CAMLACHIE — The Ontario Juvenile Boys’ and Girls’ Championships wrapped up on Aug. 17 from Sawmill Creek Golf Resort in Camlachie in rainy conditions. The players faced a two-hour delay early in the round and battled on-again off-again rain throughout the day. Despite the weather, the tournament did finish in full. At the end of the day, Fonthill’s Freddy D’Angelo claimed the boys’ championship, while Markham’s Victoria Zheng captured the girls’ title in a playoff.

D’Angelo, from Lookout Point Country Club, entered the round with a three-shot lead over Ottawa’s Romi Dilawri. He was consistent early in the final round with four straight pars. He knocked in a birdie on the fifth and went to the turn one-under. Three bogey’s on the back nine made things interesting, but he secured the win with a birdie on the 16^th and ended the round one-over (72) to finish the tournament at seven-under (66-68-72-206).

“This is a very important win for me,” said D’Angelo. “It is probably the biggest for me so far. Heading into the day, even with the weather, I knew I was playing well. I just tried to do my best and it paid off.”

D’Angelo, who was runner up at the Ontario Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship just a few weeks ago, said that his performance there really helped motivate him for this week. “I have been hitting the ball really well lately and I would say my putting has been a strong point.”

In a bit of a surprise, second place went to Little Britain’s Cody Clark. Clark, from Oliver’s Nest Golf Club, began the day at even par and in the fourth from last group. He went on to shoot the low round of the day, a five-under (66), which included eight birdies and three bogeys. That allowed him to claim the silver with a tournament total of five-under (72-70-66-208).

Dilawri would hang on to take home the bronze. He got out to a great start and was three-under through six. He made the turn two-under but had some struggles on the back nine. He went on to finish the day one-over (72) and ended the tournament four-under (68-69-72-209).

The girls’ championship came right down to the wire. Entering the day, Markham’s Hailey McLaughlin held a slim one-shot lead over Zheng. McLaughlin and Zheng would shoot four-over on the front nine, while their playing partner, North Gower’s Dylann Armstrong, shot a three-over front nine. That resulted in McLaughlin holding a one-stroke lead over the other two as they made the turn.

McLaughlin ran into some trouble early on the back nine, which opened the door for Zheng and Armstrong. The two were tied as they came up the 18^th. After overshooting the green on her approach, Armstrong drained a 20-footer to put the pressure on Zheng. Zheng too would make par, forcing a playoff.

In the playoff, Zheng would tap in for par, while Armstrong made bogey resulting in the win for Zheng. She finished the day six-over (77) for a tournament total of six-over (71-71-77-219) and the title.

“It feels good,” said Zheng after the round. “I am so honoured to win this. My competitors were very strong, which made me fight to win. During the playoff, I was just trying to stay calm and not get too nervous and it worked out in the end.”

When it came to pinpointing her strength during the week, Zheng said it was her play from the tees and fairways. “I would say my long game. I hit a lot of greens this week. Unfortunately, I didn’t make a lot of putts but I still made a lot of pars.”

Armstrong took home the silver also at six-over (74-69-76-219). Despite her troubles, McLaughlin still finished on the podium with the bronze medal. She ended the day nine-over (80) to complete the tournament at eight-over (70-71-80-221).

Golf Ontario would like to thank Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa for hosting the Championships. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers who make these events possible.

For complete tournament information, including the final leaderboards, see the tournament sites at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao177/index.htm for the Boys’ Championship and https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao178/index.htm for the Girls’ Championship.

About the Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championships

The Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championship is a 54-hole competition that features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Mike Weir Trophy. Notable past champions include: Josh Whalen, Brandon Ng, Tim McCutcheon, Peter R. Knechtel, Bob Panasiuk and Gary Cowan.

About the Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championships

The Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Sandra Post Trophy. Past champions of the event include: Sandra Post, Jessica Shepley, Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock, and Rebecca Lee-Bentham.

RICHMOND HILL— The 2017 Ontario Women’s and Junior Girls’ Match Play Championships wrapped up on Aug. 9 from DiamondBack Golf Club in Richmond Hill. After two full days of matches, it came down to defending champion, Pickering’s Crystina Kertsos and Brampton’s Karyn Lee Ping for the Women’s title, while Aurora’s Vanessa Chychrun and Toronto’s Catherine Zhang battled it out for the junior championship.

Kertsos defends Women’s Match Play title

Lee Ping, a Brampton Golf Club member, jumped out to an early lead taking the second hole. However, it would be short lived. Kertsos, from York Downs Golf & Country Club, squared the match on the third and took the lead on the fourth. After taking the sixth hole, Kertsos won the ninth and was 3up at the turn.

Kertsos began to pull away on the back nine. She took the 11^th hole and then the 13^th to move to 5up with five holes to play. Lee Ping sank a long birdie putt on the 14^th to stay in the match and almost repeated the feat on the 15^th. However, she came just short and Kertsos won the match 4&3 to defend the title.

“It means a lot to repeat as champion,” said Kertsos. “I loved every second of it. It feels really great to go back-to-back. This course’s conditions are great and it really sets up nicely to my eye. The first win was definitely special because it was my first provincial title but repeating just goes to show that it wasn’t a fluke.”

Kertsos began the tournament as the top seed and received an opening round bye. In the quarter finals she beat Grafton’s Danielle Sawyer 3&2. In the semi finals she took out Unionville’s Julia Hodgson 4&3.

As for Lee Ping, she entered the event as the sixth seed and defeated Stouffville’ s Ivy Steinberg 2&1 in the opening round. Next, she bested Mississauga’s Melany Chong in the quarter finals, but needed 20 holes to do so. She then beat Ridgeway’s Madeline Marck-Sherk in the semis 3&2.

About the Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship

The Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship was first played in 1975 and has several notable past champions including: World, Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit, six-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, Terrill Samuel, and Heather Kuzmich.

For full tournament information, including round by round results, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1744/index.htm

Chychrun takes Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play title

Chychrun, from Beacon Hall Golf Club, got out to a good start by taking the opening hole. However, Zhang, a Station Creek Golf Club member, squared the match with a par on the third. Zhang would then go 1up on the seventh before Chychrun brought it back to all square on the eighth, and it remained that way as they went to the back nine.

On the 10^th, Chychrun regained the lead. She would add to it on the 12^th and then went 3up on the 14^th. With Zhang missing a par putt on the 15^th, Chychrun captured the title by a score of 4&3.

“Winning this is pretty exciting,” said Chychrun. “Coming into the year my goal was to win one tournament and I did that here. This is the biggest win for me, so far.  When I was on the back nine with the lead, I realized someone has to win this tournament and thought that it might as well be me.”

Chychrun began the championship as the second seed and won her opening-round match over Woodstock’s Madeline Choi 9&7. In the quarters she had a 3&2 win over Thornhill’s Lauren Zaretsky. In the semis, she bested Brampton’s Brooke Rivers 2&1 to move onto the finals.

As for Zhang, she started as the fourth seed and won her first match 2&1 over Brampton’s Amanda Kerr. In the quarters she matched up with Aurora’s Lexie McKay and won that match 2&1. Then, in the semi finals, she took out the defending champion, Markham’s Hailey McLaughlin, in 19 holes to reach the finals.

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. Notable past champions include: Alena Sharp, Stefi Markovich, Christina Yoon, Elizabeth Tong and Grace St-Germain.

For full tournament information, including round by round results, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1743/index.htm

Golf Ontario would like to thank ClubLink and DiamondBack Golf Club for hosting the Championships. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers who make these events possible.

CAMBRIDGE— The second round of the Ontario Peewee Championship looked like it was going to be a repeat of the first with more beautiful conditions at Puslinch Lake Golf Course on Aug. 1. However, early in the afternoon a storm moved in and what was originally predicted to be a short delay, brought the players in for two hours. When the round did resume it was Cambridge’s Andreas Diogenous and Ottawa’s Isabella Ferguson who were crowned champions.

The hometown advantage proved to be enough for Diogenous. The Whistle Bear Golf Club member entered the final round with a share of the lead after posting a one-under (71) in the first round. He would better himself on the second day with an impressive five-under (67) to drop to six-under (138) for the tournament.

After the win, Diogenous spoke about what part of his game helped to lift him to his impressive final round. “I would have to say my putting. I probably made half of the putts I had on the front nine and made a few 30-footers. All of my putts under 10-feet went straight in, so that was good.”

Second spot went to the other co-leader from round one, Markham’s Kevin Lee. Lee, from Station Creek Golf Club, also had a solid second round. He was two-under at the turn and after an even back nine he finished the day two-under (70). That brought Lee to three-under (141) for the championship.

Rounding out the podium was Renfrew’s Carter Jarrett. The Renfrew Golf Club member also had an under-par second round finishing at one-under (71). That, combined with his three-over (75) opening round, moved him to two-over (146) for the tournament.

Ferguson, from eQuinelle Golf Club, entered the day with a share of the lead thanks to her opening round of four-over (76). Ferguson began the round well with four straight pars. She went on to make the turn at three-over. After a bogey on 11, Ferguson would drain her only birdie of the round on the 12^th. That turned out to be critical, as she would finish the round at seven-over (79) to bring her tournament total to 11-over (155), which gave her the title by a single stroke.

Afterwards, Ferguson spoke about what was running through her mind as she clung to the lead with one hole to go. “Coming down 18, I knew I just had to maintain the lead. I knew I just had to make a par, bogey, or even a birdie would have been nice. I just wanted to play it safe and have a solid finish.”

One-shot back was Hornby’s Annika Naumovski. Naumovski, a Brampton Golf Club member, started the day with a share of first thanks to her opening round of four-over (76). She had a good start to the day with a birdie on the third hole but the difference was a double bogey on the ninth. She was even with Ferguson at the turn at three-over but finished the back nine five-over and ended the day eight-over (80). That brought her to 12-over (156) for the championship and earned her the silver medal.

Picking up the bronze was Nepean’s Lauren Gervais. Gervais began the day in fourth after a 12-over (84) opening round. Her second round was highlighted by an eagle on the third hole. She went on to finish six-over (78) bringing her to 18-over (162) for the two days.

For complete tournament information, including the final leaderboards, see the tournament sites at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1724/index.htm for the Boys’ Championship and https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1725/index.htm for the Girls’ Championship.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Puslinch Lake Golf Course, along with their staff and volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of golf in the province.

About the Ontario Peewee Championship

The Ontario Peewee Championship made its debut in 2015. The championship is hosted by the Puslinch Lake Golf Course, which has a history with Golf Ontario, hosting the Ontario Bantam Championship from 1999 to 2012. The tournament is open to males and females who are younger than 13 years of age as of Aug. 1.

THORNTON — The home-course advantage was just what Alliston’s Taylor Beckstead needed as he captured the 2017 Ontario Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship on July 28 at Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club.

The 18-year-old Beckstead found himself in the finals against Fonthill’s Freddy D’Angelo. The match went back and forth on the front nine as each player held the lead at one point. With D’Angelo 1up after the eighth, Beckstead birdied the ninth to square the match at the turn.

Beckstead was dialed in on the back nine. He went 1up on the 10^th and then extended the lead on the 12^th. He hit back-to-back putts on the 13^th and 14^th for wins and was four-up with four to play. The two would halve the 15^th hole resulting in the 4&3 win for Beckstead.

Afterwards, Beckstead spoke about winning the title on his home course. “This is awesome! I have so much support from my family, friends, the guys who work here, even the junior camps! Everyone is cheering for me, so it was a lot of fun.”

Match play championships are some of the hardest to win and this one was no different for Beckstead. He began with a 5&4 win over Woodstock’s Davey Morton, followed by a 2&1 win over Brantford’s Michael Rizzo. In the third round he defeated Long Sault’s Ty Celone 2up, before a 20-hole win in the quarter finals against Etobicoke’s Justin Allen. In the semis, he edged out Peterborough’s Tyler White 2&1 to book his spot in the finals.

“It is a lot, you have back-to-back days with 36 holes and I didn’t finish my matches easily,” added Beckstead. “My first match yesterday went 20 holes and my second went right to the 17^th so it was a long day but I thought I played really well in the quarters.”

Beckstead was recently named to Team Ontario for the Canada Summer Games. He said that this win would go a long way in building his momentum. “The win not only gives me a boost for the Canada Summer Games but also for the Canadian Junior next week. I didn’t play well last week at the U.S. Junior, so it fell good to come back and play well here.”

As for D’Angelo, 16-years-old and from Lookout Point Country Club, his road to the finals began with a 1up win over Burlington’s Justin Grant. In the second round he knocked out Georgetown’s Thomas Giroux 2up, followed by an 8&6 win over Penetanguishene’s Adam Jordan in the third round. He defeated Cobourg’s Nicholas Oosterhof 2&1 in the quarters, before beating Sudbury’s Tristan Renaud, the Ontario Junior Boys’ Champion, 4&2 in the semis.

Golf Ontario would like to thank Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club along with their staff and volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued efforts in making provincial events successful.

For full tournament information, including round-by-round results, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1723/index.htm

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.

SCARBOROUGH — The final round of the Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship, July 27 at Cedar Brae Golf Club, was a back and forth affair. The day saw numerous lead changes between Orillia’s John Murphy and Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos. The two players were the first and second-round leaders respectively, so it only made sense that they would be battling on the final day for the prize.

Things began well for Murphy, from Barrie Country Club, as he was three-under through seven. Meanwhile, Kertsos, from York Downs Golf & Country Club, had some early struggles and was two-over through three. However, Murphy would bogey eight, nine and 10 allowing Kertsos to regain the lead. Both players bogeyed the 12th and 14th and it was Kertsos with a one-shot lead with four holes to play.

It came down to the final hole where Kertsos put his second shot into a hazard. That resulted in a double bogey and opened the door for Murphy. Murphy was able to get up and down for par to win the title. He finished the day and the tournament at two-over (69-73-73-215). Kertsos finished the day five-over (76), the championship three-over (72-68-76-216) and tied for the silver medal.

Barrie’s David Greenaway also finished the tournament at three-over (74-71-71-216) in a tie for the silver medal. Greenaway, began the day in the second to last group at three-over. The Barrie Country Club member had one of the more consistent rounds on the day and found himself even after nine. He went on to play the back nine even as well, which helped lift him to the podium.

Afterwards, Murphy spoke about what winning the title meant to him. “Winning this means everything. It is what we practice for and is why we play as much as we do. To win the Ontario Senior is unbelievable!”

Murphy chalked up his success during the week to his game off the tee. “For the most part, I drove the ball pretty well. Near the end, I didn’t hit it as well but you just can’t win here, with the field as tough as it is, without everything going your way.”

During the tournament, Murphy saw a first-round lead disappear after the second round. He admitted his nerves got to him but entering the third round he found a way to put it past him. “I had never held the lead at an Ontario Championship. I was pretty nervous in round two but I got through it. Coming into today I thought ‘If I handled round two, today should be fine.’”

The 65+ Division title went to Vineland’s Kerry Short. Short, who entered the day with a share of the division lead, went on to card a two-over (73) during the final round to end the tournament at 10-over (75-75-73-223).

In the 70+ Division it was New Hamburg’s George Stokes who captured the title. Stokes shot a six-over (77) on the last day to bring his tournament total to 14-over (71-79-77-227).

Murphy, Kertsos and Greenaway all earned the right to represent Ontario in the interprovincial competition at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Sept. 11-14 at Kanawaki Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec.

For more information, including the final leaderboards see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao175/index.htm

Golf Ontario would like to thank Cedar Brae Golf Club, 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 Senior Men’s Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2017 marks the 82nd 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.

Highlights from the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Women’s Senior and Mid-Amateur Championship, June 25-27 at Wildfire Golf Club in Lakefield, Ontario. Both titles were won by Thornhill’s Judith Kyrinis.

SCARBOROUGH— The Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is set to take to the course at Cedar Brae Golf Club, July 25-27, for the first time in the tournament’s 82-year history.

The three-round 54-hole event is set to see 149 of the best senior men’s golfers, age 55 and older, compete for the provincial title. Players qualified for the championship through one of seven qualifiers held in June and July.

“Cedar Brae Golf Club considers hosting the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship a privilege and an honour. This tournament has roots going back to 1936 and we felt that it was important to be part of its history,” explained Martin Piché, General Manager / COO at Cedar Brae.

The format will see two days of competition before the field is cut to the lowest 60 scores, including ties for the final round. In addition to the main championship, the top 65 and over player will win the 65+ division. An additional 17 players are playing exclusively for the 70+ Division title.

“Hosting this championship encouraged the completion of our ongoing golf course improvements, which will challenge the competitors with the best possible conditions that our membership will enjoy for years to come. The members and staff of Cedar Brae are proud to be the host of the 2017 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship and look forward to a great competition!” Added Piché.

This year’s field boasts an impressive line up of players who have already found success on the provincial level. There are four past champions that are set to tee it up again this year. The list includes: defending champion Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos, Oakville’s Larry Cooper, three-time champion Collingwood’s Michael Jackson and three-time champion Collingwood’s Brian Jeffery (70+ Division).

Also in the field are a handful of Ontario Senior Men’s Champion of Champions winners. That group includes: Burlington’s Mike Fernie, Whitby’s Barry Fairhurst, Bolton’s Dan Partland, New Hamburg’s George Stoke (70+ Division), Jackson and Kertsos.

With numerous players all knowing what it takes to capture provincial gold, it should be interesting to see who is atop the leaderboard at the end of the tournament. The action gets underway on July 25 at 7:30 a.m. and as always, spectators are invited to take in the action free of charge, at Cedar Brae Golf Club. For more information, including pairings and leaderboards (updated once play is underway) visit the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao175/index.htm

About the Investors Group Senior Men’s Championship

The Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2017 marks the 82^nd 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.

UXBRIDGE— Golf Ontario is proud to announce the six players that will represent the province at the upcoming Canada Summer Games, July 28-Aug. 13 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Richmond Hill’s Monet Chun, London’s Ellie Szeryk and Toronto’s Sarah Beqaj will comprise the girls’ team, while Thornhill’s Kelvin Lim, Sudbury’s Tristan Renaud and Alliston’s Taylor Beckstead will make up the boys’ team.

The squad is already well accomplished in 2017 in the province and will look to ride their momentum to gold at the national level. Renaud, from Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, captured the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship, on July 7 at The Rock Golf Club in Minett. That same day, Szeryk won the Ontario Junior Girls’ title at the Elmira Golf Club.

Earlier in the season, Lim, a Station Creek Golf Club member, took the Ontario Junior Boys’ Spring Classic at Wooden Sticks in Uxbridge and Chun, from The Summit Golf & Country Club, won the Girls’ Spring Classic at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Stouffville. Meanwhile, Beqaj, from the Toronto Golf Club, is coming off a runner-up finish in the Junior Girls’ Championship and Beckstead, a Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club member, a T4 at the Junior Boys’.

In addition to the players, the coaches that will represent the team will be: Cambridge’s Carla Munch and Woolwich’s Mike Martz.

More than 4,000 athletes are set to take part in 16 sports, including Golf, during the Games. Southwood Golf and Country Club will play host to golf, Aug. 8-11. Each province and Territory can send a team of three boys and three girls, under 19 years of age, to compete in the individual and team 72-hole competitions.

For more information on Golf Ontario’s Canada Summer Games team visit: https://gao.ca/excelling-performing/team-ontario/canada-summer-games/. For more on the Canada Summer Games, see the Winnipeg 2017 website at: http://www.2017canadagames.ca/.

UXBRIDGE — The Golf Ontario Scholarship Application Deadline has been extended until July 22. Since 1996, Golf Ontario has been awarding scholarships to deserving student golfers throughout the province. Now, 11 years after the program was established, more than $500,000 has been awarded.

The program is supported by partners including: the Estate of Ken McKenzie, Investors Group, the Craig Revell Memorial Award Fund, the Helena Harbridge Award Fund and the Christine Fisher Memorial Student Award Fund.

Requirements for Golf Ontario Scholarships are that recipients maintain at least a 75% academic average, are enrolled in a post secondary institution, are members of Golf Ontario and are actively involved in the game of golf.

Thanks to Golf Ontario Scholarships, many recipients have gone on to do great things in the golf industry. Many begin at the collegiate level like 2016 scholarship recipient Meghan Bennett. Bennett, 21 from Pickering, was awarded the Helena Harbridge Award to help further her studies in Communications and Digital Media at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Bennett is currently a member of FAU’s golf team, is a past member of Golf Ontario’s Team Ontario program and a past provincial champion (2012 Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play).

“I was really honoured to receive to a Golf Ontario Scholarship,” said Bennett. “ It meant even more considering I have been part of the Golf Ontario family. Being a past member of Team Ontario and competing in Provincial Championships, made it very rewarding. It felt like I had come full circle and that my accomplishments had been recognized.”

To submit an application for a Golf Ontario Scholarship, please fill out the form at the following address: https://www.cognitoforms.com/Mdaymangaoca/_2017ScholarshipApplicationForm

For more information on Golf Ontario Scholarships visit: https://gao.ca/supporting-the-game/financial-assistance/gao-scholarship-program/

WINDSOR— In what can only be described as a phenomenal final round, 16-year-old Sudarshan Yellamaraju captured the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship at Ambassador Golf Club on July 14.

Yellamaraju, from Mississauga and Blue Springs Golf Club, entered the day one shot off the pace at seven-under for the tournament. Despite being one of the youngest in the field, Yellamaraju was dialed in early during the final round. After a birdie on the third hole, he proceeded to drain three in a row from six to eight and made the turn at four-under. He would not let up on the back nine. He birdied both 10 and 12, stretching the lead to five strokes. While he did run into trouble with bogeys on 14, 15 and 17, he drained a clutch birdie putt on the 18^th, which earned him the win. He went on to finish the round four-under (67) and finished the tournament 11-under (69-68-69-67-273).

Yellamaraju spoke about what the win meant to him, especially after he came up just short last week at the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship. “I am feeling great right now considering what happened last week at the Ontario Junior. I felt I bounced back well this week and played pretty well. This course provided a good challenge and I am glad I got the victory in the end.”

At just 16, Yellamaraju sees the win as a big stepping-stone in his development. “I definitely think this is a big accomplishment and a great way for me to take the next step in my golf career. To win at my age is very special to me.”

As for his strength during the week, Yellamaraju pointed to his putting. “I felt like the strongest part of my game was my putting. Every time I had five or six footers to make par, I made them. This week I felt very confident putting within 10 feet and it got me to where I finished.”

The silver medal went to Stouffville’s Gajan Sivabalasingham. Sivabalasingham, from Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club, went low during the final round finishing the day five-under (66). Sivabalasingham ended the tournament at 10-under (68-67-73-66-274).

Picking up the bronze was last year’s champion, Unionville’s Max Sear. Sear, from York Downs Golf & Country Club, also had a strong round ending the day three-under (68). That moved him to nine-under (67-67-73-68-275) for the championship.

Yellamaraju, Sivabalasingham and Sear all earned the right to represent Ontario in the inter-provincial competition at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, at the Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club, Aug. 7-10.

For full tournament information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao172/index.htm

Golf Ontario would like to thank Ambassador Golf Club, 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 Ontario Men’s Amateur

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). This first time Ambassador Golf Club has hosted the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship.