UXBRIDGE— Golf Ontario is pleased to announce a new partnership with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines, is already investing in golf worldwide with their amateur series the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup (TAWGC) along with their sponsorship of a European Tour event, the Turkish Airlines Open, and now their support of Golf Ontario can be added to the list.

“On behalf of team at Turkish Airlines based here in Canada, it is our distinct pleasure to continue our sponsorship of the many events Golf Ontario hosts. I was honoured to recently host a trip to Istanbul and Antalya in which Golf Ontario and Canadian golf media participated in and by all accounts it was a resounding success. Something we hope to build on moving forward,” said David Batey, Regional Corporate Sales Manager, Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines will offer support to Golf Ontario in a variety of fields. Turkish Airlines will become the presenting sponsor of all Golf Ontario Champion of Champions events (Men’s, Women’s, Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s) along with the Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

Golf Ontario’s vTour will also get a boost from the partnership. The vTour is a season-long competition that incorporates the Golf Canada Handicap System, which allows golfers of all abilities to compete on an equitable basis. Participants simply play their round at any course they choose and are entered in the specific vTour simply by posting their scores. Not only will Turkish Airlines sponsor one of the vTour events, they will offer qualifying spots to the TAWGC to participants.

In addition to the involvement in championships and vTours, Turkish Airlines will also be a sponsor of Golf Ontario’s main fundraiser the Junior Golf Drive. Turkish Airlines has also committed to sponsoring future “Learn to Golf” events.

On the Golf Ontario side, the association will be more present in assisting Turkish Airlines with their Ontario-based World Golf Cup competition. The Golf Ontario tournament staff will assist in running a qualifier for the event, along with promotion and support of the competition itself on Aug. 11 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

“As one of the top airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines shares a passion for excellence, innovation and service making this a wonderful partnership for Golf Ontario,” added Golf Ontario Executive Director Mike Kelly. “Turkish Airlines has invested in golf all over the world and we are thrilled to work with them to enhance the experience for Ontario golfers through unique programs and offers.”

ABOUT TURKISH AIRLINES

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline that flies to 115 countries, with a fleet of 306 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 286 destinations worldwide with 236 international and 49 domestic. According to Skytrax survey of 2015, Turkish Airlines was chosen “Europe’s Best Airline” for the fifth and “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the seventh consecutive year. Having won in 2010 the world’s “Best Economy Catering Service”, in 2013 the world’s “Best Business Catering Service”, and in 2014 “Best Business Catering Service” awards, Turkish Airlines was awarded in 2015  the world’s “Best Business Class Lounge Dining” and “Best Business Airline Lounge”  prizes in the Skytrax survey. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on www.turkishairlines.com

TORONTO — It was a dramatic finish to the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, on June 23 at Lambton Golf & Country Club. After 54-holes, a champion was yet to be crowned. First and second round leader, Ryan Kings, and Matthew Sim were all tied at two-over and needed a playoff to determine a winner. On the first playoff hole, it was Sim who brought the crowd surrounding the 18^th green, to their feet by sinking a nearly 20-foot birdie putt to capture the title.

Heading into the day, Sim, from Oakville and the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, sat in a tie for fourth at three-over for the championship. The 29-year-old got off to a great start with birdies on the fifth, sixth, and seventh holes and was two-under at the turn. He continued to lower his score on the back nine with three more birdies on 10, 12 and 14 and was four-under for the day, one-under for the tournament, with three holes to go. However, after a bogey on 16, he found the trees on 17 leading to a double bogey. He pared the 18^th but was watching the final group to see where he would finish.

The final group included Kitchener’s Kings and Brooklin’s Ashley Chinner, who began the round in first and second place respectively. Kings, a Deer Ridge Golf Club member, started the day with a four-shot lead but gave it back as he finished six-over on the front nine. He would get one back with a birdie on 11, but still found himself tied for the lead at two-over heading to the 18th. On 18, Kings drained a lengthy par putt to force the playoff with Sim. Kings managed to par the playoff hole but there was nothing he could do except watch as Sim sank the winner for the title. Sim finished the tournament at two-over (75-72-71-218), Kings went (69-72-77-218).

After the win, Sim talked about how he felt during the week. “Coming into the week I felt great and things just came together for me. I struggled a bit down the stretch but I held it together. Today my putting was my strong point, I definitely made some key putts.”

The most key putt for Sim came on the playoff hole. He remembers what he was thinking as he starred down the shot for the win. “It was a double breaker over a slope and I thought it was going to straighten out. It got about two feet from the hole and I could see it going right in the middle. I couldn’t believe it when it dropped. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. This win feels fantastic, it is above everything else by a long shot!”

As for Chinner, a member of Coppinwood Golf Club, he too had a chance to join the playoff for the title. However, it all came down to 18 where he settled for a bogey dropping him to a share of the bronze medal. Chinner finished the tournament at three-over (71-74-74-219) and won the Mid-Masters Championship.

He shared the bronze medal with North York’s Charles Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons, from Thornhill Golf & Country Club, began the day in a tie for seventh at four-over. He finished the round at one-under to end the tournament at three-over (73-75-71-219).

Fitzsimmons and Chinner played off for the third Team Ontario spot for the team competition at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Aug 23 – 26 at Golf Château-Bromont in Bromont, Quebec. Fitzsimmons claimed the spot in the second playoff hole.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Lambton Golf & Country Club along with their staff and 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.

For full tournament information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao163/index.htm

Photos from various events that Golf Barrie has attended.

TORONTO— For the first time in club’s 114-year history, Lambton Golf & Country Club will host the Investors Group Ontario Mid-Amateur Championship, June 21-23.

Lambton is no stranger to hosting provincial events. The club has held two Ontario Men’s Amateurs (1961, 1971), two Ontario Ladies Amateurs (1951, 1973), a trio of Senior Men’s Amateurs (1942, 1944, 1952), and a Junior Boys’ Amateur (1943). In addition, Lambton was the co-host of the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion.

This year, a field of 144 golfers will tee it up for the three-day, 54-hole competition. Players qualified for the event through one of eight qualifiers that were held throughout the province during the month of May.

“The players in the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur championship are in for a treat when they tee it up at the recently renovated Lambton course,” said Dave Colling, Golf Ontario Director of Rules and Competitions. “The combination of a strong layout, a finely-conditioned course and a large club volunteer contingent will make for a great week for all the competitors.”

This year’s field will be another strong one. While defending champion, Elmira’s Garrett Rank, is unable to defend his title, three-time champion, most recently in 2014, Woodbridge’s Dave Bunker, will lead the field. Bunker is also a three-time Canadian Mid-Amateur Champion (2008-10).

Other former champions will also be part the field, including Woodstock’s Drew Symons (2012) and 1999 Ontario Amateur Champion, Toronto’s Peter McCarthy (2006, 2008), and Collingwood’s Michael Jackson (2003), who is also a three-time Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Champion.

The field also includes numerous Ontario champions from many of Golf Ontario’s recent events. Wellesley’s Rob Cowan is a two-time Ontario Champion of Champions (2014, 2010), has won the Mid-Master division of the Mid-Amateur Championship (2008) and the Ontario Men’s Match Play Champion (2002). Oakville’s Larry Cooper is an Ontario Senior Men’s Champion (2014), Aurora’s Peter Willis has captured the Ontario Public Player Championship (2014), as has Brampton’s Arnold Johnson (2015, 2011), and Scarborough’s Dan Kavanagh (2013). Teeing it up this week will also be Brooklin’s Ashley Chinner. Chinner is a past PGA of Canada Champion and was the low Canadian at the 1998 Canadian Open, finishing 13^th overall.

In addition to the title itself, the golfers will be looking to claim one of the Canadian Men‘s Mid-Amateur Championship qualifying spots and the top three finishers will earn the right to represent Ontario in the inter-provincial competition at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Aug. 23-26, at Golf Château-Bromont, in Bromont, Quebec.

With so many players who have tasted success in the past at numerous levels, this year’s Investors Group Ontario Mid-Amateur Championship should be a hotly contested one.

Spectators are invited to Lambton to check out action throughout the week. The opening round begins on June 21^st at 8 a.m. For complete information, including pairings see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao163/index.htm

HUNTSVILLE— The Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship came to a close on June 10 from the Grandview Golf Club in Huntsville. It is one of the most difficult titles to win as by the time the final two players had finished the final round, they had each played a total of six rounds of golf.

Heading into the final match the title came down to Port Perry’s Jake McNulty and Woodbridge’s Phil Arci. Both players had battled through a tough field and put on a good match in the final.

Arci, 25-years-old from Caledon Woods Golf Club, got out to an early lead in the match but McNulty, 21, answered thanks to a nice recovery shot out of the sand on the fifth, which led to a birdie. Arci would regain his lead on the sixth hole but it was short lived as McNulty drained a long birdie putt on the seventh to even the match. McNulty’s putter continued to be the difference as he sunk another birdie putt on the eighth hole to go 1up. Then, after Arci’s chip shot went long on the ninth, McNulty was able to hit another putt to take a 2up lead heading to the back nine.

Things kept to go McNulty’s way on the back nine. He moved 3up after Arci double bogeyed the 10th and then McNulty birdied the 12^th to go 4up. A bogey on the 13^th by Arci put him in a huge hole, as McNulty was 5up with five to play. However, Arci wouldn’t go down without a fight. He pared the next two holes while McNulty bogeyed both and was still in the match. However his comeback would end on the 16^th as both players made par to split the hole, giving McNulty the 3&2 win for the championship.

“I was pretty darn nervous heading to 16!” said McNulty after the match. “But being 5up, with five to play, it gave me a little room and meant I could have two bogeys.”

McNulty also spoke about the grind that winning the championship was. “It is a good win. It is a gruel going through six matches. I felt like my game was pretty good throughout the tournament even though I was down at one point in five of my six matches. It feels good to win because I haven’t played particularly well in the last couple years. It is nice to get one early in the year and be able to look forward to more tournaments.”

For McNulty, his road to the final began with win over Waterloo’s Aaron Jenkins 4&3. McNulty had a tighter match in the second round but escaped with a 1up win over Burlington’s Kristopher Kowalchuk. He moved on to defeat Markham’s Colton Wyllie 3&1 in the third round. He knocked out London’s Jeff Crowe in the quarter-finals 3&1 to advance to the semis. In the semi-finals, McNulty defeated Waterloo’s Matt LeMay 3&1 to punch his ticket in the final.

Arci’s road to the finals began with a 6&4 win over Burlington’s Jason Fitzgerald. He moved on to defeat Kleinburg’s Justin Longo by a score of 4&3 in the second round. Round three saw perhaps one of the biggest upsets in the event as Arci knocked out two-time defending champion Woodbridge’s Dave Bunker 3&2. Arci took care of Aurora’s Marc Casullo in the quarter-finals 2&1, moving him to the semi-finals. Arci matched up with Oakville’s Scott Banks and defeated him by a score of 3&1 to book his spot in the final.

For full tournament information, including round by round results, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao1624/index.htm

The Golf Ontario would like to thank Clublink and Grandview Golf Club for hosting the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers who make these events possible.

About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship

Established in 1986, the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually and features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers that have qualified through one of five qualifying tournaments held earlier this season, or who have gained an exemption into the event.  Notable former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Ian Leggatt, David Hearn, David Byrne and Dave Bunker.

SUTTON WEST— Conditions were finally better for the remaining field at the Investors Group Ontario Women’s Senior and Mid-Amateur Championships, on June 9, as the final round concluded at The Briars Golf Club in Sutton West.

After the cut, following the second day, 62 players remained for the final round. For the championship, all senior aged players were eligible for both titles, while a field of 13 were exclusively competing for the Mid-Amateur.

Entering the day, Wasaga Beach’s Kristy McLaughlin, held a two-shot lead in the Mid-Amateur. The 30-year-old Mad River Golf Club member had put together a strong tournament finishing with rounds of two-over (74) and one-over (73). She would continue her steady play during the final round and went on to capture the title following a two-over (74) final round.

McLaughlin (74-73-74-221) started well with a birdie on the first hole before back-to-back bogeys on two and three. She got back to even with a birdie on the fourth and finished the front nine one-over due to a bogey on six. After a pair of bogeys on the back nine, McLaughlin’s lead was down to just one after 15. However a clutch birdie on the 17^th hole helped put it out of reach as she went on to win the championship.

McLaughlin summed up her win after the round. “It feels great to win this. I have the Ontario Ladies Match Play Championship under my belt, but never had a win like this. I had a great day, I was striking the ball well, so it feels good.”

“I came into the day focused on playing steady. I just wanted to make pars. If a few birdies fell then great and if I made a bogey I would just make it up. I knew it was getting close at one point, so I knew I had to grind it out. I birdied 17 and that allowed me to get to 18 with a little more confidence,” added McLaughlin.

Finishing in second in the Mid-Amateur and winning the Investors Group Women’s Senior Amateur Championship was Thornhill’s Judith Kyrinis. Kyrinis, 52-years-old and a member of the Thornhill Golf & Country Club, came into the final round sitting third overall and second in the Senior Championship at seven-over.

Kyrinis was able to battle though some tough spots early and managed to get to the turn at just two-over. She continued to be steady on the back nine and then hit back-to-back birdies on the 14^th and 15^th holes. That ended up being the clincher as she ended the day two-over (74), for a tournament total of nine-over (75-76-74-225).

The win was a long time coming for Kyrinis who talked about what it meant to her. “It feels fantastic, I am a little lost for words. I had a little trouble early with my drives, just not getting my legs going, and had a little bit of nerves. I knew what I was doing wrong, so I just tried to be patient and I got things going on the back nine.”

Kyrinis pointed to her back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 as a real turning point for her during the round. “It really calmed me down. I made some good shots in there and when you feel like you are swinging well and the putts drop, it’s nice.”

Rounding out the top three in the Mid-Amateur Championship was a tie between Picton’s Casey Ward (Picton Golf & Country Club) and Newmarket’s Christine Ryckman. Ward (78-78-74-230) and Ryckman (80-74-76-230) each finished the tournament at 14-over.

There was a tie for silver in the Senior Championship between St. Thomas’ Mary Ann Hayward (71-78-83-232) and Uxbridge’s Gail Pimm (78-77-77-232). Thanks to their 16-over tournament total, Hayward (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club) and Pimm (Whitevale Golf Club) will join Kyrinis as the representatives for Ontario in the team competition at the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship, Aug. 24-26, at Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alberta.

In addition to the overall champions, there were two other division champions crowned within the Senior Championship. Capturing the 60 and over division was Brockville’s Theresa deLuis, from the Brockville Country Club. She finished at 19-over (83-79-73-235) for the tournament to win the title. In the 70 and over division, it was Blue Mountain’s Maureen Burns who took the gold medal. Burns, from the Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club finished with a two-round total of 42-over (93-93-186).

District teams also competed during the championships. Winning the Senior Gross Championship was York District at a total of 474. The team consisted of Kyrinis, Marion Reid (Islington Golf Club), Joanne Noble (Weston Golf & Country Club) and Debbie Court (Toronto Golf Club).

The Senior Net Championship was won by London District at a total of 454. The team was made up of Hayward, Sue Postian (Sunningdale Golf Club), Jayne Hedges-McKinnon (Bear Creek Golf & Country Club) and Irini Perivolaris (London Hunt & Country Club).

The team from Scarboro District won both the Mid-Amateur Gross and Net division titles. The team, made up of Kathy Pilkey (Sleepy Hollow Golf Club) and Helen Williams (Station Creek Golf Club), finished with a 331 gross score and 305 net score.

For final tournament information, including leaderboards, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao1610/index.htm

Golf Ontario would like to thank The Briars Golf Club and their staff and 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.

About the Investors Group Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship has been contested annually since 1989 and features the province’s best female amateurs over 25. Past champions of the event include: Gayle Borthwick, Terrill Samuel, Stefani Markovich and Mary Ann Hayward who has captured the trophy 14 times.

About the Investors Group Senior Women’s Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship has been contested annually since 1962 and features the province’s best female amateurs age 50 and over. Past champions of the event include: Ada Mackenzie, Kay Helleur, Gayle Borthwick, Mary Ann Hayward and World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit.  

Taylor Craig/ Golf Canada

Play the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis during the Golf Ontario St. Kitts 2Ball, January 7-14. For more information see: https://gao.ca/st-kitts-2-ball-invitational/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXskznltLwU

GORMLEY— Men’s club champions from across the province were at Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club on June 3 for the playing of the Golf Ontario 2016 Champion of Champions tournament, presented by Turkish Airlines.

It was a beautiful day for the 53 champions who teed it up, as they all looked to be crowned 2016 Champion of Champions. The event had a wide range of ages competing, as the youngest champion was just 15-years-old while the oldest was 68.

Taking the title was Brampton Golf Club’s Russell Bowie. The 24-year-old Mississauga resident fired a two-under (69) to win the title by one stroke. Following the win, Bowie spoke about how honoured he was to be following in the footsteps of other Brampton Golf Club members who have won the Ontario Champion of Champions. “It means a lot to me to win this. It is a collection of club champions, so it’s pretty special to win. For Brampton, we have had a few previous winners: Stu Hamilton won it years ago and just a few years back, a good friend of mine, Binupa Wijesinghe, won it. I’m happy to bring it back to Brampton.”

Bowie credited his win to avoiding any major mistakes during the round. “I think I just avoided any major errors. I was never in any trouble. I hit a lot of fairways and greens, so I was never really scrambling. It was a good straight-forward round.”

This is the first provincial championship for Bowie.

Finishing in second place was Cherry Down’s Golf & Country Club’s Mathew Iceton. Iceton, from Brooklin, shot a one-under (70) to take home the silver.

Rounding out the podium in a tie for third were Deer Ridge Golf Club’s Ryan Kings and St. Catharines Golf & Country Club’s Robert Ellis. Kings, from Kitchener, and Ellis, from St. Catharines, each finished at even par (70).

For full tournament information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao1619/index.htm

Golf Ontario would like to thank Meadowbrook G&CC for hosting the event, as well as all of the staff and the Golf Ontario volunteers who contributed. Thanks also to Turkish Airlines, the title sponsor of the championship.

About the Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions

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

Meet Golf Ontario’s 2016 U19 Team Ontario.