Alexandra Taylor of Cherry Hill Club captured the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Wednesday at West Haven Golf and Country Club.
After battling Judith Kyrinis of The Thornhill Club all the way through to the last putt the true test came after, as Taylor gained momentum nearly holing out from her approach shot.
Heading into the final round, Taylor pulled ahead and defeated Kyrinis in a 1 hole playoff win.
Taylor has plenty of experience competing at high-level championships and competitions. In her journey as an NCAA golfer, Taylor achieved a 3-time All-Conference golfer at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Her team participated in the NCAA DII National Championship in three out of her four years. In her Junior career, she competed at the Niagara Junior Tour, the Ontario Summer Games team and Golf Ontario and Canada Championships.
Taylor can now add winning the 2024 Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to her list of accomplishments.
As for the Women’s Amateur status, it is currently still in play and will begin the final round on Thursday to see who will be crowned the 2024 Women’s Amateur Champion.
Nobelle Park of Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, Julia Alexander-Carew of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club and Ella Zanatta of Hamilton Golf and Country Club sit at the top going into the final round.
For all results, CLICK HERE.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
The 102nd Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship heads to St. Catharines Golf and Country Club June 24 – 27.
A field of the top 156 amateur golfers in the province will be put to the test and compete for the Gary Cowan Trophy.
As one of Golf Ontario’s biggest events in the calendar year for more than a century, the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship has been the springboard to many players’ journeys to impressive playing careers.
Notable past winners include Mike Weir (1990, 1992), Corey Conners (2010), Gerry Kesselring (1949, 1951-53) and Gary Cowan, who holds the Golf Ontario record for most wins in this championship with nine.
The first two rounds will see 7:30 a.m. start times until the 36-hole-cut midway through the championship.
For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
Team Ontario: Four current Team Ontario members in Jordan Hwang (Emerald Hills Golf and Country Club), Dawson Lew (Players Club – Markham) and Nathanial Yoo (Meadowbrook Golf Club) are in the field, as well as former members in Zach Smith (Brampton Golf Club) and Justin Matthews (Bigwin Island Golf Club).
Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club), this year’s Ontario Junior Players Invitational Champion, will be the lone representative of the 2024 Next Wave program.
Team Canada’s NextGen squad will see four of its players in the field: Ben MacLean (Cherry Hill Club); Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club); Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club); Eric Zhao (Bayview Golf & Country Club).
Men’s Amateur Order of Merit Rankings: Charles Fitzsimmons, No. 1, Men’s Amateur, Men’s Mid-Amateur; Max Corcoran, No. 3, Men’s Amateur; Andrew Nagel, No. 4, Men’s Amateur, No. 2, Men’s Mid-Amateur.
Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Aidan Talent, No. 1, U19; Gabriel Mainella, No. 2, U19, No. 1, U17; Dawson Lew, No. 3, U19, No. 2, U17.
PLAYER NOTES
The 156-player field is made up of:
The defending 101st Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, Cameron Pero (Picton Golf & Country Club).
Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West Golf Club), who recently won the 2024 Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship.
Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club), two-time winner of the Ontario (U17) Juvenile Boys Championship (2022 & 2023) and this year’s Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic champion.
Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club) last year’s Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion and the 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Champion.
The 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic Champion & 2022 NextGen Ontario Champion, Ben MacLean (Cherry Hill Club).
The 2021 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion and 2023 Golf Quebec Men’s Amateur Champion, James Newton (Royal Ottawa Golf Club).
Max Corcoran (Loch March Golf & Country Club), the 2023 Golf Quebec Junior (U19) Boys Champion.
The 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion, Oscar Feschuk (Weston Golf & Country Club).
Andreas Diogenous (Whistle Bear Golf Club) former Peewee (U13), Bantam (U15) and Juvenile (U17) Champion.
Nolan Piazza (Cherry Hill Club), two-time Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion (2018 & 2020).
The 2023 Ontario Men’s Match Play Champion, Justin Matthews (Bigwin Island Golf Club), who recently competed in the RBC Canadian Open.
Charles Fitzsimmons (Summit Golf & Country Club), two-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship (2021 & 2022) and winner of the 2019 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
Garret Rank (Westmount Golf & Country Club), who won the 2018 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur twice (2015 & 2018).
Phillip Arci (The Pulpit Club), the 2023 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year and winner of the 2024 Men’s Amateur Division of The National Golf Club of Canada Invitational.
The winner of last year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Championship, Adam Creighton (Cherry Hill Club).
The 2024 Men’s Champion of Champions winner, Kyle Gordon (Coppinwood Golf Club).
Winner of the 2022 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, David Lang (Donalda Club).
Ryan Tsang (Cedar Brae Golf Club), the 2020 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion.
Ontario Golf Hall of Famer, Dave Bunker (Cherry Hill Club), who is a four-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship (2007, 2010, 2014, 2021). He also won the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship in 2008 and the 2020 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.
QUOTES
Rob Watson, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Men’s Amateur is annually one of the most exciting championships on the Golf Ontario calendar because of the large and competitive field we see in this event. This year should be no different as the field is as strong as it has ever been with 156 of Ontario’s best male Amateur golfers.”
Ryan Finn, Chief Sport Officer: “Golf Ontario is thrilled to celebrate St. Catharines G&CC’s 125th anniversary by crowning Ontario’s top male amateur golfer. This year’s champion will have bested an elite field and will join an exclusive group of past champions. We look forward to a competitive and exciting championship.”
Cameron Thin, Head Golf Professional, St. Catharines Golf and Country Club: “As a part of our 125th anniversary, the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club is proud to be hosting this year’s Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and our membership is looking forward to showcasing our wonderful golf course to the best players in the province, along with the spectators enjoying the golf. With a large and highly competitive field, I feel that this is a great opportunity for the competitors to experience the unique architecture of the course; the challenges it presents to players; and believe that it will identify a worthy champion.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: St. Catharines Golf and Country Club
Championship Dates: June 24 – 27
Field: 156 players
Format: 72-hole Stroke Play (36-hole-cut – low 60 & ties)
Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)
Fun Fact: Gary Cowan holds the Golf Ontario record for the most Ontario Men’s Amateur Championships with nine (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1984).
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
The 109th Ontario Women’s Amateur & Mid- Amateur heads to West Haven Golf and Country Club, June 24-27.
With nearly 100 players in the field, this is West Haven’s first time hosting a provincial championship.
Both the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship are two of Ontario’s top provincial championships and have been the pinnacle of women’s golf in the province. Many players have kick-started their journey to professional golf through both of these championships
The first two rounds will see 8:30am start times until the 36-hole cut midway thru the championship.
For first round pairings and start times CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
Team Ontario: Six current Team Ontario Members in Kaprice Park (RattleSnake Golf and Country Club), Nobelle Park (RattleSnake Golf and Country Club), Alexa Ouellet (Weston Golf & Country Club), Aryn Matthews (BigWin Island Golf Club), Bridget Yu (Golf Canada- Club Ontario), Shelby Hardwich (Summit Golf & Country Club).
Golf Canada Next Gen Member Shauna Liu is in the field.
Top Junior Golf Pathway Rankings: Nobelle Park, No. 1, U19, U17; Kaprice Park, No. 2, U19, U17; Angela Cai, No. 3, U19, U17.
Nobelle Park is the top world ranked player in the field, coming in at 182nd overall.
PLAYER NOTES
Mary- Ann Hayward (St.Thomas Golf & Country Club)– Ontario Golf Hall of Fame 2023, won the 2023 Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Stroke Play.
Judith Kyrinis (The Thornhill Club), Ontario Golf Hall of Fame 2023, won the 2023 Canadian Women’s Mid- Amateur Championship, Semi-Finalist at the 23’ Ontario Women’s Match Play Finals, and finalist at the 23’ Women’s Match Play Championship.
Celina Yeo of Londono, just finished second in AJGA Rolex Girls Championship.
Kaprice Park hot off a second- place finish at last week’s Women’s Match Play at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club.
Hailey Hendershott 2024 Mountain East Conference Player of the Year.
QUOTES
John Lawrence, Tournament Director: “We are excited to have one of our flagship championships back in London. The support from West Haven and the local community has been tremendous. The experience for the players, facility and volunteers will be exceptional and we are looking forward to crowning a champion in this the 109th playing of Ontario oldest amateur championship.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: West Haven Golf & Country Club
Dates: June 24, 2024- June 27, 2024
Field: 96 Players
Format: 72 Hole Stroke Play, 36 Hole Cut. Amateur- Low 54 & Ties. Mid- Amateur- Top 15 & Ties.
Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Women’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship Event :: Championship Information (golfgenius.com)
Fun Fact: Marlene Stewart Streit, who the trophy is named after, is an Ontario Golf Hall of Famer and has won this award a record of 11 times (1951, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, and 1977).
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook, X.
Ashley Lafontaine (Royal Ottawa Golf Club) captured the Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship Monday at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club.
After knocking off Gabrielle Harrison (Sunningdale Golf and Country Club) in the top 16, Lafontaine pushed through to the Quarter-Final round by defeating Team Ontario’s Nobelle Park (Rattlesnake Golf and Country Club) 1-UP, and then finally defeating Myranda Quinton (Pipers Heath Golf Club) 2&1.
In the final round, Lafontaine faced off Kaprice Park (Rattlesnake Golf and Country club), who started things off with a birdie.
Sticking to her game, Lafontaine set herself up for success to keep the ball rolling and finished the Women’s Match Play strong to capture the win in the final round 3&2.
Lafontaine noted this was her second time participating in the Women’s Match Play and was runner-up in her first appearance.
For final results, click here.
The 2024 Ontario Men’s and Senior Men’s Match Play Championship saw two winners put up excellent performances from Tarandowah Golfers Club.
Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West Golf Club) took the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship in convincing fashion, defeating Zach Smith (Brampton Golf Club) 4&3.
This was DiCarlo’s fifth time playing in the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship and his first appearance in the finals of this championship. He hadn’t advanced past the Quarterfinals in his first four appearances.
In his first experience in the finals of this championship, he got the job done and can now call himself winner of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship.
As for Smith, he falls short in the Ontario Men’s Match Play Finals for a second straight year.
On the Senior Men’s side, Darren Shaw (King’s Forest Golf Club) edged Matt Skip (Rocky Crest Golf Club) 2&1 to clinch the Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Championship.
Shaw came in ranked 32nd and got into the championship as an alternate. He faced some of the toughest names in the field like defending champion Steve Fredericks,along with tough competitors Doug Brophy and Rob Cowan.
He was even down five strokes through the first six holes of his quarterfinals match with Brophy.
However, he was still able to prevail and become Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Champion and cap off an amazing story.
For final results, click here.
The Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship and 75th Cataraqui Women’s Field Day & Empire Life Eastern Provinces kicks off in Kingston this weekend.
The top 16 players from the Cataraqui Field Day Match Play Qualifier will advance to the Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship. A playoff will break any ties for 16th place.
The players advancing to the Match Play portion of the Championship are awarded spots into the 109th Ontario Women’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship at West Haven Golf and Country Club, June 24-27. Any Junior eligible players who advance will also earn an exemption to the Ontario Jr. Girls (U19) Match Play Championship.
Cataraqui hosted several provincial events in its heydays between the 1930s and 1970s, including the Ontario Amateur Championship (1939, 1952, 1963), the Ontario Ladies’ Amateur Championship (1937, 1965, 1973) and the Ontario Open (1955, 1958, 1966, 1973, 1979).
FIELD NOTES
Among the 47 players in the 2024 Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship, several College and University players are competing, Including Elizabeth Labbé (UBC Thunderbirds), Ashley Lafontaine (Elon University), Jillian Friyia (Troy University), Peyton Costabile (Towson University), Myranda Quinton (Penn State), Madeline Boyd (Ball State University), Madison Barber (Towson University).
PLAYER NOTES
Nobelle Park– Recently qualified for the 2024 U.S. Junior Girls Amateur. She is a current member of the Team Ontario squad. With her recent results from play, she has shot up the rankings and is No. 182 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Her most recent accolades include winning the Junior Girls Spring Classic last month, the Ontario Junior Players Invitational in March, and a third-place finish at the Next Gen Ontario Championship. Nobelle is currently leading all U15, U17, and U19 rankings on the Junior Golf Pathway Rankings.
Kaprice Park– A current member of Team Ontario. After just missing the qualifier for the U.S. Junior Girls Amateur, she remains the first alternate.
QUOTES
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership running the Ontario Women’s Match Play at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club concurrently with the Empire Life Eastern Provinces Championship. Cataraqui’s dedication and support have played a crucial role in making this prestigious tournament a resounding success year after year.
Since we began this partnership in 2019, we have seen continued growth and once again have another strong field of competitors featuring many high-level juniors and college affiliated players.” – Rob Watson, Tournament Director.
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, Kingston, ON.
Championship Date: June 15-17
Field: 47 Players
Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10230962420126370009
Fun Fact: The Name: “Cataraqui” is the original Mohawk name for Kingston, the “Limestone City,” where the Cataraqui Golf & Country Club course is located.
Format: 18-hole stroke play.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
The 2024 Ontario Men’s and Senior Men’s Match Play Championship takes place at Tarandowah Golfers Club, on June 10 – 13, 2024.
Ontario’s top 96 men’s and senior men’s amateur golfers will go to battle in head-to-head matches in their respective divisions.
The championship begins with the round of 64 in the men’s division and rounds of 32 in the senior men’s. First tee-off is set for 7:30am on Monday.
For the match play brackets, CLICK HERE.
PLAYER NOTES
Among the 64-players in the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship:
Cameron Pero (Picton Golf & Country Club), who won the 101st Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship last year, which made him and his father, Mike Pero, the first father-son duo to win the same championship in Golf Ontario history.
Charles Fitzsimmons (Summit Golf & Country Club), two-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship (2021 & 2022), returns to match play action after missing last year’s championship due to injury.
Last year’s winner of the Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Championship, Tanner Cardwell (Oshawa Golf & Curling Club).
Former Team Ontario member, Zach Smith (Brampton Golf Club), who looks to avenge a finals elimination from last year’s Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship.
Of the 32 Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Championship players:
Last year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Champion Steve Fredericks (Kawartha Golf Club).
Adam Creighton (Cherry Hill Club), the winner of last year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.
Recent Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Inductee, Ashley Chinner (Coppinwood Golf Club), who won the 2021 Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.
David Greenaway (Barrie Country Club), the 2022 Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Champion.
Also, in the field is Rob Cowan (Westmount Golf & Country Club), The 2002 Ontario Men’s Match Play Champion and the #2 ranked Senior Men’s player in the Biosteel Golf Ontario Amateur Order of Merit Rankings in 2023.
QUOTES
Connor Doyle, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Men’s and Senior Men’s Match Play Championship is always a great way to kick off the men’s & senior amateur championship season. We have another very competitive field which we saw almost 400 players attempt to qualify across the province along with multiple past champions in the field. Tarandowah will certainly be an excellent test for the players with the fast, and firm conditions, it should create many excellent matches next week.”
Ted Pease, Tarandowah Golfers Club General Manager & PGA of Canada Executive Professional: “Tarandowah Golfers Club is honoured to host the top men’s and senior men’s golfers across Ontario as they go one-on-one in match play. Having this level of competition is a great venue for us to showcase the unique challenges our course presents.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Tarandowah Golfers Club
Championship Dates: June 10 – 13
Field: 64 Men, 32 Senior Men
Format: Match Play
Match Play Brackets Link: 24′ Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)
Fun Fact: Tarandowah Golfers Club only has two par fives (holes 9 and 14), yet the course still measures 7,067 yards due to nine of its 12 par four holes having a length of over 400 yards.
Top 100: Tarandowah Golfers Club was ranked the No. 75-best golf course in Canada according to SCOREGolf.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
The Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic Championship kicks off at FireRock Golf Club this Victoria Day long weekend in London.
The 60-player championship showcases the province’s rising junior girls’ golf talent, with seven featured players from Team Ontario and two featured players from Next Wave. As the young athletes take the course, they each seek to take home the Randolf Jay Millage Ttrophy at the end of the weekend.
Taking place over 54-hole, FireRock Golf Golf Club hosts the Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic Championship for the second year.
FIELD NOTES
Among the 60-players in the 2024 Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic, seven are Team Ontario members, while two are Next Wave players.
Team Ontario Players: There are seven members of Team Ontario taking part. They are: Aryn Matthews (Big Win Island Golf Club); Nobelle Park (Rattlesnake Golf Club); Kaprice Park (Rattlesnake Golf Club); Shelby Hardwick (The Summit Golf & Country Club) ; Angela Cai (Heron Point Golf Links); Wendy Li (Cedar Brae Golf Club) and Bridget Yu (Golf Canada Club).
Next Wave: Two athletes who are part of Golf Ontario’s Nexgt Wave development prrogram will be participating: Sierra Kowalyshyn (Sawmill Golf Course) and Kirsten Lee (Brampton Golf Club)
Youngest Player: Riviera Lindholm (St. Georges Golf & Country Club) 11- years- old
PLAYER NOTES
Michelle Xing, a standout on Team Canada, has claimed titles such as the 2024 NextGen Ontario Champions (which was played last week at FireRock), the 2022 Ontario Junior Girls Match Play Championship and the 2022 Ontario Bantam U15 Championship.
Nobelle Park, an exceptional Team Ontario member, clinched victory at the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
Aryn Matthews, another Team Ontario member, has made her mark with a runner-up finish at this year’s Ontario Junior Players Invitational and a third-place finish at the 2024 NextGen Ontario Championship.
QUOTES
Connor Doyle, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic will be one to watch this weekend. The highly competitive field will feature many of the top junior girls in Ontario including members of Team Ontario and Team Canada. FireRock Golf Club will serve as a great test for the players this weekend and we should be in for an excellent three days of golf.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue : FireRock Golf Club, Komoka, Ont.
Championship Date: May 19-21
Field: Sixty-players
Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10230944137356560471
Fun Fact: At 16-years-old, Brooke Henderson won the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at FireRock Golf Club.
Format: 54-holes, stroke play. A cut will come after 36-holes to the low 40 players.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
The 2024 Ontario Junior Boys Spring Classic heads to Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge from May 19-21.
The 60-player field features Ontario’s top male junior golfers, all of whom looking to capture the Randolf Jay Millage Trophy.
The 54-hole championship begins Sunday at 12 p.m. with a cut coming after 36-holes.
For first round pairings, CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
Team Ontario: Of the eight male Team Ontario members, six of them are in the field at Wooden Sticks. They are: Ben Sheridan (Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club); Bode Stephen (Cataraqui Golf & Country Club); Dawson Lew (Players Club – Markham); Graydon Laughlin (Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club); Nathaniel Yoo (Meadowbrook Golf Club); Rylan Hall (Whistle Bear Golf Club).
Next Wave: The recently announced 2024 Next Wave program will be represented by seven of its 15 golfers: Ben Julie (Sawmill Golf Course); Cole Thompson (Lookout Point Country Club); Matthew Simpson (Lambton Golf & Country Club); Aiden Pavey (Hidden Lake Golf Club); Bo Dong (Golf Canada Club – Ontario); Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club); Michael Vivone (Royal Ottawa Golf Club).
Four of Team Canada’s NextGen male golfers will also be competing: Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club); Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club); Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club); Eric Zhao (Bayview Golf & Country Club).
Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Bode Stephen, No. 1, U19 and U17; Dawson Lew, No. 2, U19 and U17; Spencer Shropshire, No. 3, U19 and U17.
PLAYER NOTES
Last year’s Junior Boys Spring Classic Champion Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club), who also ranked first in last year’s U19 Boys’ Junior Golf Pathway Rankings.
Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club) and Andrew Aquino (The National Golf Club of Canada) both finished tied for third in last year’s Junior Boys Spring Classic. Smith also won last year’s Junior Boys Championship.
Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club) recently won the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
Jager Pain (Golf Canada Club – Ontario) comes in fresh off his win at the 2024 Ontario NextGen Championship.
The winner of the last two Ontario Juvenile Championships, Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club).
Last year’s Ontario Bantam) Champion, Manav Bharani (Brampton Golf Club) is also in the field.
QUOTES
Rob Watson, Tournament Director: “This event is annually one of the strongest playing fields for junior boys in the country. This year, we have a very strong field, which only reinforces why this event is so competitive.”
Reggie Millage, Head Provincial Coach: “The Junior Spring Classic was started by my father in a time when opportunities for the best juniors to play against each other were very limited early in the season. Initially it was a stand-alone event, which became one of the strongest and most anticipated ones of the new Ontario golf season. That anticipation only elevated once it became a Golf Ontario Championship in 1995. It is truly an honour to have my name etched in the first two slots on the trophy named in honour of my dad and something I continue to cherish year after year.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Wooden Sticks Golf Course
Championship Dates: May 19-21
Field: 60 players
Format: 54-hole, stroke play, 36 Hole Cut – Low 40 & Ties
Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10230937104817375312
Fun Fact: Twelve of the 18 holes at Wooden Sticks were inspired by various famous holes from around the world of golf.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
A perfect day for golf in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was underscored by the thrilling final round of the Ontario Junior Players Invitational at the scenic Moorland Course of Legends Golf Resorts.
In the girls’ competition, Nobelle Park of RattleSnake Point Golf Club, leading after the first round, proved unbeatable. The Team Ontario athlete sailed through her even-par final round to clinch the title. Her Team Ontario teammate, Aryn Matthews of Bigwin Island Golf Club, closely followed throughout the round but couldn’t narrow the gap despite posting a strong 72 on her scorecard. Alexa Ouellet of Weston Golf & Country Club, another Team Ontario member, finished in third place.
Park’s performance on the back nine, featuring birdies on the 15th and 16th, secured her victory at one-over par for the tournament.
On the boys side, Gabriel Mainella of Summit Golf & Country Club emerged victorious after a day-long battle with Bode Stephen from Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, claiming the boys division title. Jordan Hwang of Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club took third place, achieving the tournament’s lowest score of 69 in his final round.
Mainella’s win was highlighted by five birdies, including a two-under par on the back nine, enabling him to win by a single stroke over Stephen, with both players scoring 69 on the final day. Mainella shared his excitement about the victory, saying, “obviously a big tournament and my first win… it’s a tough stretch of holes down the back and I kind of got nervous…but excited I got the win.
Tournament Director, Connor Doyle, highlighted the excellent start to the season, noting the excitement of the tournament’s conclusion.
Golf Ontario expressed gratitude towards Legends Golf Resort and its staff for their outstanding hospitality during the past week.
The 77-player field featured many of Ontario’s top junior golfers, all of whom were looking to take home the championship title from the challenging and beautiful Moorland Course at the Legends Golf Resorts.
This year’s event saw an extension to 54 holes, an increase from last year’s 36 holes. Furthermore, participants have the opportunity to earn points towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
For the full leaderboard and final round tee times, CLICK HERE.
FAST FACTS
- Seven of the Top 10 girls are Team Ontario members.
- The lowest girls’ score was 69, achieved by Alexa Ouellet (Team Ontario).
- Six of the Top 10 boys are Team Ontario members.
- The lowest boys’ score was 69, achieved by Jordan Hwang (Team Ontario).
- The 12th hole was the toughest, with an average score of 4.88.
- The 7th hole was the second toughest, averaging 3.65.
- The easiest hole was the 16th, with an average score of 3.94.
- The course’s scoring average was 78.27.
- The Moorland Course was once ranked as the 37th toughest golf course in America by Golf Digest.
