Tottenham, ON — 143 players, Woodington Lake Golf Club, and the return of the Ontario Open. That’s what the light rain welcomed this morning as the field teed off at 8:00 am, looking for glory as they set upon the beautiful track in Tottenham, Ontario.
With vast talent across the board, it was common knowledge that if one wanted to come out on the top of the leaderboard, they would have to strike early. And strike early they did. With some hot play from the get-go, it was only an inclination of what was to come. Despite undesirable conditions, competitive scores and play we’re seen throughout the entire field as they battled it out for the $40,000 purse.
After 18, it was Matthew Scobie (Deer Creek GC) who came out ahead going into the second round. With some impressive play down the stretch, Scobie proved resilience is key to persevering in such a competitive tournament. After a rough start for Scobie with a bogey on 3 and a double bogey right after on 4, the veteran golfer proved his maturity and kept pushing on. Carding back to back birdies on 7 & 8, and another two on the back nine, Scobie was able to come out of the tough round with a score below par, eventually resulting in him placing first heading into the second round.
“It was tough out there,” said Scobie. “The weather definitely wasn’t in our favour but I knew I had to keep on pushing.” When asked about how he feels placing on the top of the leaderboard, he couldn’t help but voice a little excitement.
“It’s a nice feeling,” he said. “I haven’t played much this year, nor did I come to this tournament with the intentions of competing. I just wanted to come out and have fun, but some success is definitely an added bonus.” Scobie would finish the round -1 (70).
Following Scobie was a three-way tie for second, ultimately proving just how close today’s round was. Austin James (Loyalist CC), Blair Bursey (Gander, NL), and Shyamal Nagindas (Aurora, ON) all showcased impressive play throughout the course of the round with scores of +1 (73). Trailing only a single stroke behind the leader, one can only imagine the intensity will only rise in tomorrow’s round.
As for the Amateur portion of the tournament, it was Thomas Giroux (The Club at North Halton), Luke Bigelow (Sharon, ON), and Sudarshan Yellamaraju (Blue Springs GC) all tied for first with scores of +1. They will continue to battle it out for the top spot in tomorrow’s round as well.
Tee times for round two begin tomorrow begin at 8:00. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization and is focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
About the Ontario Open
The Ontario Open has a storied history dating back to 1923, making this Championship one of the oldest Championships in the world. Past champions of this event reads like a who’s who of Canadian and International golf, and includes the immortal Sam Snead, Canadian golfing legends George Knudson and Moe Norman, as well as seven-time champion Nick Weslock.
Other notable past players include PGA members such as (Masters Champion) Mike Weir, (2020 Ryder Cup Captain) Steve Stricker, Ray Stewart, Jim Rutledge, Ian Leggett, Dave Morland, Jerry Anderson, Steve Flesch, Ashley Chinner, Trevor Dodds, Chris DiMarco, Dan Haldorson, Grant Waite, Ian Leggatt and Scott Dunlap.
About Woodington Lake Golf Club
Woodington Lake Golf Club is home to 36 holes of picturesque golf in Tottenham, Ontario, just north of Toronto. The original course, The Legend Course opened in 1995, and is built on over 200 acres of rolling terrain. Carved from towering pine forest and nestle around Woodington Lake, this course Is truly legendary. The newest addition to Woodington Lake Golf Club is the Legacy course, a true mix of Links and Stadium styles. With very challenging water hazards, along with fast and undulating greens, the Legacy course will keep golfers of every skill coming back for more.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
