TOTTENHAM— The Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship started with 16 of the best junior girls in the province on June 29 at the Woodington Lake Golf Course in Tottenham. After two days and four rounds, it was Team Ontario member and Richmond Hill native Monet Chun who outlasted the field to claim the 2015 championship over fellow Team Ontario member Ruthven’s Alyssa Getty.
The two started the final match back and fourth with Chun, from the Summit Golf & Country Club, taking an early lead only to see it vanish on the second hole as Getty, from the Kingsville Golf & Country Club, evened the match. Chun would regain the lead on the fourth hole after leaving an approach shot inches from the cup. She continued to increase her lead and was 3up at the turn. Chun added to her lead by winning the 10th hole. She held her 4up advantage until the 14th where she sank a birdie putt to win the hole and the match 5&4.
For Chun, 14, the win was her first provincial championship after numerous runner-ups in both the Investors Group Junior Spring Classic and Investors Group Junior Girls’ Championship. She spoke about what finally getting over the hump meant to her. “It is really exciting! After the many years I have been playing competitive golf, I am so happy that I finally won a provincial championship.”
Chun also talked about what it was like to grind through the field and face a fellow Team Ontario member in the finals. “It was really tiring and I’m pretty sure that it was for most players. My game was really good these past two days; I hit a lot of greens, which I think was the biggest difference. I wasn’t putting all that well over the two days so hitting those greens really helped me win. Playing with Alyssa put a lot of pressure on me. I know that she is a great player and it was a great experience getting to play with her.”
The road to the title began with Chun being seeded third. She defeated Alexandra Demko in the first round 4&3, then Team Ontario’s Diana McDonald 3&2 in the quarterfinals. She met another Team Ontario member in the semifinals in Chloe Currie, but had a great match and took it 7&6.
As for Getty, 18, she began as the number one seed. She knocked out Kristen Giles in the opening round 6&5, before beating Claire Hernandez in the quarterfinals 4&3. In the semis, she matched up with Alexandra Naumovski and won the match 3&2.
ABOUT THE ONTARIO 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 the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic, May 16-18 at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo. Notable past champions include: Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.
The GAO would like to thank all of the volunteers and the staff from the Woodington Lake Golf Club for all of their support in hosting the event and their support of junior golf.
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Canadians from points far and wide encouraged to share their stories at: www.golfcanadagolf.ca and get involved all season long using #GolfCanadaGolf
(June 25, 2015) –With nearly 5.7 million Canadian golfers and 60 million golf rounds played annually, it’s no surprise golf is the number one participation sport in the country and the anchor for a newly launched initiative at GolfCanadaGolf.ca to herald the love of the game.
Earlier this spring, a collection of golf industry leaders gathered to create the Golf Canada Golf campaign to invite Canadians to share their stories and show their support for Canadian golf. This upcoming Canada Day holiday, golfers from all points far and wide in Canada are encouraged to add their nostalgic story about the great game of golf with a special incentive; the most compelling submissions have the chance to be profiled during the upcoming RBC Canadian Open.
“The Golf Canada Golf campaign welcomes Canadian golfers from all corners of Canada, walks of life and ages and stages to share their personal stories and special connections to the game,” shared Gavin Roth, Chief Commercial Officer with Golf Canada.
Since its spring launch, the campaign has logged more than 100 story profiles to www.golfcanadagolf.ca, more than 10,000 story views and over 1.75 million impressions through social media. Stories have been shared from regions across Canada and the hashtag #golfcanadagolf has been gaining momentum in the weeks since the campaign launched.
As part of the campaign to profile the game of golf, a custom website – www.golfcanadagolf.ca – was developed to feature a mix of stories, from professionally filmed feature segments to personal submissions by golfers with a unique story to share.
“We’re excited that Canadian celebrities, like former Toronto Maple Leaf Wendel Clark and Canada’s top-ranked player on the Women’s World Ranking Brooke Henderson have joined in to support the campaign, in addition to a number of feature stories that were filmed to launch the campaign,” added Roth. “Canadian LPGA Tour player Alena Sharp also shares her story – a tribute to the impact her dad had on her golfing career – as part of the campaign’s family focus.”
The site also features a social media hub that curates stories using the hashtag #golfcanadagolf as well as resources for golfers looking to find a course, connect with a PGA of Canada professional or learn more about junior golf programs in their community.
Sharing golf’s story means celebrating the health, social, economic, competitive and charitable benefits of the game in Canada. A snapshot of the Canadian golf landscape reveals an industry that is worth more than $14.3 billion annually to the Canadian economy, numbers that reinforce the massive financial, charitable, social, tourism and environmental impact golf has in communities across Canada.
In addition, Canadian golf facilities are a channel for major charitable giving with close to 37,000 events at Canadian courses helping to raise more than $533 million annually for worthwhile causes.
The Golf Canada Golf campaign was developed and executed in partnership with BrandFire Marketing Group, a full-service agency based in Toronto that in 2014 was named among Profit 500’s Fastest Growing Companies in Canada.
The campaign will extend throughout the 2015 season, inviting golfers and sport enthusiasts to share and celebrate the many stories that make the game of golf special in Canada.
KITCHENER, ON— Heading into the final round, Elmira’s Garrett Rank held a two-shot lead at the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Investors Group Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener. By the end of the day, Rank remained at the top of the leaderboard and claimed his first Ontario Men’s Mid Amateur title.
The 27-year-old Rank finished the round three-under (70) to bring his tournament total to seven-under (74-68-70-212). Despite finding trouble during the round, Rank was able to hit recovery after recovery to win. Last year, Rank won the Canadian Mid-Amateur but said following it up with the provincial title was still a great feeling.
“It feels good! Any time you can win a tournament and put yourself in a winning position it feels really good,” said Rank.
Rank went on to talk about how the weather earlier in the week didn’t affect his overall tournament. “I almost blew away on Tuesday, it was that windy! I just knew that everyone had to play in it and I just played my way through it. I knew if I could keep my score around par I would be near the lead. In the second and third rounds I made some key putts. I didn’t make everything but I was really solid. I took advantage of my good iron shots and made birdies and some good par saves.”
Despite some tough shots during his final round, Rank was able to recover well, something that he said helped him win. “There were a few times today where there could have been some big swings but I managed to save a couple bogeys. I just tried to keep the momentum moving in the right direction and eventually made some late birdies.”
For Rank, he will now turn his attention to representing Canada at the Pan American Games, July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, and the RBC Canadian Open, July 23-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville.
Earning the silver medal was Toronto’s Kevin Fawcett. The Toronto Golf Club member shot an even-par final round (73) to finish the tournament at two-under (71-73-73-217).
Picking up the bronze medal was New Hamburg’s Josh Hunke. Hunke, from Deer Ridge Golf Club, also ended the day at even par bringing his three-day total to one-under (72-73-73-218).
Rank, Fawcett and Hunke were all named as the members of Team Ontario for the inter-provincial competition at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur, Aug. 25-28 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
Capturing the Mid-Masters (40+) trophy was Woodstock’s Drew Symons. Symons, the 2012 Mid-Amateur Champion and Craigowan Golf & Country Club member, ended the day one-under (72) and finished in a tie for fourth overall at even for the tournament (73-74-72-219).
For full tournament information and the final leaderboard see the tournament site at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao15/event/gao1516/index.htm
The top 41 finishers in the event earned entry into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
ABOUT THE INVESTORS GROUP ONTARIO MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
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 nine 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 members Stu Hamilton and Kelly Roberts, Dave Bunker, Graham Hill and Drew Symons.
The GAO would like to thank all of the volunteers and staff from the Westmount Golf & Country Club for all of their support in hosting the event. Thanks also to Investors Group as title sponsor and for their support of golf in Ontario.
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PORT CARLING— Not only did defending champion Dave Bunker need to battle a very worthy opponent, Quinn Vilneff, in the finals of the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship, but he also had to battle the elements to claim his fourth title.
The tournament, held at the Lake Joseph Club in Port Carling, wrapped up on June 12 after six rounds of matches that began on June 9. What began as 64 players came down to Bunker, from the Brampton Golf Club and Vilneff, from the Essex Golf & Country Club.
The final round was a soggy affair with rain falling on the competitors throughout the round. Woodbridge’s Bunker held a lead as they began the back nine, but Vilneff made Bunker work for it, forcing him to attempt a four-foot putt on the 14th hole, which the 50-year-old Bunker missed. That brought Amherstburg’s Vilneff back to all square. The 23-year-old Vilneff would get up and down on the 15th to take the lead. After the pair were even on the 16th, Bunker squared the match on the 17th hole, setting up a winner take all situation on the 18th. Both players played the hole similarly with their tee and approach shots. They both found the green in two and both had an eight-foot putt for birdie. After Vilneff pushed his right, Bunker stepped up and drained his to win his second straight and fourth Ontario Match Play title.
“I knew the weather was going to be bad today and the bugs, but you just have to try and focus the best you can,” said Bunker about the conditions. “It is a long week and you need to be prepared to play lots of holes if you go far. I just got fortunate that things went my way. I got some good breaks and that’s what you need to make it to the final match.”
Bunker added that he wasn’t thinking about repeating as champion. “I wasn’t thinking too much about last year or repeating. It was more about how each match went. How I played each hole and how I was going to play the next.”
The road to the finals, for Bunker, included wins over Connor Denning (6&5), Cole Kent (3&2), Jordan Gregoris (2&1), Raymond Oh (1up) and Jeff Crowe (4&3). As for Vilneff he defeated Arjun Walia (6&4), Greg Mullins (7&5), Charles Corner (3&2), Nicholas Ross (1up) and Luke Moser (5&3).
Bunker will now take the momentum from this win and turn his attention to the U.S. Senior Open, June 25-28, in Sacramento, California after he qualified on June 1.
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 five qualifying tournaments held earlier this season, or who have gained an exemption into the event. Notable former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Ian Leggatt, David Hearn and David Byrne.
The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank Clublink and The Lake Joseph Club for their continued support of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship.
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St. Kitts Becomes vTour Presenting Sponsor as 2015 Series Officially Begins
UXBRIDGE— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is proud to announce the addition of a new partner: the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. St. Kitts will become the presenting partner and grand prize supplier of the GAO’s vTour series, which officially begins its kickoff event today. The three-year agreement also includes the launch of the GAO-sanctioned St. Kitts Two-Ball Shootout which will makes its debut December 5-12, 2015.
The GAO’s vTour was launched in 2012 and is a series of online tournaments where golfers compete in events with other golfers across the province at their course and time of choice. These net events are focused on rewarding participation rather than performance. In 2015, the GAO will welcome St. Kitts as the presenting partner for the six scheduled events, which will see approximately 6,000 golfers participate beginning June 10.
“It is a pleasure to welcome the St. Kitts Tourism Authority as the presenting partner of the GAO’s vTour series,” said Mike Kelly, GAO Interim Executive Director. “St. Kitts is a top Caribbean destination who, like the GAO, share a passion for golf and enhancing participants experience in the sport like our unique vTour series.”
The St. Kitts Two-Ball Shootout will feature two-person teams competing in a 54-hole gross and net better-ball competition at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. The seven-day package ($3336 based on double occupancy) includes round-trip airfare, seven nights at the Marriott Resort, one practice round with cart, three tournament rounds with cart, daily breakfast and lunch, four receptions/dinners, access to on site casino, transfers from resort to golf course, airport transfers in St. Kitts, use of practice facilities and access to resort activities.
“The St. Kitts Tourism Authority is excited to partner with the Golf Association of Ontario in the creation of this new event,” said Hon. Lindsay F. P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce, St. Kitts and Nevis. “St. Kitts is rapidly becoming the premier golf destination in the Caribbean with the opening of new golf courses and luxury resorts. This partnership will allow us to tell our story and highlight golf travel opportunities for the GAO’s membership base, which represents the heart of the eastern Canada golf market.
“The strength of this partnership truly is the opportunity for GAO members to experience all that St. Kitts has to offer. This exceptional golf event and vacation package will no doubt be the highlight of the year for all involved,” added Kelly.
MARKHAM— The Pan American Games are just over a month away. Countries are finalizing their rosters, so what better time to take a look at the golf course that will be the centre of attention: Angus Glen.
Angus Glen Golf Club, South Course, will play host to the golf competition July 16-19. The course itself is no stranger to hosting high profile events. Since it’s creation in 1995, by Ontario Golf Hall of Famer, architect Doug Carrick, it has played host to a pair of Canadian Open’s in 2002 and 2007. In addition, the club’s North Course has hosted the LPGA Canadian Open and the Telus Skins Game. Most recently, the South Course hosted the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship, something that Angus Glen Head professional Terry Kim says helped the club prepare for the upcoming Games. “Thanks to the World Junior Girls Championship, we saw that there are lots of good golfers everywhere. It was definitely a smaller scale, but the positive feedback we received from the different country coaches went along way in our preparations.”
When the competition begins, the course will be showcasing a number of changes made thanks to a revitalization project done by designer Martin Ebert, something Kim is quite excited about. “I think the defining characteristics will be quite different with the changes. All of the greens have been resurfaced, the bunkers were redone with top-technology drainage, three holes (3,11 and 14) received major changes and all feel new and a bunker was added on 18 to make the finish even tighter.”
The project began five years ago with nearly a $6-millon investment from the owners. So far the course has received many positive reviews.
What will make things challenging for players will be the course’s fescue, which should be fully grown in by the time of the competition. “The added fescue is big,” said Kim. “Players at the World Junior Girls Championship really enjoyed it then. With the length of the course, getting off the tee safely will be key to the players succeeding. The fescue will require punch outs, so if they can avoid that and read the subtle breaks on the green they should be in good shape.”
Kim says that the toughest stretch for players will be the start of the back nine, holes 10 through 13. “It is a tough stretch but if players can get through these four, they have a good chance to score well on the final five.”
He outlines how 10 is a tough uphill hole, 11 requires a player to shape their second shot well, 12 is a long par-3 with narrow green and 13 has a blind tee shot, all of which will act as the challenges. Yet as the players finish on 18 they will have the full attention of spectators thanks to the hole’s stadium seating.
In terms of set up, Kim says that the course will be set up similar to how it was for the World Junior Girls Championship, with increased length off the tees. “Players will need to plan their shots. It is a fair course so they should be able to score well, but I think we will see both good and bad scores.”
With all of the changes and preparations that the course has put in to get ready for the Games, Angus Glen should prove to be an excellent site for the competition. “Everything so far has been great with the course this season and we are eager to showcase Angus Glen on the world stage,” said Kim.
The first round of the golf competition begins on July 16 with the medals being presented on July 19. For more information or to purchase tickets see: http://www.toronto2015.org/golf
TORONTO—Former Varsity Blues athletic director, and current member of the board of directors for Golf Canada, Liz Hoffman received the prestigious Thomas R. Loudon award as part of the 2015 U of T Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday night at the new Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
The Loudon award is presented to a person associated with the University of Toronto for outstanding services in the advancement of athletics. Hoffman retired from U of T in 2010 after 39 years of outstanding service, leadership and mentorship of University of Toronto athletics.
Hoffman has been a driving force behind the growth of intercollegiate competition in Canada. She has paved the way in many areas of university sport – as an athlete, as a coach, an instructor and as an administrator. As the director of athletics, she served on the board of directors of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) during three different decades (1982-86, 1993-97, 2003-07), including being its president (1995-97), and has been a U of T delegate to Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its predecessors since 1977, including terms as president (1980-84) and past president (2003-07). She built a tremendous coaching team at U of T, where under her leadership the Varsity Blues claimed 17 national titles and 126 provincial team championships.
The night opened with Dean Ira Jacobs presenting award to Hoffman. Jacobs saluted Hoffman’s decades of service and the lasting impact her initiatives made on sport at U of T. “Under Liz’s watch, University of Toronto developed gender and sport equity policies that were firsts in interuniversity sport in Canada,” Jacobs told the crowd. “Her initiatives shaped the co-curricular athletics and recreation experiences of countless—literally thousands of—U of T students on all three campuses.”
Hoffman received a standing ovation from the crowd as she came to the mic. For Hoffman, the honour was very much a family affair—literally, with her husband Rick and sons Mark and Matt at her side—and metaphorically, returning “home” to her Blues stomping groups. “We will always be part of the Varsity Blues family. I thank you for this honour; I will always treasure it; we will always treasure it.”
The emotional reflections and humble acceptance speeches continued as 10 athletes, three teams and four builders were welcomed into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame. While a decades-old tradition, this particular induction represented a new era with a series of firsts—this was the first time celebrating inductions at the Golding Centre for High Performance Sport. The Faculty also unveiled its interactive digital display, honouring every individual, team and builder inducted into the U of T Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony also included the University’s first induction of a para athlete: Joanne Berdan.
TORONTO – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Golf Canada have announced the four athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.
The Canadian athletes nominated by Golf Canada for the Pan Am golf competition – which runs July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. – were determined based on selection criteria and world ranking as of May 15, 2015.
On the women’s side, 17-year-old former world number one amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has accepted selection to the Pan Am golf team and will be joined by four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane of Charlottetown.
The men’s team will be comprised of 18-year-old Austin Connelly who resides in, Irving Texas, currently the 10th ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings along with reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.
Golf Canada’s National Women’s Team Head Coach Tristan Mullally of Straffan, Ireland along with National Men’s Team Head Coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man will serve as coaches for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.
Selection criteria among those considered for the Canadian Pan Am Golf Team was based on competitive standing inside the top-500 on the World Golf Ranking for professional golfers as well as competitive standing inside the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of May 15, 2015. Players that met the selection criteria had until April 28, 2015 to notify Golf Canada of their interest in being considered for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.
The field for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Competition will include 32 women and 32 men competing in a women’s individual, men’s individual and mixed team competition (low female and male score combined).
The Pan Am Games will be a historic event for Canadian golf as the sport will be included for the first time ever as part of the multi-sport Pan Am Games. In 2016, the sport of golf makes its celebrated return to the Olympic sport program for the first time since Canadian George S. Lyon won gold at the 1904 Olympic Games.
Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.
QUOTES
“Canada is proud to be hosting the first-ever Pan Am Games where golf is on the program. This is a fantastic opportunity for our talented golfers to showcase their ability to the Americas with a home soil advantage. Congratulations to all those who made it onto the team.”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee
“I am incredibly excited for our Canadian golfers to be a part of Pan Am Games history. I am totally confident that this group will re-ignite Canadian success in multi-sport games after George Lyon’s gold medal in 1904. Congratulations to all of the golfers named to the team, I can’t wait to see you all tee off.”
– Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission
“We are very excited about the composition of our team for the Pan Am Games and feel confident that they will be very competitive with the field in this event. Lorie and Brooke representing Canada provide a great combination of both youth and experience while Garrett and Austin are two of the top amateurs in the world and will give Canada a great chance over the four days of competition.”
– Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer
“It’s an honour to be selected to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games. In a short time with the national team program I’ve been able to take advantage of great opportunities and I’m sure that the Pan Am Games will be a special golf experience.”
– Austin Connelly, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete
“I am honoured and extremely excited to be playing for Canada again.I am excited about the quality of schedule I have this year with the Pan Am Games and RBC Canadian Open as well as the other great championships I’ll be competing in this summer.”
– Garrett Rank, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete
“It is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to represent my country and the Canadian Olympic Committee with my selection to play for Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. I have always proudly represented Canada while playing on the LPGA Tour, but wearing the maple leaf in acclaimed international competition is something I am extremely humbled by and excited about.”
– Lorie Kane, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games athlete
“It’s really exciting to have been selected to represent Canada in the first ever Pan Am games golf competition. I’ve had so many great experiences being a part of Golf Canada’s national team program since I was 14, and now in my first year as a pro, it’s a great honour to play for my country at the Pan Am Games.”
– Brooke Henderson, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete
“Canada has a long tradition of excellence in golf, and we are very proud of the team that has been selected to represent our country as this sport makes its Pan Am Games debut this summer. Congratulations to all our golfers; Canadians will be following and encouraging you as you face the best athletes in the Americas at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Good luck!”
– The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)
Click here to listen to an interview with Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Development Officer, Jeff Thompson, as he discusses team selection criteria for Canada’s golf contingent for the 2015 Pan Am Games.
BARRIE— It was a beautiful day at Horseshoe Resort – Highlands Course as 48 champions, from Ontario golf clubs, teed it up for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions.
In what is turning out be a theme with GAO events this season, this championship needed a playoff to determine a winner. Despite many players having difficulty with the course, Oakville’s Mike Kray and Bognor’s Josiah Dixon both managed to finish the round one-under (70).
On the playoff hole, Kray, from the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club found the rough on his tee shot and had tree branches between his ball and the hole. He would get out and on the fairway but was short of the green. He would go on to bogey the hole. As for Dixon, he put his tee shot in the fairway and found the fringe with his approach. The Legacy Ridge Golf Club member, chipped it to within a couple feet and made his par putt for the win.
“It feels good, I really enjoyed the course it was in great shape,” said Dixon. “I had a pretty good day out there, I struck the ball well. I probably should have made a few more putts than I did, but overall it worked out well. I hit fairways and greens. That was what you really had to do out there. I didn’t have to look for the ball except once and even then I was able to make par.”
For Dixon, this was his first GAO championship, a win that he said tops his list. “I haven’t won any GAO events before. I have won a couple Amateur Tour events, but overall this has to be my biggest win.”
Earning the bronze medals were Whitby’s Spencer Dobbs, from the Cherry Downs Golf & Country Club and Wasaga Beach’s Dean Henry, from the Mad River Golf Club. Both Dobbs and Henry finished the round two-over (73).
With his win, Dixon also receives an exemption into the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship July 14-17 at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club.
About the Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions
The Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions was first contested in 1946 and features men’s club champions from Golf Association of Ontario member clubs across the province. Past champions of the event include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Bill Morland, Gerry Kesselring, Warren Sye, and Stu Hamilton, as well as Big Break Indian Wells champion David Byrne. The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank Horseshoe Resort – Highlands Course for hosting the event and for their continued support of amateur golf in Ontario.
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STOUFFVILLE— The 2015 Junior Golf Drive, organized by the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), was even bigger and better than in years past. The event, May 25, was again hosted by the Granite Golf Club, in Stouffville and turned out to be a huge success for the GAO and junior golf programming in the province.
In 2014, the event raised just over $48,000. 2015 turned out to be even better as the projected funds raised are more than $62,000. The event featured a dinner and silent auction along with notable guest speakers. Current Symetra Tour member Augusta James and She Swings She Scores program ambassador (three-time Olympic Gold Medalist) Gillian Apps both spoke to the crowd about the importance of getting young people involved in the game of golf and how important junior programs are.
“The afternoon on the golf course was fantastic (despite a little rain) and the evening program was amazing. Our special guests Gillian Apps and Augusta James provided great inspirational messages to the crowd and our athletes. All in all it was a great initiative for the GAO to showcase our programming and raise money to support it,” said GAO Director of Marketing and Communications and Junior Golf Drive Committee member Kyle McFarlane.
“Junior Golf Drive has quickly become the GAO’s premier fundraising event supporting junior golf programs in Ontario impacting thousands of recreational and competitive kids annually and 2015 was another tremendous success!” Added GAO Interim Executive Director Mike Kelly.
“It was a great day and only possible with the hard work of a great organizing committee. I would like to thank co-chairs Ivy Steinberg and Peter Zakarow along with the other dedicated members of the committee John Gallinger, Julie Girard, Glenn Whitebread and Jasmine Portokalis,” added McFarlane.
The GAO would like to thank all of the participants for their support, along with all of the volunteers, GAO staff and Granite Golf Club staff without whom the event would not have been possible.
Team Photos
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Event Photos
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