golfers: Matea Boras, Angelina He, Emmett Pitton, Derek Zhao, and Bentley McNamara.
The next MJT Mini Tour stop in Ontario is at Scarlett Woods Golf Course in Toronto on June 30, 2024. For more information or to register, visit maplejt.com.