Cody Clark of Oliver’s Nest Golf Club in Oakwood Ontario, won the Final round of the Ontario Jr. (U19) Boys’ Match Play Championship today 3 up on the 16^thhole.  Matthew Anderson needed a birdie on the 16^thfor the match to continue but had an unlucky putt, which left Cody Clark 3 up.

Going into the Match, Clark said “I just treated it like it was a normal match, I didn’t act like it was for the cup, I just acted like it was another match, like earlier in the week” – Clark.  When he hit his 8 iron 156 yards for a hole-in-one on the 4^thhole, he was in disbelief. “I hit the shot, and I knew it was pretty good, and I saw it land by the hole, and then everyone started cheering! It was a great feeling!” – Clark

His only other Hole-in-one was in 2016, on his birthday, and although he didn’t repeat the tradition of a birthday hole-in-one, it doesn’t make the moment any less special for him, as it helped him claim his victory.

In a match play competition, where the scores are based on who wins or loses a hole, a hole-in-one is a great advantage, and Clark’s hole-in-one helped propel his win today.  “I think it would have been a lot more stressful (without the hole-in-one) he might have felt closer to catching up to me, but it was something I definitely needed (to win the match)” – Clark

The Semi-Finals which took place on Wednesday Afternoon consisted of Joshua Hayes of Idylwylde Golf and Country Club vs Cody Clark of Oliver’s Nest Golf Club, and Matthew Anderson of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, and a member of Team Ontario vs Jack Alward of Batteaux Creek Golf Club.

When the Semi-Finals wrapped up, Joshua Hayes and Jack Alward were awarded third place, and were given their Bronze medals in a ceremony by Tournament Director, Rob Watson.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club for hosting this championship this week. A large thank you also goes out to the course staff, volunteers, and rules officials for their efforts this week.

For full tournament information, including round-by-round results, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao18/event/gao1883/index.htm

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

About the Junior Boys’ Match Play 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.

Amber Morley

Marketing and Communications

Amorley@gao.ca

Midland, Ontario –

Team Ontario member Hailey McLaughlin from Granite Golf Club defeated Manuela Rincon Torres 2&1 to win the Ontario Jr. (U19) Girls’ Match Play Championship.  She is now a two-time champion of the event, winning the championship in 2016 and 2018.

Going into “the final round today, I was just thinking, play my own game, I’ve played with Manuela before, she’s a great player, so I knew definitely it was going to be a close match” – Hailey McLaughlin.

She won the match on the 17th hole by sinking a 20-foot putt for birdie.

She is happy to be a two-time champion of the event, going in “I thought, I just need to keep that upkeep playing my own game, and I’ll be fine” -McLaughlin

She won the first round against Mandy Zeng of Blue Springs Golf Club 9&8, then the Quarter Finals against Nicole Gal of Oakville Golf Club 4&2.  She Then went onto the Semi-Finals and faced Sarah Gallagher of Blue Springs Golf Club and won 5&4, and won the finals against Manuela Rincon Torres of Galt Country Club 2&1.

16-year-old McLaughlin is a member at Granite Golf Club, and she is grateful for the course allowing her to play at their course this summer. The Ontario Jr. (U19) Girls’ Match Play Championship took place this week at the Midland Golf and Country Club.

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, at Sleepy Hollow Golf and Country Club. Notable past champions include Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Midland Golf and Country Club for hosting this championship, as well as the course membership for allowing their course for the duration of the championship.  We would also like to thank the rules officials, volunteers, and parents for dedicating their time to supporting this championship.

For full tournament information, see the tournament site here: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao18/event/gao1888/index.htm

View the results page here: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao18/event/gao1888/contest/16/leaderboard.htm

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

Amber Morley

Marketing and Communications

Amorley@gao.ca

ST THOMAS— With a fairly steady final round Garrett Rank led the tournament start to finish and captured the 2018 Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. This comes on the heels of winning the Men’s Mid-Am earlier this season already.

Rank entered the day with a 5 shot lead and five-under for the tournament. He opened his front nine (36) with two birdies and two bogeys and ran into some tough putts down the stretch which resulted in a double bogey on sixteen and a bogey on 17 to finish his back nine three over (38) and ended up two under overall. (66-69-73-74-282) Rank said “I didn’t putt well the last two days which was frustrating.” He added “The greens were obviously the defence out here.”

Rank talked about what the win meant to him. “It’s a huge honour. I know not many guys have won this tournament and the Mid-Amateur in the same year. I’m very thrilled to be up there with the names that are on the trophy.”

The silver medal went to Thomas DeMarco of Essex Golf & Country Club, who shot a solid even par (71). DeMarco ended the tournament at even par (73-71-69-71-284).

Picking up the bronze was Thomas Giroux from The Club at Hilton who also had a strong round ending the day two-under (68). That moved him to one over (72-72-72-69-285) for the championship.

Rank, DeMarco and Giroux all earned the right to represent Ontario in the inter-provincial competition at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, at Duncan Meadows Golf Club and Pheasant Glen Golf Resort from B.C., Aug. 6-9.

For full tournament information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao18/event/gao1881/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

The host club had four Men who participated in the event, Greg McKegg and Cameron Kellett who were tied for 8^th, Ryan Jeffrey and Brad Vanpuymbroeck.

Golf Ontario would like to thank St. Thomas Country Club, their staff and all the volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers and to title sponsor Investors Group for their continued support of golf in the province.

The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship was first played in 1923 at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. Past winners include: 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Gerry Kesselring (1949, 1951, 1952, 1953), professional players Jon Mills (2001), Corey Conners (2010), Albin Choi (2012), Chris Hemmerich (2014) and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1984).

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for updates of the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Championship.

Moving day began here at the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship from St. Thomas Golf and Country Club on a beautiful morning under blue skies.

Day three saw some up and downs for almost everyone on a tough course however Garrett Rank of Elmira Golf Club leads yet again after the third round. Rank shot a 2 over (73) on his round today and finishes at five under with a five stroke lead after three days. His round started out with a one under front (35), with two birdies and one bogey but finished his back 9 (38) with a double bogey on the eighteenth after a putt hung right on the lip of the cup that just wouldn’t drop.

Thomas DeMarco of Essex Golf & Country Club had a stellar round shooting a 2 under (69) and jumped up to second place while Eric Flockhart, a Golf Ontario Public Player, shot a solid even par round (71) and sits in third alone. Home course native Cameron Kellett of St. Thomas Golf & Country Club shot an impressive one under (70) and finds himself in sixth.

Rank, an NHL referee, was a member of Golf Canada’s National Men’s Team from 2012-2014, and 2018 U.S. Open qualifier.  He also golfed with Team Canada in the Pan American Games in 2015, as well as winning the Investors Group Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in 2015. He had a hat-trick at the Canadian Mid-Amateur championship, winning it three times in a row and finished runner-up in the 2012 U.S. Mid-Am. Winning the Canadian Mid-Am got him a ticket to three RBC Canadian Opens, making the cut in 2016.

The final round tomorrow should be a very exciting finish with so many exceptional golfers atop the leaderboard.

For more information, visit the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao18/event/gao1881/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship was first played in 1923 at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. Past winners include: 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Gerry Kesselring (1949, 1951, 1952, 1953), professional players Jon Mills (2001), Corey Conners (2010), Albin Choi (2012), Chris Hemmerich (2014) and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1984).

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for updates of the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Championship.

Amber Morley

Marketing and Communications

Amorley@gao.ca

Jasmine Ly started out the front nine -1 with an eagle and a bogey and finished off the back nine +1 with two bogeys and a birdie in order to finish her round with a 72 “I worked really hard this entire year to get these last rounds, the harder ones” – Jasmine Ly. She went 72-70-74-72 to win the championship with a total of 288.

At the awards ceremony, Jasmine thanked the coaches, parents, competitors, and course volunteers for an amazing week.  She talked about how she was grateful for her win, and that staying positive and grateful was one of the ways she was able to win the championship, “I try to stay grateful for everything, and there are going to be negative things that go on during a golf round, but I remember all the things that I’m grateful for” – Jasmine Ly

In second place was Taylor Kehoe of West Haven Golf and Country club who also shot a 72 today, and went 70-73-76-72. Sarah Beqaj of Toronto Golf Club went 72-67-78-76 for third.

The top three (3) 2018 Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship finishers comprise the Ontario Junior Girls’ Team. The team will represent Ontario at the Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship. The team will be made up of Jasmine Ly, Sarah Beqaj, and Hailey McLaughlin.

The host club, Maple City Golf and Country Club had 4 Junior Girls who participated in the event, Brooke MacKinnon who placed 9^th, Tess Scaman, Maddux Swayze, and Karolyn Rombouts.

Golf Ontario would like to thank the competitors, their families, and everyone who attended and supported this championship.  We would also like to thank our title sponsor of this event Investors Group, as well as the Maple City Golf and Country Club for their excellent course and hospitality in hosting this event.

About the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Established in 1927, The event has a wealth of notable past champions including World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Streit, Sandra Post, Sue Hilton, Alena Sharp, Jennifer Kirby and Brooke Henderson.

View updated results of the championship here.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for updates of the Investors Group Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship.

Amber Morley

Marketing and Communications

Amorley@gao.ca

The second round of action at the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship took place today from the immaculate St. Thomas Golf and Country Club with some warm breezy conditions making for some challenging golf.

After day two the same name sits atop the leaderboard, Garrett Rank from Elmira Golf Club who shot a 2 under on his round today and finishes at seven under after two rounds. His round (69) started out with a two under front (34), with three birdies and one bogey and finished his back 9 with two birdies and two bogeys (35).

“I made a few more mistakes today being a little too aggressive on occasion but made some key putts within seven or eight feet” said Rank. Moving forward he added “I’m going to stick to my own game plan, control what I can control, try and play steady golf and have fun.”

An NHL referee when not on a course, Rank was a member of Golf Canada’s National Men’s Team from 2012-2014, and 2018 U.S. Open qualifier.  He also golfed with Team Canada in the Pan American Games in 2015, as well as winning the Investors Group Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in 2015. Rank had a hat-trick at the Canadian Mid-Amateur championship, winning it three times in a row and finished runner-up in the 2012 U.S. Mid-Am. Winning the Canadian Mid-Am got him a ticket to three RBC Canadian Opens, making the cut in 2016.

Eric Shea of Brantford Golf and Country Club had a great day firing a five under (66) including a beautiful 15 foot birdie putt on his last hole to jump to one under for the tournament and now finds himself in second place. Eric Flockhart, a Golf Ontario Public Player sits in third with a plus one. Home turf native Greg McKegg of St. Thomas Golf & Country Club shot another solid round (74) and sits tied for fourth with Thomas DeMarco of Essex Golf and Country Club (73) with a plus two score. A big highlight of the day was made by Tristan Renaud, a member of Team Ontario who drained an incredible albatross on the par five 14th hole.

For more information, visit the tournament site.

The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship was first played in 1923 at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. Past winners include: 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Gerry Kesselring (1949, 1951, 1952, 1953), professional players Jon Mills (2001), Corey Conners (2010), Albin Choi (2012), Chris Hemmerich (2014) and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1984).

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for updates of the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Championship.

Beqaj came in second in the Investors Group Junior Girls’ (U19) Championship last year, and is happy to have made the course record today at Maple City Golf and Country Club.  Sarah Beqaj of Toronto Golf Club leads the Investors Group Junior Girls Championship after the second round. She made a Maple City Golf and Country Club course record today with a 67.  She was two-under on the front nine with three birdies and a bogey, and finished out the back nine three-under with three birdies.

“I hit maybe five fairways and four greens I could not hit a fairway for my life but I had 21 putts. Anything that I needed to make I did make. If I was inside 15 feet I was ok … putting was the strength today” – Beqaj

Taylor Kehoe of West Haven Golf and Country Club led the championship for the first round, but after the second round fell to 3^rd place with a 73 on the course today.

About the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best amateur female golfers age 18 and under. Established in 1927, The event has a wealth of notable past champions including World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Streit, Sandra Post, Sue Hilton, Alena Sharp, Jennifer Kirby and Brooke Henderson.

View updated results of the championship here.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for updates of the Investors Group Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship.

Amber Morley

Marketing and Communications

Amorley@gao.ca

The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship is taking place this week at the gorgeous St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. Round one got underway this morning with split tees at 7:30 under great conditions.

The leader after the first round is Garrett Rank of Elmira Golf Club. Rank shot a 5 under on his back nine and the day. His round of 66 started out with an even par front (35), with two birdies and two bogeys and finished his back 9 with 1 eagle and three birdies (31). “The course is actually playing very tough and I kept the ball below the pins which is pretty necessary here”said Rank. He added “I didn’t feel great coming into today but it was kind of nice having no expectations, no pressure.”

Rank’s best shot of the day was his approach on 8. “I had 217 yards to go and had to draw it around a big tree. It smoked the flag and dropped to 12 feet away.” He would step up and make the eagle putt. Rank added “it was good weather for the morning round which helped on this tough course.”

Rank, an NHL referee, was a member of Golf Canada’s National Men’s Team from 2012-2014, and 2018 U.S. Open qualifier.  He also golfed with Team Canada in the Pan American Games in 2015, as well as winning the Investors Group Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in 2015. He had a hat-trick at the Canadian Mid-Amateur championship, winning it three times in a row and finished runner-up in the 2012 U.S. Mid-Am. Winning the Canadian Mid-Am got him a ticket to three RBC Canadian Opens, making the cut in 2016.

Sitting in second with a score of 69 (-2) is Brady Zordana of Shanty Bay Golf & Country Club. Hometown Greg McKeggof St. Thomas Golf & Country Club shot a solid 70 (-1) and finds himself in third.

For more information, visit the tournament site.

The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship was first played in 1923 at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. Past winners include: 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Gerry Kesselring (1949, 1951, 1952, 1953), professional players Jon Mills (2001), Corey Conners (2010), Albin Choi (2012), Chris Hemmerich (2014) and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1984).

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for updates of the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Championship.

Bath, Ontario –

The Investors Group Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship took place this week at Loyalist Golf and Country Club in Bath, Ontario.  With most of southern Ontario in the midst of a severe heat wave, conditions were challenging throughout the week with temperatures well into the 30’s.

The heat finally lifted on Thursday night, and ushered in a cooler day on Friday for the final round. With that, though, came significant wind with gusts of over 40 km/h, making scoring a challenge for the competitors on the final day.

Fighting through the wind, and coming out on top after Friday’s final round was Nolan Piazza from Grand Niagara Golf Club. Nolan was one of the youngest players in the field, having just turned 15 years old on Tuesday (the first day of the Championship). The leader after the third round as well, Piazza fired a final round 71 (even par)  in the windy conditions to finish up at 282 (2-under par), good for a a 4 stroke victory over 2^ndplace finisher, and Team Ontario member, Matthew Anderson from Credit Valley Golf & Country Club. Finishing in third place was Luc Warnock with a 4 day total of 287 (3-over). Piazza, Anderson, and Warnock will make up the inter-provincial team for the upcoming Canadian U19 Boys Championship.

Piazza was solid throughout the week, shooting 73-69-69-71 to finish at -2. Playing in the final group with Team Ontario member Matthew Anderson and public player Zachary Wylie, Piazza played masterfully in the windy conditions Friday to win his first Jr. Boys Amateur title. “It just feels amazing to get a win at this big of a tournament” said Piazza. When asked what he was most impressed with with his game today, Piazza replied “Ball striking today, especially in this wind. I hit a few errant shots over the last few holes but made up for those with my short game. It all just sort of worked out today” Piazza was also quick to thank those who helped him have a great week here at the beautiful Loyalist Golf and Country Club. “I would like to thank the GAO and Loyalist for hosting such a great event, and to thank my parents who helped get me here”

Piazza joins an impressive list of previous winners that includes Gary Cowan, Stu Hamilton, Mike Weir, Jon Mills and Albin Choi.

Thanks to Loyalist Golf and Country Club and all Volunteers

Golf Ontario would like to thank the amazing course volunteers at Loyalist Golf and Country Club for helping to make this Championship a great success, as well as the club membership for offering their facilities for use. The course offered up a great test for the best young male golfers in Ontario. Thanks also go out to the numerous rules officials, and tournament officials for their contributions in making this a fantastic tournament for all involved.

About the Investors Group Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship is open to male golfers 18 years of age and under, who have qualified through one of six qualifiers held across the province earlier this season. The Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship was first contested in 1923 at the Summit Golf & Country Club so this represented the 95^thplaying of this prestigious event.  Past winners of the event include: Gerry Kesselring, Gary Cowan, Stu Hamilton, Mike Weir, Jon Mills and Albin Choi.

For more information, visit the tournament site.

For results, visit the results page.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook, @TheGolfOntario for live updates regarding our championships.

Dave Struthers

Marketing and Communications
dstruthers@gao.ca