HUNTSVILLE— One year after losing in hear-breaking fashion, Kitchener’s Ryan Kings returned to the Golf Ontario Investors Group Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship looking to claim the title that eluded him. Kings, from Deer Ridge Golf Club, entered the final round on June 15, at Deerhurst Resort Highlands course, with a share of the lead.
After a back-and-forth round with London’s Charles Fitzsimmons, Kings drained a birdie on the 18th hole to win the championship. Kings was even on the day when he made the turn and then made his move on the last five holes. He ended the round with back-to-back birdies to claim the title. Kings finished the day two-under to end the tournament four-under (72-70-70-212).
For Kings, getting the win a year after finishing runner up, was a sweet feeling. “This feels really good. I had a lead last year going into the final round but gave it up with some bad shots, so it is sweet redemption this year.”
In terms of the back and forth with Fitzsimmons, Kings said he never altered his approach. “I have played a lot of tournament golf and I know that it is a grind. You just have to keep playing your game. This course can bite anyone on any given hole, I just tried to be consistent.”
Kings said that the strength of his game throughout the event had to be his putting. “I putted well, I made the putts I needed to make. I didn’t make any big numbers just a few bogeys but I definitely had a few big bogey-saving putts.”
In addition to the Mid-Amateur title, the 40-year-old Kings, also captured the Men’s Mid-Masters (40+) Championship.
As for Fitzsimmons, from The Thornhill Club, he too had a good final round after entering the day with a share of the lead. He was two-under at the turn, but a string of three bogeys in a row set him back on the back nine. He did birdie 16 and 17 to finish one-under, to bring his tournament total to three-under (74-68-71-213), earning the silver medal.
Rounding out the podium was Brampton’s Dave Bunker. Bunker, a three-time winner of the event shot a three-under (69) during the final round. The Brampton Golf Club member also ended strong with birdies on 16 and 17. He finished the tournament at one-under (71-75-69-215).
Kings, Fitzsimmons and Bunker will represent Ontario in the inter-provincial competition at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Aug. 22-25, at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, Saskatchewan.
For full tournament information, including the final leaderboards, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao171/index.htm
Golf Ontario would like to thank Deerhurst Resort, along with their staff and volunteers, for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers and to title sponsor Investors Group for their continued support of golf in the province.
ABOUT THE INVESTORS GROUP ONTARIO MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship is a 54-hole competition featuring Ontario’s best golfers age 25 and older that have gained entry into the event through one of nine qualifying tournaments or through an exemption. Competitors age 40 and over also compete for the Ontario Men’s Mid-Master trophy. Contested annually since 1993, past champions of the event include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Stu Hamilton and Kelly Roberts, Dave Bunker, Graham Hill, Drew Symons and Garrett Rank.
