The 2025 Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship returns to Tarandowah Golfers Club from June 2–5, uniting Ontario’s top 96 amateur golfers for a premier showcase of skill and strategy in a match play format.

Among this year’s competitors, Josh DiCarlo (Men’s Division) and Darren Shaw (Senior Men’s Division) headline the field as the defending champions, both aiming to repeat their impressive 2024 victories.

Tarandowah’s challenging layout has proven to be an ideal setting for this format. “Tarandowah was built for a Match Play Championship,” said Mason Cowan, Coordinator of Competitions at Golf Ontario. “Golfers will need to keep their ball in the fairway to stay out of trouble. Wind can play a major factor into a lot of shots as well. A true links style course, that can pose a challenge for all competitors.”

Cowan also emphasized what he hopes players take from the experience:

“It’s an honour to play best on best, and they’ve earned their way into this event by playing great golf. Tarandowah is a tough course that can test a player’s mental toughness.”

This year’s field is stacked with past champions and rising stars.
In the Men’s division, keep an eye on:
• Cam Pero – 2023 Men’s Amateur Champion
• Charles Fitzsimmons – Two-time past Match Play Champion
• Zachary Smith – 2024 Runner-Up & former Team Ontario athlete

In the Senior Men’s division, top contenders include:
• Dave Bunker – Three-time Men’s Match Play Champion and multi-time Golf Ontario titleholder
• Adam Creighton – 2024 Senior Amateur Champion
• David Greenaway – 2019 Senior Amateur Champion

The match play format adds a unique intensity to the event.
“Match Play is a style of golf that really challenges competitors to maintain mental toughness,” Cowan added. “Players are constantly experiencing highs and lows in a match play round, hole-by-hole. Factoring in the great layout Tarandowah has to offer, this will be another exciting Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship.”

Ted Pease, General Manager of Tarandowah, also shared his excitement:

“Tarandowah provides a great challenge for all golfers and is truly a top-tier match play venue. The course is in great shape, and we hope all competitors enjoy their experience here.”

Stay Connected

Live Scoring, Pairings & Results: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11289510399092771225 

Full Player Roster: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11289510362753321323 

For updates, highlights, and live scoring throughout the tournament, follow along @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook.

Zael Miransky is going above and beyond in this year’s 1000 Ball Challenge, raising nearly $6,000—the highest total to date of any participant.

The 1000 Ball Challenge is part of Golf Ontario’s Golf For All Fund, an initiative dedicated to breaking down barriers and expanding access to golf across the province. The fund supports programming for youth, girls and women, Indigenous communities, and adaptive golfers.

Zael’s outstanding efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“We’re thrilled to see passionate participants like Zael take on the 1000 Ball Challenge and reach their fundraising goals,” said Raphael Root, Fund Development Manager at Golf Ontario. 

“Not only are they earning incredible golf incentives, but they’re also helping advance ‘Golf For All’ across Ontario. We encourage more fundraisers to follow Zael’s lead and help make a lasting impact through golf. We’ll be cheering Zael on this summer as he takes on the incredible feat of hitting 1,000 golf balls.”

Mark Young, Director of the GTA AM Tour, echoed that sentiment:

“Zael is an excellent example of what The GTA AM Tour Community is all about. People within The tour community understand, on some level, that it is about something larger than any one of us. To that end, I believe there is an understanding that it really is about ‘other’ and not about the individual.”

When asked what “Golf For All” meant to him, Zael shared a personal perspective that perfectly captured the spirit of the initiative:

“Golf For All means inclusivity. As possibly the most expensive sport in the world, but with some of the best common values, Golf For All is an opportunity to share in the privilege and joy of a game rooted in personal growth, self-learning and personal achievements. While team sports are great, there is nothing quite like the feeling of being up against only yourself, surrounded by nature.”

Zael’s motivation wasn’t tied to a specific cause or connection, but to a love for the game—and a desire to help others discover that same passion:

“There wasn’t any special personal reason. As someone who has fallen in love with the game and the sport, I can’t think of a better way to show my appreciation and love for it than expanding it to a wider audience.”

“I will say I have an 11-month-old, though. And I can’t wait until I can share the love of the game with him. For those who don’t have parents who are privileged enough to be able to get them out golfing, I thought to myself, what better way to honour being a new dad than to help kids who can’t afford to play get out there.”

Zael’s dedication to the 1000 Ball Challenge shows how one golfer’s passion can inspire others to give back and help make the sport more accessible. Whether you’ve been playing for years or are new to the game, this challenge is a powerful way to connect with the golf community in Ontario and support the Golf For All mission while earning incredible golf rewards!  

As Zael gears up to hit 1,000 balls, we invite you to step up and get involved. 

Make an impact like Zael and take on The 1000 Ball Challenge Today!

In a ceremony steeped in pride and tradition, Canadian golf legends were celebrated as the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame etched a new chapter in history.

Four new inductees were honoured with a place in the Hall of Fame, while a renowned Ontario photographer accepted a prominent media award during the ceremony, which saw more than 100 in attendance at Wooden Sticks Golf Club.

Revered presenter and sports broadcaster Rod Black returned as the host of the ceremonies, steering the evening with warmth and festivity. The event began with Mike Lamontagne, Chair of Golf Ontario, taking the stage to officially welcome guests and open the ceremony.

In the Builder Category, Archie Berube, Grant Fraser, and Charles Blair Macdonald were honoured for their transformative contributions to the game of golf in Ontario.

Berube spent decades revitalizing the Northern Golf Association through rebelling leadership, cheerful engagement, and influential collaboration with Golf Ontario. Berube has been a driving force in Northern Ontario golf for over 25 years, as he continues to create a lasting legacy through his efforts and unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for future generations.

Fraser, a trailblazer in golf management education, created Ontario’s first Professional Golf Management program and founded Canada’s only online golf management institute. For over 30 years, he has shaped the next generation of golf industry leaders through national and international instruction, award-winning media contributions, and leadership roles with Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada, and the Canadian Junior Golf Association. His forward-thinking approach and passion for golf and education have made a profound impact on the growth and professionalism of the game in Ontario.

Macdonald, born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, was remembered as the “Father of Golf Course Architecture.” He designed the first 18-hole golf course and achieved major championship success as a player. Though his legacy is widely recognized across North America, his roots in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and his early contributions to the sport have left a lasting impact on the development of golf in the province. His vision and influence helped shape the foundation of modern golf in Ontario and beyond. 

In the Player Category, Alena Sharp was inducted as one of Canada’s most accomplished professional golfers. With a standout career on the LPGA Tour spanning over 20 years, she represented Canada at the 2016 Olympics and competed in more than 300 LPGA events. Her achievements and commitment have motivated countless future generations of female golfers in Ontario, Canada, and beyond.

Finally, Doug Ball, the legendary photographer, was recognized with the 2025 Lorne Rubenstein Media Award. Born in 1946, Ball constructed a tremendous career capturing defining moments in golf —from Tiger Woods’ 1997 Masters win to Mike Weir’s iconic 2003 Masters victory, a moment of tremendous pride for Ontario and Canadian golf. His profound connection to the sport and ability to preserve its most powerful stories through his lens make him one of the country’s most esteemed pictorial storytellers.

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the devotion and pridefulness that each recipient carries, on and off the golf course. Their contributions, whether through leadership, education, playing excellence, or storytelling, have helped shape the past, present, and future of the game in Ontario. We honour their legacy and thank them for inspiring generations to come.

Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Their contributions, whether through leadership, education, playing excellence, or storytelling, have helped shape the past, present, and future of the game in Ontario.

The spark of a new idea among friends at last year’s Canadian Women’s Mid-Am in B.C. has blossomed into a meaningful new tradition.

On May 11, a group of passionate and skilled women golfers will gather at Cutten Fields in Guelph for the inaugural Crown Invitational—an exciting event launching to reignite women’s mid-amateur golf in Ontario.

The Crown Invitational is rooted in love for the game, shared purpose, and spirited competition. It was created by a player-led committee of five committed women golfers—Alexandra Taylor, Jessie Mercer, Emily Phoenix, Mary Beth McKenna, and Meredith Fairbairn—who united around a common goal: to bring their vision to life. At the heart of their mission is a commitment to helping women reconnect with competitive golf.

“We were all together at the Canadian Mid-Am in B.C. when the idea came up—we just thought, why not host something ourselves?” says Taylor.

That moment of inspiration turned into the first step in making the event a reality. The committee envisioned a welcoming and accessible tournament for women who may have stepped away from competitive golf after their junior or collegiate years.

“The idea was to create a mid-am invitational that could bring women back into competitive golf—especially those who played in college or as juniors,” she explains.

With 13 players registered for this year’s inaugural event, the field will feature four groups—meeting the team’s initial goal and laying the foundation for future growth.

“There are 13 registered this year. Our goal was four groups—and to build on that each year,” adds Taylor.

The format is designed to balance structure and inclusivity. A and B teams will be assigned for the better ball competition, with an additional individual scoring category.

“We’ll have A and B teams for the better ball, plus an individual category as well,” says Taylor.

Cutten Fields has a long-standing tradition of hosting major tournaments. But to Steve Bryant, Director of Golf, this event holds personal significance.

“We’re usually the ones who host major tournaments,” Bryant said, “but we’re always happy to help out—especially when a Cutten Fields member like Mary Beth steps forward.”

Mary Beth McKenna, a Cutten Fields member and the event’s lead organizer, said the idea came from recognizing the lack of opportunities for women to continue playing competitive golf after university.

“Life becomes busy after school,” she shared, “and there are limited opportunities for women to remain actively involved competitively.”

From the setting at Cutten Fields to the thoughtfully crafted format, every element of the event has been intentionally designed. The goal is to create a supportive and fun environment that encourages women to return to competition—without the stress of rankings or qualifications.

The Crown Invitational and its mission reflect Golf Ontario’s vision of Golf For All—”We shape lives by connecting people to positive golf experiences”—by offering welcoming, inclusive spaces for golfers of all backgrounds, abilities, and life stages. This event exemplifies what it means to build a sense of belonging in golf: breaking down competitive barriers and welcoming women back to the course to play the game they love.

The Invitational paves the way for continued participation and long-term growth in the women’s game. Even in its first year, the Crown Invitational is poised to become a lasting, player-first tradition—seamlessly combining camaraderie and competition for women in golf.