July 5, 2023
North York, ON – Determined to conquer the course and prevail in the face of the scorching heat golfers came out flying during the 108th Ontario Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship at Donalda Club.
Leading the way on the Amateur and Mid-Amateur leaderboard is 14-time Women’s Mid-Amateur trophy namesake champion Mary-Ann Hayward (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club Ltd), who finishes the first-round shooting plus-two (73) with an eagle on hole 6. Following behind Hayward on the Mid-Amateur leaderboard is Elizabeth Tong (Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto) shooting a (76) for five-over-par with one birdie. Meredith Fairbairn (Cutten Fields) finished the day in third with 2 birdies shooting an eight-over-par (79).
Three competitors are currently tied for first place on the Amateur leaderboard with a score of two over par (73). Mary-Ann Hayward (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club Ltd), Alissa XU (Station Creek Golf Club) shot three birdies, and Joline Truong (Golf Ontario Member) with one birdie.
Round 2 will tee off at 7:20 am tomorrow, July 6. After Round 2 the Amateur Championship will be cut to Low 54 & Ties, and the Mid-Amateur will be cut to the Top 15 & Ties. To view pairings & starting times for each round as well as live leaderboard updates please visit the Official Tournament Website here.
About the Women’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship
First played in 1904, the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship is Ontario’s oldest provincial championship and is the pinnacle of women’s golf in the province. 96 players will compete from across Ontario in a 72-hole stroke play format.
The Women’s Amateur has produced a rich history of champions throughout the tournament’s long and cherished existence. Past winners include 1968 LPGA Tour players Sandra Post (1964), Alena Sharp (1989), Jennifer Kirby (2009, 2010), Augusta James (2011), Brittany Marchand (2012), Brooke Henderson (2014), Maddie Szeryk and Brigitte Thibault (2019). World, Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member, Marlene Stewart Streit, holds the record for the most titles with 11 (’51, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’72, ’74, ’76, and ’77).
First played in 1989, the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is open to female golfers aged 25 and over. In honour of her outstanding accomplishments at the Mid-Amateur level in Ontario, the trophy is rightfully named after 14-time champion Mary Ann Hayward. The Mid-Amateur championship will be awarded after 54 holes of play.. Other notable past champions of the event include 2012 Canadian Senior Women’s Champion Terrill Samuel (1991, 2000,2010, 2020), Casey Ward (2015) and Golf Ontario Hall of Fame members Gayle Borthwick Hitchens (1992, 1993), and Judith Kyrinis (2017).
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the most significant golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
For more information, please contact:
Greg Mitchell, Coordinator; Brand, Communications & Marketing Golf Ontario
Rob Watson, Tournament Director
