Written by Golf Canada

Stouffville, ON – Building on last years incredible event that raised almost $100,000, Golf Ontario is proud to be back with The Junior Golf Drive and Gala taking place on May 27th. Like last year, it will be another fabulous day of golf, topped off by an evening of great food, and outstanding entertainment at the prestigious Granite Club.

The day begins at noon with a delicious BBQ lunch served and pre golf activities, followed by a 1pm shotgun. Guests will be able to play a round of 18 at the Granite, and then will be welcomed back with cocktails and dinner. Special guest Charlie Rymer, the former PGA tour player and media star, will be entertainment at the event, and TSN Sportscentre anchor Natasha Staniszweski will be hosting.

The Junior Golf Drive and Gala supports multiple Golf Ontario and partner-initiatives that focus on youth golf. By supporting the JGDG you are providing funding for On-Course Programs, such as the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools and facility programs; Grow Golf Granting Programs, Educational Opportunities for Youth through the Golf Ontario Scholarship Program, and the Team Ontario program. It helps Golf Ontario provide financial assistance to deserving student golfers throughout Ontario who continue their education at the post-secondary level, and it also provides funding to foster the growth of golf programming in Ontario Schools.

Tickets are available at here where you can join us for the full day of golf and gala, or simply the gala alone. If you are unable to make the event but would still like to support, please consider donating at golfcanadafoundation.com if you would like to make a contribution to the cause.

We look forward to seeing everybody there, as it looks to be an exciting day!

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Brockville/Uxbridge, ON – On May 20th, both the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys and Girls Championships wrapped up, showcasing some of the best junior talent in the province. Most players were looking to close out the final day with good scores, and hopefully climb the leaderboard.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship

The Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship wrapped up on May 20th after three days at Brockville Country Club. When all was said and done it was Thomas Stafford who captured the boys’ title.

A mix of sun and cloudy skies, and strong winds could be found at the third and final day at the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship. The Brockville Country Club’s course was a challenge for many players over the long weekend, with undesired winds and high elevations, it caused a lot of scores to end higher then expected.

Through adversity, it was Thomas Stafford from Golf Quebec who rose to the occasion. Shooting 2-under on his last round, he catapulted from the seventh spot in the standings to the first. Stafford originally dug himself into quite the hole on day two by double bogeying on three different occasions, but it was clear this didn’t faze him, as Stafford hit no worse then par on day three.

“I just tried to stay calm out there,” said Stafford. “I didn’t want to over-analyze anything. I had a good feeling going into the day and I kept a good mentality. Even when I made a mistake, I stayed calm because I knew everyone else was going to make mistakes.” Stafford’s final score would be +3 (216).

In second place it was Brandon White from Golf Quebec, the former leader coming out from day two. Although the healthy score separation going into the day, and some great shot making throughout, White couldn’t hold the lead from the red hot Stafford. White finished the tournament with a total score of +6 (219).

Completing the top three was Team Ontario’s Bennett Ruby from Westmount Golf and Country Club, who found himself right behind White with a score of +7 (220). Ruby had a stellar start on day one shooting -1, but much like White, he couldn’t maintain a lead over Stafford’s third round surge. Ruby played a steady round on day three, with two birdies on the last 5 holes.

Capturing the Juvenile Division was Peter Blazevic from Greystone Golf Club. Blazevic Club finished the tournament at +8. Thanks to his consistency over the three days, he was able to build up a big lead and rode it right through the final round to win the Juvenile Championship.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship

The exciting final round of the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship also wrapped up today from Wooden Sticks Golf Club, featuring some very cold and windy conditions creating havoc for the skilled golfers. The day started with a very crowded leaderboard and after some juggling of positions, Jasmine Ly (Kingsville Golf & Country Club) battled through the tough conditions and took the title, shooting a solid even par (72).

Ly, a Team Ontario graduate, and 2018 Ontario Junior Girls Champion felt her round was good today considering the elements. “The conditions were definitely tough out there, the weather and everything. I had to stay patient,” Ly added. “I just tried to avoid putting up any big numbers.”

That game plan paid off as Ly would capture the title shooting steady through the whole weekend (74-75-72=221). In second place, and also winner of the Juvenile (U17) division, went to Victoria Zheng (Granite GC) with a good final round showing of +3 (75). A co-leader heading into the round, she chased Ly down the back nine but just couldn’t make up the strokes lost on the front.

Third place overall and also second in the Juvenile division was Brooke Rivers (Brampton GC), who finished with a final round 76. Lauren Zaretsky (Ladies GC of Toronto) who led after the first round would finish fourth overall and third in the Juvenile division tied along with Nicole Gal (Oakville Golf Club).

Wooden Sticks, known for having some recognizable golf landscapes from the PGA, played even tougher than usual under the fierce weather conditions, yet still made for a thrilling weekend of junior girls golf.

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.

The three day tournament challenged the focus, stamina, and skills of all the participating golfers. We would like to congratulate all who attended both Brockville and Uxbridge for their good play over the course of the weekend, and we look forward to seeing you in tournaments in the future!

For more information and complete results, visit the tournament page at:

https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/events/gao197/index.html – Boys Leaderboard

https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/events/gao198/index.html – Girls Leaderboard

Facebook Photo album from Boys Championship

Facebook Photo album from Girls Championship

Golf Ontario would like to thank the members, volunteers and staff at both Wooden Sticks and Brockville Country Club for their support over the course of the weekend.

Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca

Brockville/Uxbridge, ON – On May 19th, both the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys and Girls Championships continued after a successful day one, showcasing some of the best junior talent in the province. The players were looking to continue their momentum heading into day two.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship

It was a warm day with varying sunlight and clouds at Brockville Country Club for day two. The day got underway at noon, and similar to day one, the players struggled with the elevations found on the course. Although their resilience, many players saw their scores rise from day one.

Through the adversity, it was Brandon White from Golf Quebec coming out on top. Finishing +2 (73) on the day, it was enough to squeak past the other leaders of the tournament. He had three birdie’s throughout the day, and a spectacular putt on the last hole to keep his lead. White now sits at +1 (143) in total, taking the lead while his peers struggled.

“The wind was up, and I think other guys were expecting bad weather so that surely didn’t help peoples game today,” said White, explaining how he took advantage of others struggles. “On the shorter holes that were driveable, the wind made that very difficult.” White hopes to keep the momentum heading into the final day tomorrow.

Follow behind in second is Frédéric Rousseau from Golf Quebec, and Jeffrey Fang from Station Creek Golf Club, who both ended the day with a total score of +3 (145). Rousseau continued his steady shooting from yesterday, and Fang had a fantastic day shooting -1 through 18, but it wasn’t enough to take to the top of the leaderboard.

For third, four players found themselves with the same score. Logan Boucher from Golf Quebec, Michael Ikejiani from Barrie Country Club, Bennett Ruby from Westmount Golf and Country Club, and Conor Gaudet from Cataraqui Golf and Country Club all finished the day with a total score of +4 (146).

The players will continue to face off on the challenging course tomorrow to take the lead for a chance to win the WD Randolph Millage Trophy. The top 3 Ontario boys will get exempt into the Ontario Junior Boys Championship, and the low Ontario boy will get a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Day three will commence tomorrow at a 7:30am after the golfers are cut down to 60.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship

Warm conditions turned to dark clouds and rain by the time the second round of the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship was all said and done from Wooden Sticks Golf Club.  The day featured some windy play and varying conditions causing a very crowded leaderboard heading into the final round tomorrow.

Jasmine Ly (Kingsville Golf & Country) shot a 75 (+3) and Victoria Zheng  (Granite GC) fired a Even par (72) to both sit tied for the lead after two rounds. Brooke Rivers  (Brampton GC) finds herself one shot back and Team Ontario teammate to Ly, Vanessa Chychrun (Beacon Hall GC) and Nicole Gal (Oakville Golf Club), recent Drive, Chip and Putt Champion (Girls 14-15) at Augusta, is one shot back of Rivers.

Co-leader Ly was happy with her day. “I thought I played my best golf today. Even after a two stroke penalty on 14, I battled back.” Her strategy for moving forward, “To get a good rest and play my best tomorrow.”

With such fierce competition and such a tight race, round three is shaping up for a classic finish especially with holes like the 17^th island shot late in the round which has proven to be quite difficult for some. Swirling winds has the players hoping they’ve picked the right club and shot.

Wooden Sticks has brought together some of the most recognizable golf landscapes from the PGA and sculpted them into the scenery of the local area to produce 18 holes that will challenge the girls for an exciting final round. Round three gets underway with tee times beginning at 12:30pm tomorrow after the golfers are cut down to the top 40.

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.

The three day tournament will challenge the focus, stamina, and skills of all the participating golfers. We wish all attending both Brockville and Uxbridge good luck! For more information and complete results, visit the tournament page at:

https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/events/gao197/index.html – Boys Leaderboard

https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/events/gao198/index.html – Girls Leaderboard

Facebook Photo album from Boys Championship

Facebook Photo album from Girls Championship

Golf Ontario would like to thank the members, volunteers and staffs at both Wooden Sticks and Brockville Country Club for their support over the course of the weekend.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Brockville/Uxbridge, ON – On May 18th, both the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys and Girls Championships kicked off, showcasing some of the best junior talent in the province.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship

At Brockville Country Club, the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship got underway with 12:00pm tee times.  The 105 year old course has considerable elevation changes, many narrow fairways, and challenging par 3’s, making it deceptively challenging. The course proved to be difficult for the players, as many had issues with the steep fairways.

Through the challenges though, it was Bennett Ruby from Westmount Golf and Country Club who led the charge after the first day, scoring -3 (68). Ruby was steady throughout the first half of the day, but found some trouble at hole 11 where he double-bogeyed. Ruby, having to pull himself out from behind, redeemed himself with four birdies on the last five holes. With some steady shooting and seven total birdies, Ruby was able to lock the first place spot heading into day two. He will be looking to continue his success tomorrow.

“I was really frustrated from my double bogey earlier, so I just told myself to get aggressive and play with confidence,” said Ruby. “I’m hoping to go into tomorrow with the same mindset, and hopefully come out with a similar outcome.” Ruby looks to take his success from day one and carry it on for the rest of the tournament.

Thomas Stafford and Brandon White, both from Golf Quebec, sit tied for second with scores of -1 (70). Both shot consistently throughout the day and now have a steady placement heading into day two.

There was also a tie for third place, with Eric Byun, from Glendale Golf and Country Club, and Michael Ikejiani from Barrie Country Club both shooting even at 71 shots throughout 18. 

The players will continue to face off on the challenging course tomorrow to take the lead for a chance to win the WD Randolph Millage Trophy. The top 3 Ontario boys will get exempt into the Ontario Junior Boys Championship, and the low Ontario boy will get a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Day two will commence tomorrow at a 12:00pm, with split tees starting at the first, and tenth hole.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship

Under a mix of sun and cloud, the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship first round got underway at noon from Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, ON.  The day featured some fierce competition and beautiful shots made by a very talented field of junior girls’ golfers on the immaculate course.

Lauren Zaretsky (Ladies GC of Toronto) was on fire today shooting an early -1 (71). She went off in the second group of the opening round, and it turned out to be a score nobody else could match on the day. Her combination of 6 birdies and 5 bogeys catapulted her to the top of the leaderboard.

The day was just good overall according to Zaretsky. “It was good, first time playing the golf course without any practice rounds, so it was a good day. Overall I thought everything went well today and I felt like all my shots were solid.”

Jasmine Ly (Kingsville Golf & Country Club) and Katie Cranston (Oakville Golf Club) each fired a solid +2 (74) to sit closely behind. Nicole Gal (Oakville Golf Club) and Adele Chun (Station Creek GC) sit two strokes farther back after rounds of +4 (76).

Wooden Sticks has brought together some of the most recognizable golf landscapes from the PGA and sculpted them into the scenery of the local area to produce 18 holes that will challenge the girls all weekend long. With golf holes inspired by Augusta, St. Andrews, Pine Valley, Carnoustie, TPC Sawgrass, and Oakmont, it has holes not for the faint of heart. It should help make for two more days of memorable golf.

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.

The three day tournament will challenge the focus, stamina, and skills of all the participating golfers. We wish all attending both Brockville and Uxbridge good luck, and we’ll see you on the course! For more information and complete results, visit the tournament page at:

https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/events/gao197/index.html – Boys Leaderboard

https://www.bluegolf.com/amateur/events/gao198/index.html – Girls Leaderboard

Facebook Photo album from Boys Championship

Facebook Photo album from Girls Championship

Golf Ontario would like to thank the members, volunteers and staffs at both Wooden Sticks and Brockville Country Club for their support over the course of the weekend.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Toronto, ON– On May 16th, the Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship was held at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. The 61st running of the event was again well contested with 54 teams looking to emerge victorious.

At the end of 18, Garrett Rank from Westmount Golf and Country Club, and Mike Roberts from Whistle Bear Golf Club had carded a seven-under (65) to lead the charge and take home the championship. The tournament proved to be competitive, with only a two shot difference separating the first place duo, and a five way tie for fifth.

Rank, being a heavy favourite in the tournament, was helped by Roberts on a few occasions as Roberts had some great shots to push them past their opposition. It’s likely the tournament would have gone to a playoff if it weren’t for Roberts’ spectacular shot off the rough to chip it right into the 15th hole. Even though he was a huge part of the win, Roberts stayed humble when asked about the win.

“Recruiting Rank was probably my biggest contribution to the team,” joked Roberts. “But in all seriousness, it was a great tournament with great competition. For my first time playing at Oakdale, it was a fantastic experience.”

Following closely was Michael Forbes and Ryan Tsang, both from Cedar Brae Golf Club. The duo shot six-under (66), only one shot behind Rank and Roberts. The duo pulled close near the end of the tournament but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Cougar Collins from Rocky Crest Golf Club, and Ty Celone (Golf Ontario Member) tied the duo of Ryan Kings, and Josh Hunke from Deer Ridge Golf Club for third place. Both teams shot 5-under (67).

Last years champions Simon McInnins and Matthew Ion Young both played stellar all day, but fell short of a top three placing shooting 4-under (68).

The tournament was a tight race throughout, but with some steady and accurate shooting, Rank and Roberts hoisted the trophy as 2019 Ontario Better-Ball champions.

Full results can be FOUND HERE

For all the photos from the day, CLICK HERE

About The Ontario Men’s Better-Ball

The Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship has been played since 1959. All but two of the championships have taken place at Oakdale G&CC. The tournament is open to teams whose members both have up-to-date Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or less at the time of online registration through the completion of the championship and each team’s combined Handicap Factor must not exceed 12.8 at the time of online registration through the completion of the championship. Previous winners of the event include: Gary Cowan, Bill Morland, Nick Weslock, Kelly Roberts, Warren Sye, Matthew Ion Young and Simon McInnis.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Oakdale Golf and Country Club and their staff for helping to host an excellent event. We would also like to thank all of the golfers who participated, and for their terrific competition that made this year so exciting. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of golf in the province.

The next Golf Ontario championship will be the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championship, taking place on May 18th-20th at Wooden Sticks Golf Course, and Brockville Country Club.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Written by Canadian Press

TORONTO – There’s no doubt that Corey Conners’s life has changed since winning the Valero Texas Open nearly six weeks ago.

Monday qualifiers and doubts about where he’ll play next have given way to guaranteed tournament berths for the rest of the season, a PGA Tour card for 2020 and a spot in this week’s PGA Championship.

That higher profile comes with some other perks too, including staying at prestigious hotels when coming to Toronto for meetings and getting recognized by golf fans.

“It’s a life-changing thing to win, but I still feel like the same person,” said Conners last Thursday in an interview with The Canadian Press. “Not going to be changing up my lifestyle very much. These bonuses are really awesome, a nice treat, but I’m not going to do a whole bunch of things differently.

“Probably won’t be staying at a lot of Ritz-Carltons, keep it pretty simple with a simple lifestyle.”

Conners went straight to the Masters after winning the Texas Open – the organizers flew him, his wife Malory and his agent directly from San Antonio to Augusta, Ga. – and then played in the RBC Heritage and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He took the first week of May off, visiting Toronto for a breakfast meeting with sponsor RBC, getting in a couple of practice rounds in at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, and then going to his hometown of Listowel, Ont., to see his mom and mother-in-law ahead of Mother’s Day.

That busy schedule means he hasn’t had much of a chance to absorb what the Texas Open win means for him, but there are moments where it sinks in.

“I think when we got home, back to Florida, and we were able to just sit down on our couch and think ‘wow, we won a PGA Tour event,”’ said Conners, who said he’ll put the trophy into his living room when it arrives. “I know how it is to win and how many people are trying to win week in and week out.”

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 14: Corey Conners of Canada walks on the second hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Another immediate benefit is a berth in the PGA Championship, the second major of the season. It’s his first time playing in the tournament, having played in the Masters as an amateur in 2015 and the U.S. Open in 2017.

This year’s PGA Championship is the first to be played in May since 1949, and the cooler temperatures at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. had players bundling up in toques, thick gloves and raingear during practice on Monday.

Conners is one of two Canadians in the field. The other is Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C.

“I grew up playing in the cold and I’ve embraced the challenge the additional challenge that brings,” Conners said. “It’s funny, whenever there’s bad weather on tour everyone I walk by they always joke ‘Oh, you must love this!’ and I’m like ‘No, it doesn’t mean we like the cold and the rain.’

“But I’m used to it. My dad used to play golf with me in miserable conditions back in Listowel. It would be pouring rain and we’d be the only people out there getting soaked in our rain suits.”

Brockville/Uxbridge, ON – On May 18th to 20th, Brockville Country Club and Wooden Sticks Golf Club will host the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championships. The Championships are open to boys and girls who are 18 and younger, and have qualified in previous tournaments.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship

Over the long weekend, Brockville Country Club will be hosting the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship. The Brockville Country Club was founded in 1914, and with considerable elevation changes, many narrow fairways, and challenging par 3’s, the 18-hole course can be deceptively challenging.

“It’s an old course with lots of twists and doglegs,” said Doug Wark, Director of Sport Operations at Brockville. “It’s a course golfers have to understand due to the importance of positioning. It’ll be exciting to see how the players adapt.”

Last year, Matthew Anderson of Credit Valley Golf & Country Club took home the gold medal, shooting -2 (214), while Cameron Kellett of St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, Laurent Desmarchais of Vallée du Richelieu, and Brendan Dunphy of Whitevale Golf Club finished in a three-way tie for 2nd with a total score of -1 (215).

With Anderson moving on past the junior ranks, the top spot is up for grabs. Dunphy will be returning in the 2019 tournament, looking to turn his previous second place finish into a championship run.

Another notable golfer playing over the long weekend is Michael Ikejiani from Barrie Country Club. Ikejiani is coming off a hot start to the season, winning the Junior Boys division of the Ontario Champion of Champions Tournament on May 14th. Ikejiani led the charge, shooting -3 (68), which was the most commanding lead in the entire tournament. It is safe to assume he is hoping to continue his success at the Junior Spring Classic.

Players will be facing off on the difficult course for a chance to win the WD Randolph Millage Trophy. The top 3 Ontario boys will get exempt into the Ontario Junior Boys Championship, and the low Ontario boy will get a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The Canadian Junior Boys Championship is set to take place on August 12th-15th, and will be held by Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in Hartland, New Brunswick.

Tee times are set for 12:00pm, with split tees starting at the first, and tenth hole.

Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship

While the U19 boys are out in Brockville, the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship will be held at Wooden Sticks Golf Course in Uxbridge. Wooden Sticks has brought together some of the most recognizable golf landscapes from the PGA and sculpted them into the scenery of the local area to produce 18 holes that will challenge all competitors. With golf holes inspired by Augusta, St. Andrews, Pine Valley, Carnoustie, TPC Sawgrass, and Oakmont, it is surely a course that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“We’ve hosted this event over the past couple of years for the boys, so we are excited to host the girls this year,” said Steve Wilson, Head Golf Professional at Wooden Sticks. “There’s so much talent in this tournament, it’s without a doubt going to be an exciting weekend.”

Last year, the Girls Spring Classic was a tight race. Emily Zhu from National Pines Golf Club, finished in first with a score of +8 (224). Zhu was closely trailed by Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin from Granite Golf Club who finished +9 (225), and then Taylor Kehoe from West Haven Golf & Country Club who finished +11 (227).

With both Zhu and Kehoe not returning to the tournament, McLaughlin is the only medal winner from last year returning this season, giving her a good opportunity to claim the top spot.

The girls will be facing off at Wooden Sticks for a chance to win the WD Randolph Millage Trophy.

Tee times are also set for 12:00pm, with all players starting at the first hole.

To read more about both the boys and girls results last year, CLICK HERE

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.

The three day tournament will challenge the focus, stamina, and skills of all the participating golfers. We wish all attending both Brockville and Uxbridge good luck, and we’ll see you on the course!

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 95,000 individual members and 400 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest 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.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @thegolfontario for live updates on the Junior Spring Classic (U19) Championship and other tournaments this season.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Stouffville, ON — Golf Ontario kicked off the 2019 golf season on May 14th with the annual Champion of Champions Tournament at Spring Lakes Golf Club. It was a cold and cloudy day, but it didn’t keep the 200-plus club champions’ smiles from lighting up the course.

For the second year in a row, Spring Lakes held all six divisions at the same time. Located in Stouffville, Spring Lakes has a wide open property with 54 holes, making it the largest private course in Canada, and an ideal location for such a large tournament. To start the day, players were grouped up and spread across 36 holes.

Similar to previous years, the tournament saw incredible competition with two divisions being decided in a playoff, and the other four all falling within a 3 shot differential for the lead.

In the Women’s category, Crystina Kertsos from York Downs Golf and Country Club held the lead, shooting +2 (73). Kertsos was closely tailed by Madelin Boyd, from Lakeridge Links Golf Club, who finished with a +4 (75).

“I want to thank my coach, Spring Lakes for hosting us, and Golf Ontario for organizing the event,” said Kertsos, when accepting the award. “At least one Kertsos had to win.” (Her dad competed in the Senior Men’s).

In the Senior Women’s, Sue Postian from Sunningdale Golf Club shot +9 (80) to take first. She was followed closely by Ivy Steinberg, from Granite Golf Club, who was only one stroke behind, shooting +10 (81). The two were chased closely in a two-way tie for third, with both Allyson Harrison (Cataraqui Golf and Country Club) and Sandy Byckowski (Brampton Golf Club) shooting +12 (83).

The Junior Girls was also a close race but Ava Koukofikas from Cedar Brae Golf Club finished +7 (78) with some stellar shooting to take home the top spot. Peyton Costabile from Whistle Bear Golf Club, and Skylar Kew from Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club both finished +9 (80) only two strokes behind Koukofikas, but just couldn’t close the gap to take the lead.

Michael Ikejiani, from Barrie Country Club, led the charge in the Junior Boys division, shooting -3 (68). Ikejiani had the most commanding lead in the entire tournament. Ryan McAskill from The Club at North Halton shot even (71), finishing with a strong score, but still couldn’t catch the red hot Ikejiani.

The Senior Men’s division was a dog race and by the end, it had to go to a playoff. Allen Chapman from Lindsay Golf and Country Club, and Lars Melander from Hidden Lake Golf Club both ended the tournament +1 (73). Melander would end up taking first place in the playoff, beating Chapman one on one. Following closely behind the two were Dan O’Donoghue from Kawartha Golf and Country Club, Chris Markle from Dalewood Golf Club  and Joe Miszk from Lookout Point Country Club, who both shot +2 (74). It was a division of inches to say the least.

The Men’s division was also a very tight race.  It ended in a playoff between Chris Feenstra from Sunningdale Golf Club, and Zack Mason from Donalda Club, who both shot -1 (71). Feenstra took home the hardware with a nice putt, and solidified his place at the top spot.

“I’d like to thank Spring Lakes for the opportunity to play in this tournament,” said Feenstra. “And also thanks to Golf Ontario for hosting the event, it was an amazing experience.” Feenstra and Mason were followed closely in a four way tie for third. The tie included Scott Nelson from Beverly Golf and Country Club, Michael Zizek from York Downs Golf and Country Club, Ryan Jeffrey from St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, and Doug Brophy from Heron Point Golf Links. All four shot an even par (72).

Although the weather wasn’t ideal, the champions indeed came out to play. With every division being a really close race, it was a huge success and an extremely exciting day of golf.

View the full leaderboard here

To see more photos of the tournament, CLICK HERE

More about the Champion of Champions Tournament

Since 2006 the Ontario Women’s Champion of Champions event has been contested annually and features female club champions from Golf Ontario member clubs across the province. Past champions include Brittany Marchand, Stefani Markovich, Julia Hodgson, Elizabeth Tong, and last years winner Mary Ann Hayward.

The Senior Women’s Champion of Champions debuted in 2015 and has been played alongside the Women’s Champion of Champions for the past three years. Kathy Pilkey and Gail Pimm are the two previous champions.

The Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions was first contested in 1946 and features men’s club champions from Golf Ontario member clubs across the province. Past champions of the event include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Bill Morland, Warren Sye, David Lang, as well as Big Break Indian Wells champion David Byrne.

It was in 1970 when the Ontario Senior Men’s Champion of Champions was first contested, which features senior men’s club champions age 55 and over from Golf Ontario member clubs. Past champions include Christopher Kertsos, Nick Weslock, Ed Ervasti and Patrick Suraj, who won the event a record six-times.

2019 was the second year that all categories of the event were combined and held on one day at one location.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Spring Lakes Golf Club and their staff for helping to host an excellent event. We would also like to thank all of the golfers who participated, and for their terrific competition that made this year so exciting. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of golf in the province.

The next Golf Ontario championship will be the Men’s Better-Ball, taking place on May 16th at Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Downsview, ON – The 61st Annual Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship is set to tee-off on May 16th. One of the early season marquee events of the Golf Ontario Championship calendar, this year’s tournament will again be held at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, and with many returning golfers scheduled to compete for the top spot, the stakes are higher than ever.

In last year’s event, Matthew Ion Young (Hamilton G&CC) won the tournament for his fourth time, along with his partner Simon McInnis (Mississauga &CC). Impressively, this was Young’s fourth time winning the trophy (’02, ’06, ’07, 18) and an exciting first Better-Ball Championship for McInnis after six previous attempts. The winning pair fired a stellar 5-under 57 to go to a playoff, where they narrowly escaped the pair of Walt Spivak and Geoff Goodwin (both from The Oaks GC).

Young and McInnis will be returning as a pair this year, looking to defend their title as champion and reclaim the top spot at the tournament.

“Matt and I are very excited to get back to storied Oakdale this week for a chance to defend,” said McInnis. “We have a well built better ball strategy and personalities that mesh well. We are certain this will put us in the mix again Thursday afternoon.”

Although they have the keys to success, they will have to face some difficult competition on the way. One pair that they will have to watch for this year will be the duo of Garrett Rank and Mike Roberts. Rank (Westmount Golf and Country Club), and Roberts (Whistle Bear Golf Club) will be pairing up for the tournament, and Rank, who had an astounding season last year winning the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, will likely be looking to continue his success.

Tee times are set for a 10:00 am shotgun start.

About the Ontario Men’s Better-Ball

The Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship has been played since 1959, with all but two of the championships having taken place at Oakdale G&CC. The championship is open to teams whose members both have an up-to-date Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or less at the time of online registration, and each team’s combined Handicap Factor must not exceed 12.8 at the time of online registration through the completion of the championship.

The Better-Ball is a competition in which two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole. If one partner fails to complete the play of a hole, there is no penalty. Previous winners of the event include Matthew Ion Young, Simon McInnis, Nick Weslock, Kelly Roberts, Warren Sye, Bill Swartz and Albin Choi.

Golf Ontario would like to thank the membership of Oakdale Golf and Country Club, who allow the Men’s Better Ball Championship to be played at their course every year, as well as Oakdale Golf and Country Club, and their Staff. We would also like to thank all of the Golfers who participate in the Ontario Men’s Better Ball Championship each year, and of course, our volunteers, who make these events possible.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca