As the temperature drops and the gorgeous autumn leaves continue to fall, Golf Ontario would like to take some time to reflect on the challenging yet amazing 2021 Championship season. Early season uncertainty and multiple changes to the schedule to accommodate the global pandemic made for a unique year that still managed to produce successful competitions. With the help of our amazing staff, players, and volunteers, we were able to make an incredible season possible.
In the end, the condensed season saw almost a complete championship line-up that was pushed further back into summer and fall. Please join us to reflect on some amazing shots, successful championships, and the crowned champions of this past season. This week, we are teeing off with the June 2021 season recap.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON IS A GO AT TABOO MUSKOKA WITH MATCH PLAY
Ontario Men’s and Women’s Match Play Championships,
Taboo Muskoka
Men (June 22-25) / Women (June 24-25)
The final day of the Men’s and Women’s Match Play Championship was a soggy one, with the rain beginning just before the semi-finals teed off and getting increasingly heavier throughout the final round. With the rain cooling down the competition, we watched fierce players battle for a spot in the final championship round.
Taking home hardware at the 2021 Ontario Men’s and Women’s Match Play Championship were your victors, Charles Fitzsimmons (St. Thomas G&CC) and Hailey Katona (Tilbury GC). The two winning competitors took down legendary Golf Ontario champions, collegiate athletes, and Team Ontario athletes to claim their titles.
To view the leaderboards from the 2021 Ontario Men’s and Women’s Match Play Championships, visit our Golf Genius page.
For media coverage, please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page to view our photo albums.
About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship
Established in 1986, the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually and features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers that have qualified through one of six qualifying tournaments held earlier this season, or who have gained an exemption into the event. Notable former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Ian Leggatt, David Hearn, David Byrne, and Dave Bunker.
About the Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship
The Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship was first played in 1975 and has several notable past champions including: World, Canadian, and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Stewart Streit, six-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, Terrill Samuel, and Heather Kuzmich.
2021 ONTARIO JUNIOR (U19) GIRLS’ SPRING CLASSIC CHAMPION AWARDED
Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Spring Classic,
Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course
June 26th to 28th
While the rain held off for the final round, players endured 18-holes of humidity and excessive heat in the battle for their name on the W.D. Randolph Millage Trophy. In the early 90s, Randy Millage started the Junior Spring Classic events to showcase the best players in Ontario. Initially, an invitation-only event taking the top 40 boys and top 20 girls in the previous year’s Order of Merit, the Spring Classic allowed them to get a jump on the competition south of the border.
Maintaining the lead through afternoon temperatures near 31 degrees and a humidex of 40, the low round score of the day and champion of the 2021 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Spring Classic was Lauren Zaretsky (Ladies’ GC of Toronto/ Maple Downs G&CC). With a final score of 7-under (209), Zaretsky played skillfully to put her 10-strokes ahead of silver finalist, Alessandra Nagayo (Public Player). Climbing twelve positions in round two, Nagayo had another good showing of 72 to push her ahead of Ashley Lafontaine (Royal Ottawa GC).
To view the leaderboards from the 2021 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Spring Classic Championship, visit our Golf Genius page.
For media coverage, please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page to view our photo albums.
KIM WINS ONTARIO JUNIOR BOYS’ SPRING CLASSIC ON FIRST PLAYOFF HOLE
Ontario Junior (U19) Boys’ Spring Classic,
Shelburne Golf and Country Club
June 28th to 30th
Over the three-day tournament, Golf Ontario and competitors were lucky to avoid forecasted rain at Shelburne Golf and Country Club. Going down to the wire with a playoff, the champion of the 25th Annual Junior Boys’ Spring Classic was Owen Kim (Blue Springs GC).
The Team Ontario athlete drained a 20+ foot birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat fellow Team Ontario teammate, Ryan Somerville (Summit Golf and Country Club), and Andre Zhu (National Pines Golf Club). The trio finished the tournament all eight-under (205) after three days. Following close behind at six-under was Austin Matthews (Bigwin Island Golf Club). Another trio of competitors finished at -5 (208), including Andreas Diogenous (Whistle Bear Golf Club), also of Team Ontario, Liam Mosher (Hamilton Golf & Country Club), and Tyler Hurtubise (Pointe West Golf Club).
To view the leaderboards from the 2021 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys’ Spring Classic Championship, visit our Golf Genius page.
For media coverage, please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page to view our photo albums.
About the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championships
The Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championship is contested annually over the Victoria Day long weekend and features many of Ontario’s best male and female junior golfers. The field of competitors gained entry to the competition through a qualifying process earlier in the season.
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For more information please contact:
Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca
Brianna Christopher,
Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario;
BChristopher@gao.ca
