VINELAND, ON – Milton’s Reggie Millage, weathered the storm and everything else Mother Nature blew at him July 7 to win his division at the PGA of Ontario Summer Championship presented by Golfing Buddies at Twenty Valley G&CC.

“It was so windy out there today it was hard to know if you hit a good shot until it landed,” said Millage, the Head Coach for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) U19 Team Ontario. “I have played a bit of golf with the kids, but I have not played particularly well yet this summer, so this is a nice boost heading into next week’s PGA of Ontario Championship at Deer Ridge.”

After a two-hour delay that saw close to an inch of rain fall on the golf course and make it nearly impossible to play, everyone finally got the green light to play. In the end, it was the howling winds that caused more grief than the damp fairways that dried out nicely throughout the day.

“When I drove into the parking lot this morning and took a look at the course I didn’t think there was any way we were going to play,” added Millage, who earned the one shot victory by carding three birdies and just two bogeys for a score of 1-under par, 71. “It was such difficult weather today. I just put my head down, played hard and didn’t think too much about my swing. I was really just trying to survive.”

There was a four-way tie for second place at even-par, 72 between Jeff Mills from Wildfire GC, Jonathan Anderson from Northern Greens Golf Center, Scott Cowx from Hamilton G&CC Teaching Academy and Brian McCann from Brampton GC.

The PGA of Ontario, will be heading to the always challenging Deer Ridge GC next week for their marquee event of the year. The Titleist FootJoy PGA of Ontario Championship is the most highly sought after trophy in the zone and the best PGA professionals in the zone will gather to duke it out for this prestigious title.  The PGA of Ontario Championship is the longest running tournament in the history of the PGA of Ontario.  First contested in 1939, the Titleist FootJoy PGA of Ontario Championship is synonymous with some of Canada’s most accomplished club and touring professionals.  Those names include Moe Norman, George Knudson and Al Balding.

CAMBRIDGE— Team Ontario member and Ottawa resident Grace St-Germain became just the second player in the history of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship to repeat as champion. St-Germain, 15-years-old from the Hylands Golf Club, took the win on July 4 with a 1up victory over Burlington’s Madison Easterbrook.

St-Germain got out to a good start taking the first hole. At the turn she was 2up, and at one point on the back nine she led by three. However, Easterbrook mounted a comeback and was just 1down heading to the 17^th hole. Easterbrook would take the hole squaring the match with one to play. Both players put their second shot passed the green on 18, but both manage to get their third to within makeable putting distance. After Easterbrook missed her putt, St-Germain had the chance to win the match with hers and did just that.

“It feels really good to win back-to-back,” said St-Germain. “I put a lot of effort into it and everything worked out.”

To reach the finals, St-Germain overcame fellow Team Ontario teammate, Richmond Hill’s Monet Chun (3&2) in the semi finals, Crystina Kertsos (1up) in the quarter finals, and Hailey McLaughlin (7&5) in the opening round.

“My hardest match would have been the finals against Maddi. Monet put up a really good fight in the semis too. It was a good match we both don’t talk much, but still spoke a bit during the match.”

As for Easterbrook, 18-years-old from Whistle Bear Golf Club, she defeated Guelph’s Katie McTaggart (3&1) in the semis, Grafton’s Danielle Sawyer (1up) in the quarters, and Kingsville’s Alyssa Getty (4&3) in the opening round.

Despite having a 3up lead, St-Germain gave full credit to Easterbrook for her comeback. “She played really well! She won a couple of quick holes and we were back to being even. I was really nervous when we were all square after 17. I knew 18 was a hard hole so I just tried to play it smart.”

After seeing Easterbrook miss her putt on the 18^th hole, St-Germain remembers how she felt starring down her final putt. “I was standing over the putt and I was just shaking. I thought to myself ‘you have made these before’ so I just stepped up and hit it.”

Looking back on the week, St-Germain recognized that her improved putting was a major reason why she was able to repeat. “I putted pretty well, which helped me today and yesterday. I have been working on putting a lot lately.”

For St-Germain, she will now turn her attention to the Investors Group Junior Girls Championship, the Canadian Women’s Amateur and Nationals.

About the Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship

The Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1982. Female golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. Seeding was determined by the results from a qualification round held on July 2. Notable past champions include: Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, and Elizabeth Tong.

GRAVENHURST— Team Ontario member and Waterloo resident Trevor Ranton out lasted 67 other junior boys to claim the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship on July 4 at Taboo Resort. The 17-year-old from the Whistle Bear Golf Club topped Whitby’s Spencer Dobbs in the final 3&2.

Ranton was ranked fifth heading into the match while Dobbs held the number three seed in the tournament. Ranton was dominant throughout the event. In the semi finals he earned a 7&6 win over Niagara Falls’ Jaret Chipman. In the quarter finals, Ranton was victorious 3&1 over Toronto’s Minwoo Park. Ranton’s quest to the title also went through Selwyn’s Mitchell Holden (5&4), Toronto’s Will Gavarkovs (5&3), and Shelburne’s Kyle Johnston (7&5).

As for Dobbs, he earned a birth in the finals by defeating another Team Ontario member and last year’s runner up, Unionville’s Max Sear (2&1). Dobbs also picked up wins over Elmvale’s Andrew Nagel (5&4), North Bay’s Ryan Neil (19 holes), Seaforth’s Logan Lammerant (5&4), and Janetville’s Ryan Trapp (7&6).

After the win, Ranton talked about his successful week at the tournament. “I started the week playing really well. Through the middle three matches I faltered a little bit, but was still able to win the second and third matches pretty easily. Then in the quarter-final match, I was two-down through 11 and then found my game and managed to win. The semi-final match was my best of the week. I started with a bogey, but then followed it up with five birdies on the next 11 holes.”

It was the big win in his semi-final match that helped give Ranton the push he needed heading into the finals. “I got a lot of confidence and momentum after that and wanted to keep it going. I started really well in the finals. I started with a birdie and really got back in the grove I was in the day before.”

Ranton says there were points in the final match where he felt he was able to take control. “ He (Dobbs) made a couple of mistakes early and I kept playing steadily. I thought I was doing pretty well and then he made a birdie on 11 and put it really close on 12, so I kind of faltered there. But I got up and down to halve 12 and then birdied 13 and that’s when I thought I probably had it.”

Ranton still has a busy summer ahead including participating in the GAO Investors Group Men’s Amateur, the U.S. Junior Amateur and the GAO Investors Group Junior Boys Championship. Ranton said that the confidence from this win will go a long way in his future events. “Knowing that I can win on this stage, nothing is stopping me from doing it again.”

The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank the members and staff of Taboo Resort along with all volunteers for their outstanding hospitality and use of the course throughout the week, as well as Investors Group for their ongoing support of amateur golf in the province.  

About the Investors Group Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship

The Investors Group Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1998. Male golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. The field is determined by results from four qualifiers. Notable past champions include Matt McQuillan, Justin Shin, Stephane Dubois, and Jon Boncoddo.

The Golf Association of Ontario, the Provincial Sport Organization for Golf is currently seeking applicants for the Board of Directors for a three year term commencing January 2015.

With over 80 years of history and tradition, serving over 100,000 members,the Golf Association of Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. With the inclusion of Golf in the 2015 Pan Am Games and the 2016 Olympics, this promises to be an exciting and ground breaking time for the staff and Board of the Golf Association of Ontario.

From rating courses and educating golfers on the rules of the game; to growing the sport at the grassroots level and getting golf into our school systems; to keeping the Ontario golf community aware of all relevant issues and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, we are a passionate group dedicated to one thing; making golf better for everyone in Ontario.

The Board is responsible for determining GAO policy; for protecting the long term growth and health of the Association; for developing, monitoring and evaluating the strategic goals of the Association, for approving the Association’s annual budget and for authorizing and taking responsibility for the funding of the Association.

If you are a Strategic Thinker with experience in some of the areas of:

Business Administration; Finance and Accounting; Media and Public Relations; Brand Management; Fundraising; Human Resources; Governance or Not For Profit Association Law; How to make golf more accessible and welcoming to diverse populations and have a strong understanding of the Sport of Golf, we would like to hear from you.

Please click here for further information about the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors.

Application packages must include all of the following:

– Online application form
– Current CV

Instructions for uploading your documents are included on the application form.
Deadline for application is: Friday, August 15, 2014.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO APPLY

The Golf Association of Ontario is an equal opportunity organization. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All applications will be kept in confidence.

Highlights from the GAO’s 2014 Investors Group Mid-Amateur Championship, June 23-25, at Taboo Resort in Gravenhurst.

UXBRIDGE, ON— The best female golfers in Ontario will be teeing it up next week, July 8-11, at the Brampton Golf Club for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Women’s Amateur Championship.

The first two rounds of the 99^th edition of the tournament, which was also played at Brampton in 1985, will see the field of 87 cut down to 54, plus ties for the final two rounds.

The field will have numerous big names taking part, including 16-year-old Smiths Falls native and Canadian National Team member Brooke Henderson. Henderson is coming off a T-10 at the Women’s U.S. Open, June 22, where she also was the low amateur. In addition, Henderson won the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario event just days later on June 25.

Henderson’s first and second round group will include the two most recent champions as she will play along side Seaforth’s Robyn Doig, the 2013 champion who is coming off of a win at the Match Play Championship earlier this season, and fellow Team Canada member Mono’s Brittany Marchand, the 2012 winner.

Five-time champion, Mary Ann Hayward, from Aurora, will also be part of the field, as will 2011 champion and current Team Canada member Bath’s Augusta James and 2004 champion Etobicoke’s Terrill Samuel.

The field also features two members of the GAO’s Team Ontario with Oakville’s Annika Haynes and Richmond Hill’s Monet Chun taking part. At 13-years-old, Chun is one of the youngest competitors only older than 12-year-old Isabella Portokalis from London.

Portokalis is part of the GAO’s Team Waterloo U17 regional team. In addition to her participation, four other regional team members will compete. Joining her from Team Waterloo is Ridgeway’s Madeline Marck-Sherk, from Team York are Thornhill’s Ellice Hong and Hornby’s Alexandra Naumovski, and Lilian Klekner-Alt is the lone representative from Team Ottawa.

Marchand and Naumovski are part of the local contingent in the field from the Brampton Golf Club that also includes: Sandy Byckowski, Meredith Fairbairn, Kayrn Lee Ping, Katelyn McMahon and Melissa Ramnauth.

Participants will be gunning for one of the qualifying spots for the Canadian Women’s Amateur, July 22-25 at Craigowan Golf & Country Club in Woodstock. The top three finishers will comprise Team Ontario for the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship’s inter provincial competition.

First round tee offs will begin on July 8 at 7:30 a.m. To stay up to date on the entire tournament visit the tournament site at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao14/event/gao1416/index.htm

About the Women’s Amateur

The Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship was first contested in 1904. Past champions include: 1968 LPGA championship winner Sandra Post (1964), LPGA Tour player Alena Sharp (1989), Jennifer Kirby (2009, 2010), and World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit, who holds the record for the most number of titles with 11.

UXBRIDGE, ON— 2013 champion Brantford’s Stephane Dubois will lead a field of 156 golfers when the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Men’s Amateur Championship kicks off on July 8 at the Club at North Halton in Georgetown, the first time the club has hosted the event.

The field made their way through the various GAO qualifiers and exemptions and will hit the Club at North Halton for the first two round before the field is cut to the 60lowest score, and ties, for the final two rounds.

In addition to the title itself, the golfers will be looking to claim one of the Canadian Amateur Championship qualifying spots and the top three finishers will earn the right to represent Ontario in the inter provincial competition at the Canadian Amateur, Aug. 4-7 at the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club/Southwood Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It is a star-studded field to say the least. In addition to Dubois, other past champions participating include: Listowel’s Corey Conners (2010), who was a First-Team All-MAC selection during his 2013-14 season at Kent State, Woodbridge’s Dave Bunker (2008) who is fresh off his win at this season’s Investors Group Mid-Amateur Championship, and Georgetown’s Bill Swartz (1982).

Conners will be one of three Canadian National Team members to tee it up at the event. Kitchener’s Chris Hemmerich and Richmond Hill’s Taylor Pendrith will also be in the field. Team Canada Development Team members Vaughn’s Tony Gil, who captured this season’s Investors Group Junior Spring Classic, and Sutton West’s Carter Simon will also take part.

GAO U19 Team Ontario members will also be in the pack. As Hamilton’s Chad Watts Denyes, Unionville’s Max Sear, Waterloo’s Trevor Ranton, and Port Perry’s Sam McNulty all earned entry.

The youngest competitors in this year’s event are Toronto’s Mathew Suarez, who is a member of Team York, one of the GAO’s three regional U17 teams, and Oakville’s Damon Crane who both enter at just 15 years of age.

In addition to Swartz, there are six other players in the field that call North Halton their home course, including: Jeff Beedham, Thomas Hunt, David Kotsos, Mike Kotsos, Gary Potter and Adam Salisbury.

Round one tee time begin at 7:30 a.m. For up to date information about the tournament including leaderboard and pairings see the tournament website at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao14/event/gao1413/index.htm

About the Investors Group Men’s Amateur Championship

First played in 1923, the Investors Group Men’s Amateur Championship past champions include 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Jon Mills (2001), Gerry Kesselring ( ’49, ’51, ’52, ’53) and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (’64, ’68, ’71, ’74, ’74, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’81 & ’84). 

UXBRIDGE, ON— As we all know, a golf course can be a very relaxing, tranquil place. Yet in the blink of an eye, dark clouds can roll in and a thunderstorm can turn the course into an unsafe environment, especially if you are far from the clubhouse. Add to the fact that golf is a game played with metal implements and things even more dangerous.

The first thing golfers should do when they hear the horn is stop playing and head for the club house or shelter.  You should avoid high ground, water, tall, isolated trees and metal objects such as fences.  It is extremely important not to stand under lone trees as that is where the most people are injured or killed. You should move away from your clubs and golf cart.

When seeking an on course shelter, it needs to be a building with four sides and electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with the windows up.  Open-sided buildings do not provide protection from lightning even if they have a lightning rod.

A good rule for everyone is: “If you can see it (lightning), flee it; if you can hear it (thunder), clear it.” Environment Canada offers a 30-30 rule as well. They say if you can count 30 seconds or less between seeing a lightning flash and hearing the thunder, take shelter and stay there until 30 minutes after you last hear thunder.

If someone is struck by lightning it is important to call 911 immediately as the person has received an electrical shock and may be burned or have other injuries. It is ok to handle the person as lightning strikes do not leave an electrical charge in the victim. Give first aid and if their heart has stopped beating a trained person should give CPR.

All GAO championships and multi-day events have a course evacuation plan in place prior to the beginning of the practice round.

The tournament director will monitor the online weather systems in the event that there is any potential of dangerous weather.

If there is dangerous weather, rules officials will be advised of an impending suspension and the officials with air-horns will be located at positions on the course such that all players will be able to hear the signal.  Suspensions for a dangerous situation are signalled with one prolonged note.

Rule officials will assist in the evacuation process and conduct a sweep of their zone to ensure that all players, caddies and volunteers are off the golf course.

When play is suspended for a dangerous situation, all practice facilities on the premises are included in the suspension. All facilities remain closed until the committee reopens the practice areas.

Follow these tips to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable season on the golf course.

Niagara Falls, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team Canada’s Brooke Henderson kept the momentum going after the U.S. Women’s Open by winning the Canadian Women’s Tour stop at Legends on the Niagara’s Battlefield Course in Niagara Falls, Ont.

With six birdies in Wednesday’s round Henderson fired a bogey-free 6-under 66 to claim her second Canadian Women’s Tour title – she won the Canadian Women’s Tour Quebec stop in 2012 at age 14.

Henderson finished the tournament with a final score of 9-under-par 135, five strokes ahead of Stephanie Connelly after rounds of 69-66.

“Yesterday I was tied for the lead, so I knew I had to get a good round together.” Henderson said. “Coming in through nine I was 3-under and the girl ahead of me was 4-under for the day. I realized I needed to get in gear and was able to get four more birdies on the back nine.”

Henderson, 16, of Smiths Falls, Ont. is coming off of a successful month of play, finishing T10 in the U.S. Women’s Open and claiming the Porter Cup Champion title earlier in June.

Her win at this week’s event earns her an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, taking place at the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. in August.

“It’s definitely cool to get the exemption, I know I deserve it now instead of someone just giving me one, which I’m very grateful for too and I’ll take those anytime,” Henderson said. “I’m looking forward to going to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and seeing Lorie Kane as well as some other Canadian professionals out there.”

At the end of yesterday’s opening round, Henderson shared first place with Connelly of Fleming Island, Fla. Connelly finished at 4-under-par 140 to claim first place prize money. Simin Feng of Windermere, Fla. finished in solo third at 3-under 141, with Samantha Richdale of Kelowna B.C. at 2-under. Emily Childs finished in a tie for 5th at 1-under 143 with Australia’s Emma de Groot.

GRAVENHURST, ON— Make it a hat trick for Woodbridge’s Dave Bunker at the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Investors Group Mid-Amateur Championship. The Brampton Golf Club member was able to hang on to his lead from round two to claim the 2014 title at two-over for the tournament (70-70-75), June 25 at Taboo Resort in Gravenhurst.

The 49-year-old Bunker came into the final round at two-under for the tournament, one shot ahead of North York’s Charles Fitzsimmons and two better than Peterborough’s Michael Farrugia. However, Bunker got out to a tough start as he bogeyed the first hole and then doubled the second. He would end up three-over at the turn. He was able to settle down on the back nine and only bogeyed the 17^th hole. He tapped in on 18 for par, four-over for the day, and a three-shot win. Bunker also took home the Mid-Masters Championship (40-years and older division).

“It feels good to win three times. To win the match play earlier this season and now here is pretty special,” said Bunker.

Bunker knew that he didn’t begin the way he would have liked but explained how he overcame that to end the day on top. “It didn’t start the way I wanted it to. I struggled on the green on one and then hit a poor tee shot on two and it snowballed. But I settled down after that and played ok.”

Luckily for Bunker, the others around him also had their troubles. First round leader, Fitzsimmons (67-74-80), finished the front nine at eight-over and while he did regain his earlier form on the back nine, he still ended the day nine-over and eight-over for the tournament in a tie for eighth.

“I was really surprised when I bogeyed 17 and asked what the leaderboard looked like to find out I had a three-shot lead,” said Bunker. “I didn’t know that everybody else was doing the same thing as our group. It gave me a little relaxation on 18 that I didn’t have to worry too much about somebody being right there with me.

One member of the final group, Farrugia (72-70-76), had his difficulties as well but finished the day five-over and was able to hang on for a share of second place at five-over for the tournament.

The story of the day turned out to be Wasaga Beach resident Dean Henry (73-72-73). Henry entered play at three-over for the tournament, but after shooting one of the lower rounds during the final day, two-over, he ended in the tie for second with Farrugia at five-over for the championship.

Throughout the championship, weather was another story with delays and even minor suspensions in play occurring on day two. Bunker talked about how he battled through that. “I played really well in round one and two just staying out of trouble, hitting fairways and greens in regulation and putting really well. The weather was frustrating but everyone had to deal with it.”

Bunker, Farrugia and Henry will now move on to the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship as the Team Ontario representatives for the inter-provincial team competition. The event is scheduled for Sept. 16-19 at the Barrie Country Club.

“I am really looking forward to the Canadian Mid-Am at Barrie,” added Bunker. “Mike and Dean are really good players so we should have a very competitive team.”

As for his preparation for his upcoming events, Bunker isn’t going for anything out of the norm. “I’m just going to keep playing and practicing. I plan to play Barrie this weekend to just check out the course and will probably play it a few times during the summer.  I’m also looking forward to the Amateur at North Halton, I played well there last year and I’ll hopefully have a good week.”

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 eight qualifying tournaments or through an exemption. Competitors age 40 and over also compete for the Ontario Men’s Mid-Master division trophy. Contested annually since 1993, past champions of the event include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Stu Hamilton and Kelly Roberts, Graham Hill and Drew Symons.

The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank the volunteers, staff and members from Taboo Resort for hosting the event as well as Investors Group for their continued support of amateur golf in Ontario.