Millbrook’s Cole Bernard Becomes First Mi’kmaw Golfer to Play
Great field and Guest Speakers Foley, Harmon, Kane highlight MJT National Championship
18 year-old Cole Bernard had an experience of a lifetime and played in the Maple Leaf Junior Tours’ National Championship in Kissimmee, Florida in mid-November. The tour motto says it all, Developing Champions. In Golf. In Life.
Kissimmee, FL – Canada’s number-one played Junior Golf Tour, the non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, concluded its 21st season November 10, 2019 with the final round of the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf at The Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, FL, which played host to four days of golf including a practice round and three rounds of competition and a record-sized field of elite young golfers from across Canada.
Guest Speakers were legendary golf coaches Butch Harmon and Sean Foley, and Canada’s Golf Hall of Fame and four-time LPGA champion, Lorie Kane, who presented the final awards to winners in seven different age divisions.
18 year-old Cole Bernard from the Millbrook Mi’kmaw Community achieved part of his lifelong goal to play golf at a higher level when he qualified for the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship held in Kissimmee, FL at the Reunion Resort Watson Course. Bernard joined the Maple Leaf Junior Tour for the first time this year and had participated in five regional events, finishing in the top five on the Order of Merit and to officially secure his spot in the 21st Maple Leaf Junior Tour National Championship.
After three rounds of competitive golf in the Junior (16-18) Division, Bernard was beginning to get a feel of the course and shot an 81, highlighted by two impressive birdies. On his opening and second round, back to back 84s left Bernard in 21st place of 27 National Junior players before climbing up the leaderboard and finishing 18th overall. In a brief interview with Bernard he stated, “I am truly honoured to be the first Mi’kmaw golfer to attend such an event and I represented my community with great pride and determination. I also want to extend my deepest appreciation to my Mom and all the local Millbrook sponsors who helped me make this trip possible! Justin Gloade, Mikey Stephens, Stephen Marshall Jr, Ward Markie and Justin Johnson, a big thank you!”
Bernard has been golfing for the past 10 years and has achieved many accomplishments. Last year he was part of the CEC school team where he placed first in the regionals, which earned him a spot in the school provincials. Cole placed 4th in the school provincials out of about 80 youth across the province. “That was my first-time golfing on a provincial level amongst youth my age.”
As the calendar inches towards 2020, be on the lookout for Bernard as he was one of the four youth to be selected to represent Nova Scotia at the 2020 North American Indigenous Games which will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 13-19, 2020.
All participants received generous gifting courtesy of TaylorMade and adidas Golf, and top finishers were again rewarded with fabulous prizes from MJT Partners TaylorMade and Maui Jim. PLYR Golf Closest-to-the-Pin and Long Drive winners are noted on the MJT website, along with a photo gallery. This tournament marks the end of the successful 2019 MJT season. The 2020 Early Bird Membership becomes available December 1; for more information please visit the website at www.maplejt.com.
About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour as well as the only national junior tour run exclusively by PGA of Canada Professionals and the ‘Road to College Golf’ in Canada. The organization is presented nationally by Boston Pizza and supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts over 80 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7 to 12 year olds, the Collegiate Tour for 19 to 23 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11 to 18 which are also qualifiers for international competitions. The program offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player’s performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include many Professional Tour players and PGA of Canada Professionals, as well as Canadian Amateur, National and Provincial Junior Champions. The MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life, promoting the game from grassroots through to provincial, national, university and professional level. For more information, see www.maplejt.com .
