Diogenous and Ouellet Taste Victory at Day Two of the 2019 Ontario Bantam (U15) Championship
Peter MacKellar
Ajax, ON — Warm and sunny skies welcomed the players as they took to Deer Creek GC for the final day of the 2019 Ontario Bantam Championship. The best bantam boys and girls all came out to today’s round to try to outlast the strong fields, and crown themselves a champion.
Ontario Bantam Girls Championship
If day one was close, then to say the same about second round of the girls’ portion of the tournament would be an understatement. Coming all the way down to the wire, it was Alexa Ouellet (Credit Valley &CC) who came out on top by a single stroke.
The 12-year-old Ouellet wowed the crowds with today’s round, carding three birdies on the front nine of her round. Previous to today’s start, many might have questioned her ability to keep up with the older competitors but she quickly flipped the narrative, proving age is but a number. Heading onto the back nine, Ouellet was up by four strokes until she found herself in some trouble. Scoring two bogeys on 10&11, and three more bogeys on 14, 15, & 16, the competition quickly caught up and the once four stroke lead shrunk down to one. The pressure was on.
Most 12-year-olds would shrink in the face of such adversity, but Ouellet proved yet again that this moment was hers. Carding a par on 17, and closing out 18 in style, Ouellet was crowned a champion.
“I feel so relieved right now,” said Ouellet after winning the tournament. “With all those bogeys I thought I was going to lose it, so being able to come back and win is a great feeling.” When asked about how she maintained her composure and stuck to her gameplan, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m 12, I didn’t really have a gameplan. I just came out and played my best.”
Trailing closely behind Ouellet the whole way through was Krystal Li (The Summit G&CC) and Kelly Zhao (Station Creek GC). The duo finished the tournament +5, only a single stroke behind the leaders, and proved their ability to push the leader right until the end. Despite not being able to come out on top, both Zhao and Li showcased impressive talent throughout the week.
For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
Much like the first day, the second round of the boys portion of the championship was a tight race all the way through. With the top of the leaderboard suffocated with low scores from a wide range of players, it wasn’t an easy task to take the top spot, but it was Andres Diogenous (Whistle Bear GC) who prevailed.
Entering the day one stroke behind the two leaders, Diogenous knew he had to show up with some spectacular play.
“I knew I had to be great,” he said. “I had to come out and put everything out there. Luckily I was able to come out on top.” The 14-year-old had the most steady round of the day due to some spectacular play down the stretch. With some absurd putts and a majority of his shots landing on the green, Diogenous paved his way to the championship by not making mistakes. He would end the tournament with a total score of +1 (143), and a champion.
Following closely behind was Matthew Javier (Scarboro G&CC) who had the low round of the day to propel him to second. Entering the day at +5, not many were looking at Javier to make a run, but he quickly made everyone take notice. Going -3 on the front nine, the Toronto resident found himself within striking distance of the leader. He would continue to have a strong round, finishing the day -3 and with a total score of +2, only one behind Diogenous.
“I played really well today, hit a lot of greens, and made a lot of putts,” said Javier. “It’s a good feeling.”
Owen Kim (Blue Springs GC) and Carter Jarrett (Renfrew GC) tied for third with total scores of +4, an impressive showing for both.
For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Bantam Boys’ Championship
The Ontario Bantam Boys’ Championship is a 36 hole competition featuring the top 60 Bantam (U15) male Golfers from across the province.
About the Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship
The Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship is a 36 hole competition featuring the province’s top 30 Bantam (U15) female Golfers from across the province.
Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship. We would also like to thank Deer Creek GC and their staff for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.
Ryan Mackenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
Golf Ontario Announces Special Exemptions for the Ontario Open: Alfredsson, Allen, Taggart
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Peter MacKellar
Uxbridge, ON — With less than 2 weeks remaining until the return of the storied Ontario Open golf championship, Golf Ontario announced today that it has extended 3 special exemptions to this year’s event: Daniel Alfredsson, Damon Allen, and Jeremy Taggart. These 3 high-profile players, will join the field of 144 golfers competing for the Ontario Open Championship, one of the world’s oldest golf championships. The 2019 Championship will take place on August 26 – 29th, 2019 at the beautiful Woodington Lake Golf Club, in Tottenham, Ontario and will immediately become one of the premiere Championships on the calendar for 2019.
Daniel Alfredsson – Alfredsson played 18 years in the National Hockey League, and was the long-time captain of the Ottawa Senators. Alfredsson holds the Senators’ franchise records for goals (426), assists (682) and points (1,108). “I am happy to be invited to be invited to compete, and am looking forward to a great week” said Alfredsson.
Damon Allen – Avid golfer Allen is a Canadian Football League legend, having played 23 seasons in the league, winning 4 Grey Cups, with 3 different teams. A Hall of Famer, Allen is pro football’s all-time combined passing and rushing leader with a total of 84,301 yards. “I am excited and nervous, all at the same time” said Allen. “Excited about Golf Ontario’s exemption into the tournament, and nervous as you look at the names of past winners including Sam Snead and Moe Norman”, continued Allen.
Jeremy Taggart – Taggart is the former Our Lady Peace drummer where he was a key member of the band from 2003 – 2014. Taggart is an avid golfer, and a frequent guest on TSN’s Jay and Dan Podcast and has also been a member of the judging panel for the Independent Music Awards. “I’d like to thank Golf Ontario for my exemption into the historic Ontario Open. I can’t wait to play there it is going to be a great time, so come on out to watch this great golf” enthused Taggart.
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. A true open Championship, this tournament will attract the best golfers from Ontario, and across Canada and beyond, to Woodington Lake Golf Club.
“Having Daniel, Damon, and Jeremy, three major Canadian celebrities, competing at Woodington Lake Golf Club in a few short weeks is really exciting,” said Golf Ontario Executive Director Mike Kelly. “This is going to be one event to watch for sure, and these three exemptions will give golf fans another reason to get excited about the return of the Ontario Open.”
There are many great partners that are helping to bring the Ontario Open back as a marquee championship. Woodington Lake Golf Club has signed on for 5 years to be the official host club of the event. The Evanov Radio Group is providing key support as the lead media partner for the event. And the list of current sponsors is a strong one, providing key support to help make the event a success. Presenting partners are Moosehead Breweries and TaylorMade Canada. Other great partners include Beattie’s Distillers, Lavazza, Tre Amici Wines, Yamaha Turf Care, Serpa Automotive Group, and Pro Accessibility.
In addition to the Ontario Open championship, Woodington Lake Golf Club and Golf Ontario will also be partnering during the same week in August to present the first ever Golf Ontario Disability Championship. More details can be found at www.gao.ca, but this event will help deliver on a core element of the Golf Ontario strategic plan, says Kelly: “The Golf Ontario Disability Championship is an important first step in building a more diverse and inclusive golf environment in Ontario. Taking part the same week as the Ontario Open will provide strong exposure and good infrastructure as we deliver what we hope to be the first of many, many years of the Golf Ontario disability championship”, continued Kelly.
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 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 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.
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing Communications
Stiff Competition at Day One of the 2019 Ontario Bantam (U15) Championship
Peter MacKellar
Ajax, ON — Warm and clear skies welcomed the players as they took to Deer Creek GC for the 2019 Bantam Championship. The best bantam boys and girls all came out to today’s round to try to get an early lead in the tournament.
Ontario Bantam Boys Championship
The boys portion of the tournament kicked off at 8:00am Monday morning, and as the weather continued to heat up throughout the day, so did their play. By the end of 18, it was Carter Jarrett (Renfrew GC) and William Lin (Station Creek GC) who were able to climb ahead of the pack however and take the lead heading into the final day tomorrow.
With scores of even-par after the first round, the duo showcased some impressive play throughout the entire day, proving their ability to play a steady game. Both Lin and Jarrett carded three bogeys and three birdies alongside a handful of pars, leaving them in a good position heading into the final day tomorrow.
Trailing closely behind is Andreas Diogenous (Whistle Bear GC), who sits only one stroke behind the two leaders at +1, and with only five strokes separating the top 13 players, tomorrow’s round will without a doubt prove to be as competitive as can be.
For future scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
The girls got their portion of the tournament underway at 9:30 shortly after the boys. Entering the day, all eyes we’re on Ella Weber () after her championship run at the Junior’s just a week earlier. The first round saw some impressive play throughout the entire field, but it was Alexa Ouellet (Credit Valley G&CC) and Krystal Li (The Summit G&CC) who came out above the rest.
With a score of +1, Ouellet was able to claw above the competition with some steady putting and solid play. With only four bogeys on the challenging course, the 13-year-old made sure to play it safe and control her shots, giving her a solid score to enter the final day with.
Similar to Ouellet, Li showed an impressive understanding of patience and incredible skill at putting. Playing her drives safe down the center of the fairway and hitting some putts many would find astounding, the 14-year-old Li sits tied with Ouellet for the lead, giving herself a great opportunity to come out on top as well.
“Tomorrow I’m just going to have to continue being consistent,” said Li when asked about her gameplan heading into tomorrow. “I’ll have to play both a strong long and a strong short game. Hopefully I can continue my momentum from today.”
Winning won’t be easy with players like Isabella Ferguson (Kanata G&CC) following closely behind however. Ferguson sat at -2 for a majority of the day until a rough patch near the end of her round. She will likely be returning tomorrow with hopes of making up some ground, and retaking the lead early.
For future scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Bantam Boys’ Championship
The Ontario Bantam Boys’ Championship is a 36 hole competition featuring the top 60 Bantam (U15) male Golfers from across the province.
About the Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship
The Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship is a 36 hole competition featuring the province’s top 30 Bantam (U15) female Golfers from across the province.
National Classifier Training / In Conjunction with the Ontario Disability Championship
Peter MacKellar
Ontario Disability Championship
Golf Ontario, in partnership with Golf Canada, will be hosting the first-ever classifier training for golfers with disabilities. In conjunction with the Ontario Disability Championship, the training will be held at Woodington Lake Golf Club on Friday, August 23rd and Saturday, August 24th, 2019.
Focusing on player development, the all-inclusive event will ensure a proper pathway for high performing athletes. The world-ranked event will see men and women compete in low gross and net categories.
In order for players to receive ranking points on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GD), we have partnered with the European Disabled Golf Association to provide training to individuals in the medical profession to become classifiers for golfers with disabilities. Every golfer wishing to be ranked must meet on-site at the event with a trained professional to establish their eligibility.
On Friday and Saturday, August 23rd and 24th, we welcome all individuals in the medical profession to join us at Woodington Lake Golf Club to become a recognized classifier for golf.
WHAT: National Golf Classifier Training: Two full days of instruction;
a combination of in-class theory and on-course practical training.
WHO: Medical Professionals (MD or PT)
WHEN: Friday August 23 & Saturday August 24, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Weber and Ranchagoda Win it All at Day Three of the Junior (U19) Match Play Championship
Peter MacKellar
Listowel, ON — Four boys and girls took to Listowel GC today for the chance to be crowned champion. With cool temperatures and cloudy skies welcoming them, the players heated up the course with some impressive play throughout the semi-finals in the morning and the finals in the afternoon.
Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship
Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West GC), Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Kavith Ranchagoda (Beacon Hill GC), and Carson Duffy (Bigwin island GC) all took to the challenging course in the morning in hopes of moving on to the finals this afternoon. After 18 well fought holes between the two pairings, it was Latter and Ranchagoda who would advance.
The duo hit the fairway at 1:00pm for the final round, and by the time it was all said and done, it was Ranchagoda who came out on top. The match between he and Latter was back and forth the entire way through. Ranchagoda had an early lead in the front nine but Latter continued to fight back. Heading onto 16 the two were still all square until the 17-year-old was able to pull ahead after a beautiful chip shot from the rough. He would then lay the dagger on 18 with an 100 foot shot from the fairway that landed inches from the hole. He tapped the ball in to win the hole and the tournament, crowning himself the 2019 Junior Boys Match Play Champion.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” said Ranchagoda. “I came into the final round knowing I could keep up with every single player in this tournament, so it’s rewarding to come out on top.” When asked about what his game plan was, he had this to say.
“Just be consistent and not make any mistakes. I’ve always been a steady player, I know my game. I just had to execute.”
As for Latter, the Team Ontario member truly impressed over the course of the week. Losing by only two holes to come in second is no small feat, and the young gentleman proved his ability to play with the best.
For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
Ella Weber (Rattlesnake Point GC), Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs GC), Vanessa Chychrun (Beacon Hall GC), and Megan Miron (Hamilton G&CC) all took to the field for the semi finals in the morning. The two matches were a tight race throughout, but after 18 it was Weber and Gallagher who advanced to the finals.
The two teed off for the finals at 12:50 and from that point on it was a back and forth battle for who would wear the crown, but by the end of 18, it was Weber who was crowned champion. Much like the boys, the front nine between Weber and Gallagher was a back and forth affair, seeing multiple lead changes throughout. It wasn’t until Weber put her foot down and started taking risks that there was a possible winner in sight. The two were all tied up by the time Weber approached 16 with more aggression than ever before seen in the round. Hitting it further than she normally would, the 14-year-old was clearly looking to take the advantage before the last two holes.
“I didn’t want to go all the way to 18,” said Weber. “Gallagher is a really good player and I was afraid if it got to 18 then it could be over for me, so I started playing more aggressively.” And that she did. Taking the next two holes due to deep drives down the fairway, Weber was able to take the crown and leave the tournament a champion.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “I’m still in shock that I won. I just came in here looking to make it into the semi’s so this is just a bonus.”
As for Gallagher, she continues to improve with every round she plays. She handled her first two rounds with ease and at times looked like she was going to win it all. She leaves the tournament finishing in second place, only two holes behind Weber.
For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship
The 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 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.
Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship. We would also like to thank Listowel GC and their staff for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.
Ryan Mackenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
Only Four Players Remain After Day Two of the Junior (U19) Match Play Championship
Peter MacKellar
Listowel, ON — Foggy and cool skies welcomed the junior boys and girls as they set off to get their rounds of 16 underway at Listowel GC. As the day began to heat up, so did the play as both the boys and girls’ fields had competitive matches all around to see who would make it out of today’s two rounds.
Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship
Day Two started with 16 remaining players as they took to Listowel GC to try and make it to the round of 4 in the tournament. After two impressive rounds yesterday, Cody Clark (Oliver’s Nest GC) was yet again the center of attention, as he embarked on his attemp to win his second championship in two years. But after today’s two rounds, it was Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West GC) who stole the show.
Going up against the reigning champ in the first round of the day, DiCarlo came out hot early and took the lead in the first few holes. With some steady play and a few fantastic putts down the stretch, DiCarlo was able to hold the lead and advanced to the quarter finals in the afternoon.
It was then a battle of the titans to move on to the semi finals, with DiCarlo being the most steady player throughout the tournament, and Luke DelGobbo (Lookout Point CC) being the heaviest hitter. DelGobbo had been bullying the competition throughout the previous rounds with scores of 9&8, and 7&5, and there was no way of saying which of the two would come up on top. But after 18 well fought holes, it was DiCarlo who was yet again victorious.
“It was tough out there,” said DiCarlo. “I knew I had to hit fairways and play consistent to stay alive today. There was some tough conditions with some wind and the fog in the morning, so I knew if I played steady I could wait out other players mistakes.” When asked about how he plans to continue his success, his answer was straight to the point.
“Do the same thing that I’ve been doing all week. Play consistent and make some shots.”
Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Kavith Ranchagoda (Beacon Hill GC), and Carson Duffy (Bigwin island GC) will all also be moving on tomorrow. The three have shown tremendous skill and patience over the course of the past four rounds, pushing through adversity and coming out ahead every time a challenge faced them. The four players will all take to the course tomorrow, battling for the final two spots in the last round of the tournament in the morning.
The third and final day will commence tomorrow at 7:30am, where after two more rounds, one will be crowned champion.
For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship kicked off today with it’s first round of the day. The best junior golfers in the province took to Listowel GC to decide who would stay afloat for the semi-finals tomorrow after today’s two competitive rounds.
After two well fought rounds today it was Ella Weber (Rattlesnake Point GC), Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs GC), 2017 champion Vanessa Chychrun (Beacon Hall GC), and Megan Miron (Hamilton G&CC) who made it to the semi finals tomorrow. With three playoffs in just the first round alone, the two rounds today were highly competitive and the entire field showed out, impressing everyone watching.
However, it was Weber who stood out among the rest. With two dominant performances in today’s rounds, she is the early favourite heading into tomorrow.
“I just came in focusing on playing my own game, and to only worry about what I can control,” said Weber. “I didn’t let other players plays get to me when they were catching up, I just kept my composure throughout.
Play will continue at 7:30am tomorrow, where the remaining four players will battle for the title.
For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship
The 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 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.
Ryan Mackenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
Rain and Clouds Engulf Day One of the 2019 Junior Match Play Championship
Peter MacKellar
Listowel, ON — On a cloudy and rainy day at Listowel GC, while the girls still have another day until their tournament begins, day one of the annual Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship got underway. The tournament got off to a rocky start with an hour and a half storm delay, but despite the inconvenience, the players came out on fire and didn’t allow the poor conditions to ruin their round. With a returning champion and competitive field, the day proved to be highly competitive.
Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship
Day One started with 64 of the best junior players in the province, as they took to Listowel GC to try and make it into the round of 16. All eyes were on last year’s champion Cody Clark (Oliver’s Nest GC), who arrived looking for his second title in two years.
After two rounds, Clark proved he came to compete, winning 6&4 in the morning and 3&2 in the afternoon. The question on everyone’s mind entering the tournament was if Clark had the consistency to repeat, and after a strong day one, it’s clear he was focused on silencing the doubters. With some steady play and impressive shots down the stretch, the 18-year-old came out not only to play, but to win.
“I came in here hoping to start off strong,” said Clark. “I wanted to make a few birdies, get my putts to drop, and to overall just play steady. I’m happy with how today turned out.” Clark plans to head into tomorrow with the same mindset, and forget about the pressures of repeating.
“There’s definitely underlying pressure to come back and win again when you’re the reigning champion, but I’m trying to not focus on that and to just have fun out there. That’s the most important thing.” Clark will face off against Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West G) tomorrow.
While Clark was busy taking care of business in his first two rounds, Luke DelGobbo also had an impressive showing, winning his first match 9&8 (the best score of the day) and his second 7&5. He heads into tomorrow’s round facing off against the talented Michael Jiang (Station Creek GC), looking to continue his momentum from today’s success.
Play will continue tomorrow at 8:00am, where the remaining 16 players will look to move on to the third and final day.
For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is set to kickoff Wednesday, August 7th. The best junior golfers in the province will head to Listowel GC to decide who the best female junior golfer in Ontario is.
It was two time champion and Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin who was crowned victorious last year, beating out Manuela Rincon Torres (Galt CC) 2&1 in the final match. But unlike the boys portion of the tournament, McLaughlin will not be returning, allowing someone else to fill her shoes as champion. With a top spot for the taking, many of the girls will be coming surely be coming in hot, looking for a championship of their own. They will arrive Wednesday morning at Listowel, looking to conquer the challenging track.
Tee time is set for 8:00am tomorrow. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship
The 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 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.
Ryan Mackenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
Players Look for Glory at the 2019 Junior Match Play Championship
Peter MacKellar
Listowel, ON — On August 6th to 8th, Listowel GC will host the Junior Boys and Girls Match Play. The Championships are open to boys and girls who are 18 and younger, and have qualified in previous tournaments.
Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship
The Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Championship is set to kick off on August 6th, where the best junior players in the province will tee off to take home the hardware.
Last year, it was champion Cody Clark (Oliver’s Nest GC) who was able to seize the moment against Freddy D’Angelo (Fonthill). Going up against the talented Matthew Anderson (Credit Valley G&CC) in the final match, Clark took an early lead with a hole in one of the fourth hole. This would end up leading him to victory, and crowning him champion.
Clark will be returning this year, looking to repeat and win his second title in two years. But with it being a new tournament and with such a talented field, many will be looking to take advantage of the vacant top spot. Clark, although the early favourite, won’t have an easy path. With players like Team Ontario’s Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Peter Blazevic (Greystone GC), and many others, it will surely be a tight race throughout.
The players will be arriving at Listowel GC the day before the tournaments official start date. The 27 hole course creates a challenge for players of all levels with it’s combination of long fairways, water hazards, and rolling hills. The challenging track will surely only make the race for the top of the leaderboard that much more difficult, and it will be interesting to see how they adjust over the course of the week.
Tee time is set for 8:00am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Championship
The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is set to kickoff on August 7th. The best junior golfers in the province will head to Listowel GC to decide who the best female junior golfer in Ontario is.
It was two time champion and Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin who was crowned victorious last year, beating out Manuela Rincon Torres (Galt CC) 2&1 in the final match. But unlike the boys portion of the tournament, McLaughlin will not be returning, allowing someone else to fill her shoes as champion. With a top spot for the taking, many of the girls will be coming surely be coming in hot, looking for a championship of their own. They too will arrive Tuesday morning at Listowel, looking to conquer the challenging track.
The players will be arriving at Listowel GC Monday afternoon, the day before the first round, to warm up before the tournament gets underway.
Tee time is set for 8:00am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship
The 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 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.
The vast majority of the Western Amateur field was made up of collegians – incoming freshmen, current players and fresh graduates. Then there’s Garrett Rank, a 31-year-old Canadian who competes in golf in the summer and referees NHL hockey in the winter. Rank is one of the most impressive mid-amateurs in the game, yet his legend grew this week at Point O’Woods Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Mich.
Rank outlasted the kids for a Western Amateur title – a win that’s unheard of for a thirtysomething in today’s amateur climate. In fact, he becomes the first mid-amateur to win this title since 1997.
The foreshadowing came from Rank’s own mouth on Friday evening, after playing his way to the semifinals.
“I’ve been playing a lot of really good golf the last three or four weeks,” he said.
True to his word, Rank started his summer with an 11th-place finish at the Dogwood Invitational. As he accepted his award for low mid-amateur honors, Rank made one thing clear: He still wants to beat the young guys, and he still very much believes he can.
Rank made a remarkable five starts in the seven weeks between the Dogwood and the Western. He finished fifth at last week’s Porter Cup.
Rank’s trip to the final match included head-to-head wins against UCLA’s Hidetoshi Yoshihara, Clemson’s Turk Pettit and Arizona’s David Laskin.
On Saturday afternoon, he took on Ohio State graduate Daniel Wetterich, another player who has shown up week in and week out on the amateur circuit. The two men traded the lead back and forth, with Rank making birdie at the ninth to take a 2-up lead into the back nine. He won by an eventual 3-and-2 margin.
In a Walker Cup year, the only unfortunate part of Rank’s victory is that he can’t be chosen for either team.
ABOUT THE WESTERN AMATEUR
Invitational event, known to many as the ‘Masters of Amateur Golf.’ Quite probably the hardest amateur tournament to win.
156 invited players come from across the globe to play one of the toughest formats in amateur golf. The tournament starts with 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday and Wednesday after which the field is cut to the low 44 scores and ties. Thursday it’s a long day of 36 holes of stroke play to determine the “Sweet Sixteen” who compete at Match Play on Friday and Saturday (two matches each day if you’re going to the finals) to decide the champion.
Greenaway Perseveres at Day Three of the 2019 Senior Men’s Amateur
Peter MacKellar
Gravenhurst, ON — It was a brisk and dewy morning that welcomed the players to Taboo Muskoka for the third and final exciting day of the 84th annual Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship. As the weather began to warm up over the course of the day, so did the scores. The third round saw competitive play the whole way through with an impressive showcasing of skill from the entire field. Despite everyone having a strong round however, only one could be crowned a champion.
After three rounds of impressive play, it was David Greenaway (Barrie CC) who came out on top. Greenaway trailed Robert Gibson (Cedar Brae GC) by a single stroke heading into today but was able to ride early momentum throughout the round. Starting off on a high note, Greenaway birdied the first hole to tie things up from the get-go. Using this as a platform for success, the Barrie resident went bogeyless through the front nine, eventually stealing the lead from Gibson and entering the back nine up by a single stroke.
However the steady play wouldn’t last, and Greenaway would quickly find himself trailing yet again. Greenaway triple bogeyed 12 after a few tough shots from the rough, and Gibson retook the lead by three strokes. It seemed like Gibson would be able to ride through the last six holes with ease, but despite the unlucky bounces, Greenaway continued however to persevere and quickly birdied the next hole (Gibson bogeyed) to climb back within one. He birdied 14 and 16 as well, and the narrative quickly flipped.
It was now Greenaway’s tournament to lose as Gibson trailed by one, and Ashley Chinner (Coppinwood) trailed by two. He would finish his round with a birdie on 18, officially crowning himself the 84th Senior Men’s Amateur champion.
“It was such a great feeling to hit that last putt,” said Greenaway. “I knew I had a lot of ground to cover after 12, so it was rewarding to be able to pull back ahead. Rob and Ashley are fantastic players, but coming into today’s round I knew I could stick around with them.” Greenaway also explained that he credited his win today to the triple bogey he scored.
“If anything that triple bogey saved my round. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have played as freely as I did,” he said. “I told myself that I needed to loosen up after that hole. I knew if I just went out there and had fun, I would have a much better round.”
It was a tough battle throughout, and up until the final hole it was still anyone’s game. Gibson had a steady round throughout. Scoring -1 (-1 total) on the day, it was very possible that Gibson was going to come out on top, but by the end of it all it wasn’t enough to top Greenaway’s total score of -2.
“It was a back and forth day,” said Gibson. “It was a lot of fun out there.”
Placing in third, Chinner also had a fantastic round. Despite two tough holes where he would find himself trail further behind than he had wished, the veteran always climbed on back and made a good run.
Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship. We would also like to thank Taboo Muskoka and their staff for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.
For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
The Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2019 marks the 84th playing of the event and notable past champions include Herb Carnegie, Michael Jackson, and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members, Ed Ervasti, Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock
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