Listowel, ON — Four boys and girls took to Listowel GC today for the chance to be crowned champion. With cool temperatures and cloudy skies welcoming them, the players heated up the course with some impressive play throughout the semi-finals in the morning and the finals in the afternoon.

Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship

Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West GC), Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Kavith Ranchagoda (Beacon Hill GC), and Carson Duffy (Bigwin island GC) all took to the challenging course in the morning in hopes of moving on to the finals this afternoon. After 18 well fought holes between the two pairings, it was Latter and Ranchagoda who would advance.

The duo hit the fairway at 1:00pm for the final round, and by the time it was all said and done, it was Ranchagoda who came out on top. The match between he and Latter was back and forth the entire way through. Ranchagoda had an early lead in the front nine but Latter continued to fight back. Heading onto 16 the two were still all square until the 17-year-old was able to pull ahead after a beautiful chip shot from the rough. He would then lay the dagger on 18 with an 100 foot shot from the fairway that landed inches from the hole. He tapped the ball in to win the hole and the tournament, crowning himself the 2019 Junior Boys Match Play Champion.

“It’s a surreal feeling,” said Ranchagoda. “I came into the final round knowing I could keep up with every single player in this tournament, so it’s rewarding to come out on top.” When asked about what his game plan was, he had this to say.

“Just be consistent and not make any mistakes. I’ve always been a steady player, I know my game. I just had to execute.”

As for Latter, the Team Ontario member truly impressed over the course of the week. Losing by only two holes to come in second is no small feat, and the young gentleman proved his ability to play with the best.

For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Championship

Ella Weber (Rattlesnake Point GC), Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs GC), Vanessa Chychrun (Beacon Hall GC), and Megan Miron (Hamilton G&CC) all took to the field for the semi finals in the morning. The two matches were a tight race throughout, but after 18 it was Weber and Gallagher who advanced to the finals.

The two teed off for the finals at 12:50 and from that point on it was a back and forth battle for who would wear the crown, but by the end of 18, it was Weber who was crowned champion. Much like the boys, the front nine between Weber and Gallagher was a back and forth affair, seeing multiple lead changes throughout. It wasn’t until Weber put her foot down and started taking risks that there was a possible winner in sight. The two were all tied up by the time Weber approached 16 with more aggression than ever before seen in the round. Hitting it further than she normally would, the 14-year-old was clearly looking to take the advantage before the last two holes.

“I didn’t want to go all the way to 18,” said Weber. “Gallagher is a really good player and I was afraid if it got to 18 then it could be over for me, so I started playing more aggressively.” And that she did. Taking the next two holes due to deep drives down the fairway, Weber was able to take the crown and leave the tournament a champion.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “I’m still in shock that I won. I just came in here looking to make it into the semi’s so this is just a bonus.”

As for Gallagher, she continues to improve with every round she plays. She handled her first two rounds with ease and at times looked like she was going to win it all. She leaves the tournament finishing in second place, only two holes behind Weber.

For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship

The Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1998. Male golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. The field is determined by results from four qualifiers. Notable past champions include Matt McQuillan, Justin Shin, Stephane Dubois, and Jon Boncoddo.

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.

Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship.  We would also like to thank Listowel GC and their staff for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.

Ryan Mackenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Listowel, ON — Foggy and cool skies welcomed the junior boys and girls as they set off to get their rounds of 16 underway at Listowel GC. As the day began to heat up, so did the play as both the boys and girls’ fields had competitive matches all around to see who would make it out of today’s two rounds.

Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship

Day Two started with 16 remaining players as they took to Listowel GC to try and make it to the round of 4 in the tournament. After two impressive rounds yesterday, Cody Clark (Oliver’s Nest GC) was yet again the center of attention, as he embarked on his attemp to win his second championship in two years. But after today’s two rounds, it was Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West GC) who stole the show.

Going up against the reigning champ in the first round of the day, DiCarlo came out hot early and took the lead in the first few holes. With some steady play and a few fantastic putts down the stretch, DiCarlo was able to hold the lead and advanced to the quarter finals in the afternoon.

It was then a battle of the titans to move on to the semi finals, with DiCarlo being the most steady player throughout the tournament, and Luke DelGobbo (Lookout Point CC) being the heaviest hitter. DelGobbo had been bullying the competition throughout the previous rounds with scores of 9&8, and 7&5, and there was no way of saying which of the two would come up on top. But after 18 well fought holes, it was DiCarlo who was yet again victorious.

“It was tough out there,” said DiCarlo. “I knew I had to hit fairways and play consistent to stay alive today. There was some tough conditions with some wind and the fog in the morning, so I knew if I played steady I could wait out other players mistakes.” When asked about how he plans to continue his success, his answer was straight to the point.

“Do the same thing that I’ve been doing all week. Play consistent and make some shots.”

Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Kavith Ranchagoda (Beacon Hill GC), and Carson Duffy (Bigwin island GC) will all also be moving on tomorrow. The three have shown tremendous skill and patience over the course of the past four rounds, pushing through adversity and coming out ahead every time a challenge faced them. The four players will all take to the course tomorrow, battling for the final two spots in the last round of the tournament in the morning.

The third and final day will commence tomorrow at 7:30am, where after two more rounds, one will be crowned champion.

For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Championship

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship kicked off today with it’s first round of the day. The best junior golfers in the province took to Listowel GC to decide who would stay afloat for the semi-finals tomorrow after today’s two competitive rounds.

After two well fought rounds today it was Ella Weber (Rattlesnake Point GC), Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs GC), 2017 champion Vanessa Chychrun (Beacon Hall GC), and Megan Miron (Hamilton G&CC) who made it to the semi finals tomorrow. With three playoffs in just the first round alone, the two rounds today were highly competitive and the entire field showed out, impressing everyone watching.

However, it was Weber who stood out among the rest. With two dominant performances in today’s rounds, she is the early favourite heading into tomorrow.

“I just came in focusing on playing my own game, and to only worry about what I can control,” said Weber. “I didn’t let other players plays get to me when they were catching up, I just kept my composure throughout.

Play will continue at 7:30am tomorrow, where the remaining four players will battle for the title.

For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship

The Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1998. Male golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. The field is determined by results from four qualifiers. Notable past champions include Matt McQuillan, Justin Shin, Stephane Dubois, and Jon Boncoddo.

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.

Ryan Mackenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Listowel, ON — On a cloudy and rainy day at Listowel GC, while the girls still have another day until their tournament begins, day one of the annual Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship got underway. The tournament got off to a rocky start with an hour and a half storm delay, but despite the inconvenience, the players came out on fire and didn’t allow the poor conditions to ruin their round. With a returning champion and competitive field, the day proved to be highly competitive.

Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship

Day One started with 64 of the best junior players in the province, as they took to Listowel GC to try and make it into the round of 16. All eyes were on last year’s champion Cody Clark (Oliver’s Nest GC), who arrived looking for his second title in two years.

After two rounds, Clark proved he came to compete, winning 6&4 in the morning and 3&2 in the afternoon. The question on everyone’s mind entering the tournament was if Clark had the consistency to repeat, and after a strong day one, it’s clear he was focused on silencing the doubters. With some steady play and impressive shots down the stretch, the 18-year-old came out not only to play, but to win.

“I came in here hoping to start off strong,” said Clark. “I wanted to make a few birdies, get my putts to drop, and to overall just play steady. I’m happy with how today turned out.” Clark plans to head into tomorrow with the same mindset, and forget about the pressures of repeating.

“There’s definitely underlying pressure to come back and win again when you’re the reigning champion, but I’m trying to not focus on that and to just have fun out there. That’s the most important thing.” Clark will face off against Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West G) tomorrow.

While Clark was busy taking care of business in his first two rounds, Luke DelGobbo also had an impressive showing, winning his first match 9&8 (the best score of the day) and his second 7&5. He heads into tomorrow’s round facing off against the talented Michael Jiang (Station Creek GC), looking to continue his momentum from today’s success.

Play will continue tomorrow at 8:00am, where the remaining 16 players will look to move on to the third and final day.

For scores, results, and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Championship

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is set to kickoff Wednesday, August 7th. The best junior golfers in the province will head to Listowel GC to decide who the best female junior golfer in Ontario is.

It was two time champion and Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin who was crowned victorious last year, beating out Manuela Rincon Torres (Galt CC) 2&1 in the final match. But unlike the boys portion of the tournament, McLaughlin will not be returning, allowing someone else to fill her shoes as champion. With a top spot for the taking, many of the girls will be coming surely be coming in hot, looking for a championship of their own. They will arrive Wednesday morning at Listowel, looking to conquer the challenging track.

Tee time is set for 8:00am tomorrow. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship

The Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1998. Male golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. The field is determined by results from four qualifiers. Notable past champions include Matt McQuillan, Justin Shin, Stephane Dubois, and Jon Boncoddo.

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.

Ryan Mackenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Listowel, ON — On August 6th to 8th, Listowel GC will host the Junior Boys and Girls Match Play. The Championships are open to boys and girls who are 18 and younger, and have qualified in previous tournaments.

Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship

The Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Championship is set to kick off on August 6th, where the best junior players in the province will tee off to take home the hardware.

Last year, it was champion Cody Clark (Oliver’s Nest GC) who was able to seize the moment against Freddy D’Angelo (Fonthill). Going up against the talented Matthew Anderson (Credit Valley G&CC) in the final match, Clark took an early lead with a hole in one of the fourth hole. This would end up leading him to victory, and crowning him champion.

Clark will be returning this year, looking to repeat and win his second title in two years. But with it being a new tournament and with such a talented field, many will be looking to take advantage of the vacant top spot. Clark, although the early favourite, won’t have an easy path. With players like Team Ontario’s Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Peter Blazevic (Greystone GC), and many others, it will surely be a tight race throughout.

The players will be arriving at Listowel GC the day before the tournaments official start date. The 27 hole course creates a challenge for players of all levels with it’s combination of long fairways, water hazards, and rolling hills. The challenging track will surely only make the race for the top of the leaderboard that much more difficult, and it will be interesting to see how they adjust over the course of the week.

Tee time is set for 8:00am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Championship

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is set to kickoff on August 7th. The best junior golfers in the province will head to Listowel GC to decide who the best female junior golfer in Ontario is.

It was two time champion and Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin who was crowned victorious last year, beating out Manuela Rincon Torres (Galt CC) 2&1 in the final match. But unlike the boys portion of the tournament, McLaughlin will not be returning, allowing someone else to fill her shoes as champion. With a top spot for the taking, many of the girls will be coming surely be coming in hot, looking for a championship of their own. They too will arrive Tuesday morning at Listowel, looking to conquer the challenging track.

The players will be arriving at Listowel GC Monday afternoon, the day before the first round, to warm up before the tournament gets underway.

Tee time is set for 8:00am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

About the Ontario Junior Boys & Girls (U19) Championship

The Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1998. Male golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. The field is determined by results from four qualifiers. Notable past champions include Matt McQuillan, Justin Shin, Stephane Dubois, and Jon Boncoddo.

The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls Match Play Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s top 16 amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Players can earn their way into the championship through the Jr. Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Jr. Girls Championship. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates on the Ontario Junior (U19) Match Play Championships.

Gravenhurst, ON — It was a brisk and dewy morning that welcomed the players to Taboo Muskoka for the third and final exciting day of the 84th annual Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship. As the weather began to warm up over the course of the day, so did the scores. The third round saw competitive play the whole way through with an impressive showcasing of skill from the entire field. Despite everyone having a strong round however, only one could be crowned a champion.

After three rounds of impressive play, it was David Greenaway (Barrie CC) who came out on top. Greenaway trailed Robert Gibson (Cedar Brae GC) by a single stroke heading into today but was able to ride early momentum throughout the round. Starting off on a high note, Greenaway birdied the first hole to tie things up from the get-go. Using this as a platform for success, the Barrie resident went bogeyless through the front nine, eventually stealing the lead from Gibson and entering the back nine up by a single stroke.

However the steady play wouldn’t last, and Greenaway would quickly find himself trailing yet again. Greenaway triple bogeyed 12 after a few tough shots from the rough, and Gibson retook the lead by three strokes. It seemed like Gibson would be able to ride through the last six holes with ease, but despite the unlucky bounces, Greenaway continued however to persevere and quickly birdied the next hole (Gibson bogeyed) to climb back within one. He birdied 14 and 16 as well, and the narrative quickly flipped.

It was now Greenaway’s tournament to lose as Gibson trailed by one, and Ashley Chinner (Coppinwood) trailed by two. He would finish his round with a birdie on 18, officially crowning himself the 84th Senior Men’s Amateur champion.

“It was such a great feeling to hit that last putt,” said Greenaway. “I knew I had a lot of ground to cover after 12, so it was rewarding to be able to pull back ahead. Rob and Ashley are fantastic players, but coming into today’s round I knew I could stick around with them.” Greenaway also explained that he credited his win today to the triple bogey he scored.

“If anything that triple bogey saved my round. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have played as freely as I did,” he said. “I told myself that I needed to loosen up after that hole. I knew if I just went out there and had fun, I would have a much better round.”

It was a tough battle throughout, and up until the final hole it was still anyone’s game. Gibson had a steady round throughout. Scoring -1 (-1 total) on the day, it was very possible that Gibson was going to come out on top, but by the end of it all it wasn’t enough to top Greenaway’s total score of -2.

“It was a back and forth day,” said Gibson. “It was a lot of fun out there.”

Placing in third, Chinner also had a fantastic round. Despite two tough holes where he would find himself trail further behind than he had wished, the veteran always climbed on back and made a good run.

Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship.  We would also like to thank Taboo Muskoka and their staff for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.

For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

About the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship

The Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2019 marks the 84th playing of the event and notable past champions include Herb Carnegie, Michael Jackson, and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members, Ed Ervasti, Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock

Follow @TheGolfOntario on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates of all Golf Ontario Championships.

Gravenhurst, ON — Warm air and sunny skies engulfed Taboo Muskoka as the players took to the course for their second round. Much like the first day, round two proved to be quite the competitive outing as many players couldn’t break free from the pack. Being the last round before the field cut, it was evident the players were aware that some proper play was needed to keep them above the cut. With some impressive outings all around, players battled it out through 18 in hopes of returning for one last round tomorrow. Despite the competitive field, it was Robert Gibson (Cedar Brae GC) who pulled ahead going into the final day.

Sitting in a tie for third entering the day, Gibson had an impressive showing in the second round with a score of -1, for a total score of even-par. Being the only player in today’s round to shoot below par, Gibson showed resilience when it mattered most. After every bogey the Cedar Brae member carded, he made sure to come right back with another birdie. Gibson credited a lot of his success to is steady play and his ability to make some challenging shots to keep ahead.

“It’s a tricky course out there and you really need to be able to save yourself because you’re surely going to find yourself in tough positions,” said Gibson. “I made some tough putts today so I was really happy with that.” Gibson now finds himself in familiar territory as he embarks on his journey to win his first championship.

“I’ve been playing in this tournament for a few years now so I definitely feel comfortable heading into tomorrow’s round. I’ve been in contention before and it’s a good feeling knowing I can take it all home.:

With such a steady rhythm heading into the third and final round, Gibson is looking at a great chance for success. The question is if he can hold off the two heavy hitters trailing behind him.

Trailing in second by only a single stroke are Ashley Chinner (Coppinwood) and David Greenaway (Barrie CC) with scores of +1. Greenaway entered the day with a smile on his face and left with an even bigger one. The Barrie resident laughed the entire way down the course and seemed to enjoy the day more than anyone else on the field. Finishing in a tie for second will undoubtedly see more smiles from him again tomorrow as he sets off in hope of winning his first championship.

Chinner entered the second round in the lead with a score of -2, but found himself in a setback after a triple bogey on the sixth hole. Despite strong play for the rest of the day, Chinner wasn’t able to climb out of the hole he found himself in.

“One hole can be the deciding factor,” said Chinner after the first round. “It only takes one bad hole to lose a lead.” It seems like Chinner foreshadowed his prophecy. But no one’s counting him out, as he still is within striking distance of Gibson. Tomorrow will surely be an exciting day as the three leaders duke it out for the chance to be crowned a champion.

Although he isn’t in the top of the leaderboard, Bill Dagneau (Georgian Bay Club) is the winner of today, carding a hole in one on the eleventh hole. The tough par 3 is challenging enough to score even but Dagneau took it to another level with the only hole in one of the tournament. The 67-year-old will leave the tournament with his head held high.

The third and final round will resume tomorrow at 8:00 am, where the remaining 66 players will look for one last opportunity . For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

About the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship

The Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2019 marks the 84th playing of the event and notable past champions include: Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock, Herb Carnegie, Ed Ervasti, and Michael Jackson.

Follow @TheGolfOntario on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates of all Golf Ontario Championships.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca

Gravenhurst, ON — A cool and cloudy morning welcomed the players as they arrived for the first round of the 84th annual Senior Men’s Amateur Championship at Taboo Muskoka. The tournament saw a hot start from the entire field, but after 18 it was Ashley Chinner (Coppinwood) who came out on top.

All eyes were on the reigning champion Mark Brewer (Whitevale GC) as he took off in hopes of winning his second title in two years, but it was Chinner who stole the show. With a round one score of -2 (69), the Brooklin resident had an impressive showing that would give him the advantage heading into round two. Going bogeyless until the twelfth hole, Chinner had the most consistent round of the day.

“It’s a tough course out there, but I made sure to shoot short throughout the round,” explained Chinner. “The way the course is set up, it tempts you to shoot over the bunkers which caused a lot of trouble over the day, but I made sure to just stick it before the bunkers and it turned out pretty well.”

Chinner’s steady shooting allowed him to find three birdies and fourteen pars, the most of any player throughout the day.

Philip Cole (Bear Creek G&CC) and David Greenway (Barrie CC) both finished with scores of even-par for second place. The two had very different rounds however, with Cole delivering a very consistent and steady round whereas Greenaway had a roller coaster five birdies and five bogeys. Despite the different days, they both only sit two strokes behind Chinner for the lead and will surely be looking for a chance to take that top spot.

Although the three hold the advantage going into day two, it’s still not safe to claim victory in anyone’s favour. The field is an extremely tight race throughout with only a five stroke difference between second and eighteenth place, making it anyone’s game.

“It’s going to be a fun two days,” said Chinner. “It’s still anyone’s game, seeing as a two stroke lead can vanish in only a single hole. I have to make sure I’m playing steady just like today.”

The second round will resume tomorrow at 8:00 am. For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

About the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship

The Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2019 marks the 84th playing of the event and notable past champions include: Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock, Herb Carnegie, Ed Ervasti, and Michael Jackson.

Follow @TheGolfOntario on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates of all Golf Ontario Championships.

Gravenhurst, ON — The Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship is only a day away and the players are ready to hit the course in hopes of leaving a champion. The three day tournament will occur July 30th to August 1st, where some of the best talent in the province will take to Taboo Muskoka for a chance to take home the championship.

Last year’s champion Mark Brewer (Whitevale GC) returns this year to defend his title. The reigning champ won last year’s tournament with some stellar play down the stretch, carding four birdies on the final five holes to steal the lead from the Tim Southcott (Glencalm GC). The race was tight the entire way through with multiple lead changes on the final day, but with Brewer’s spurt of excellence, the final scores were Brewer at -2, and Southcott at +1.

Coming into this year’s championship, Brewer will likely be looking to continue his hot play with hopes of a strong start early on, but despite being the early favourite, his path to his second championship in a row won’t be easy. Southcott and many others will be returning for success of their own, and many will be looking to be the one who dethrones the current king. The field is looking more competitive than ever, and it could be anyone standing on the top of podium after the three rounds of play.

The players will be taking on the beautiful Taboo Muskoka course over the next three days. The rugged and vibrant Canadian Shield landscape surrounding the course will truly make the tournament special, as it includes graceful white pines, mature red oaks, and bold and pink granite outcroppings. Taboo is ranked Top 100 in Canada for a reason, as it will surely challenge the players on their path to victory.

Tee time is set for 8:00 am tomorrow morning. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE

About the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship

The Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2019 marks the 84th playing of the event and notable past champions include: Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock, Herb Carnegie, Ed Ervasti, and Michael Jackson.

Follow @TheGolfOntario on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates of all Golf Ontario Championships.

Waterloo, ON — The third and final day of the 2019 Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship got underway at Grey Silo GC today. The players were welcomed by warm and sunny conditions yet again for their final round as they set out in hopes of becoming a champion. The day would bring some strong shot-making throughout, but after three days, only one would stand above the rest.

With yet another impressive showing, it was Mary Ann Hayward (St. Thomas G&CC) who came out on top to be crowned the 2019 champion. The now five-time champ delivered some stellar play throughout the entire week, and due to an incredible second round, she gave herself the option to play a slow and steady final round to hold her existing lead.

And that is exactly what she did. Despite a close battle with Judith Kyrinis (Granite GC) and one or two bogeys she’d like back, the veteran was able to hold on by the end to claim another title. Hayward’s round started off strong with a birdie on both the first and third hole, but quickly turned on her after a bogey on four. The ball was suddenly in Kyrinis’ court as she then picked up a birdie right after. This brought the once six stroke lead to only four, and things began to tighten up.

The rest of the round continued to be tight as Hayward struggled to find any luck, tallying another bogey on 6, and later back to back bogeys on 12 & 13. Kyrinis was right on Haywards heals and brought it to within two strokes. Kyrinis then almost birdied 15, but wasn’t able to capitalize. Hayward realizing her stroke of luck to still be ahead by two strokes, picked her game up. The now five time champ took her game to another level and immediately birdied 16, the shot that would eventually be seen as the dagger. To finish things off, Hayward ended her round with one more birdie on 18, and immediately received a round of applause and cheers from the audience. She finished the tournament with a total score of -3 (209).

“It was a great feeling winning today,” said Hayward. “I’ve let a lot of tournaments slip away over the past three years that I almost thought I forgot how to win. So this feels really good.”

When asked about the tight race between her and Kyrinis, Hayward voiced her appreciation towards Kyrinis.

“I got a little worried after I hit back to back bogeys on 12 & 13. Kyrinis is such a good player that I knew she could take advantage of that, but luckily I was able to pull ahead with a few birdies of my own,” she said. “Kyrinis is always a tough match and it’s always a great challenge playing with her.”

Despite placing second, Kyrinis had an impressive showing this week with a total score of +1 (213). The three time champion was inches from picking up her fourth at some moments, but at the end of the day it wasn’t enough to keep up with Hayward. The two have always seen each other at the top of the leaderboard, and it always ends up being a close battle.

Following closely behind the two veterans was Audrey Akins (Public Player). Akins was right behind Hayward and Kyrinis the entire way through and showed real composure making some huge shots down the stretch. With some fantastic putting and beautiful drives throughout the week, Akins finished the tournament with a total score of +7 (219) for the third place position.

The top three players are representing Ontario as the interprovincial team at the Canadian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in August.

In the A Flight Division of the tournament, it was Karen Vamplew (Twenty Valley G&CC) who was victorious. Vamplew finished the week with a total score of +38, catapulting her to the top of the leaderboard. She was followed by Roma Harris (Woodlands Links) in second, and Cindy Dunham (Northridge Public Golf Co) alongside Helen Williams (Station Creek GC) in third.

Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship.  We would also like to thank the Grey Silo GC for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.

For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE

For results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE 

About the Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship

The Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship is contested annually and features the province’s best female amateurs age 50 and over. Past champions of the event include Ada Mackenzie, Kay Helleur, Gayle Borthwick Hitchens and World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook for future updates of our upcoming tournaments.

Ryan MacKenzie

rmackenzie@gao.ca