Ajax, ONT – The 2023 Ontario Champion of Champions Tournament presented by Durham Artificial Grass saw six golfers emerge as Champions on May 15 at Deer Creek Golf and Country Club in Ajax. A total of 258 golfers participated in this esteemed event as winners of their respective club championships, or equivalent event in the previous year.
The Senior Men’s Championship ended in a thrilling playoff tiebreaker, which saw Rob Gibson of Cedar Brae Golf Club edge out Rob Cowan of Westmount Golf and Country Club. The playoff took place on the par 4, 9th hole of the North Course, where Gibson, the Toronto native, finished at 2-over par (73). Cowan also finished at 2-over par (73) for a second-place finish, while David Greenaway of Barrie Country Club finished third at three-over par (74).
Nancy Vamvakas of Beacon Hall Golf Club was the Senior Women’s Champion. The native of Keswick finished 9-over par (80), while Meredith Stanford of Coppinwood Golf Club finished one stroke behind her at 10-over par (81). Denise Schaefer of Rockway Golf Course was close behind at 11-over par (82).
In the Men’s Championship it was Bradley Greenside of Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club winning by one stroke. Greenside from Barrie finished the tournament 1-under par (70) after a back-and-forth outing, which included a triple bogey on the par 5 10th. However, Greenside was able to hold on to finish one stroke ahead of Donalda Club’s David Lang and Camden Braes Golf and Country Club’s Peter Beneteau, who both finished tied for second at even par (71).
Julia Champion of Cedar Brae Golf Club lived up to her name by winning the Women’s Championship, which also went to a playoff on the South Course. Champion finished 5-over par (76), which was the same score Aurora’s Shelby Hardwick had, but due to the playoff, she had to settle for a second-place finish. Kara Anthony of Rosedale Golf Club would finish three strokes (79) behind them to finish third.
Wellandport’s Nathan Freure playing out of Sawmill Golf Course held on to secure the Junior Boys’ Championship finishing 3-over par (74), while Peter Blazevic of Markland Wood Golf Club and Justin Repovs of Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club finished 4-over par (75) to tie each other for second place.
Finally, the Junior Girls’ Championship was awarded to Oakville’s Julia Alexander-Carew, playing out of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club. She finished 1-over par (72) and six strokes ahead of Casey Kenney of Sawmill Golf Course and Naomi Goh of Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, who both finished 7-over par (78).
For more information on this tournament, including the final leaderboard and more information on each participant, visit the Champion of Champions website powered by Golf Genius.
This was the first time the Champion of Champions had been held after a three year gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Golf Ontario Tournament Director, Rob Watson, was pleased to see golfers take to the greens for this event again. “This was an amazing first year back,” he said. “We were honored to have the top golfers from their respective clubs here at this prestigious event, and we’re pleased that they were able to compete against and connect with one another.”
Golf Ontario would like to thank Deer Creek Golf and Country Club, and their staff, for hosting this event, as well as Golf Ontario Partner Durham Artificial Grass, the Presenting Sponsor of the tournament.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the most significant golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral 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.
For more information, please contact:
Greg Mitchell, Coordinator; Brand, Communications & Marketing Golf Ontario,
Rob Watson, Tournament Director
For tournament results, click here.
