Park and Mundy Claim Victory at Ontario Junior Players Invitational
Nobelle Park of RattleSnake Point Golf Club and Barron Mundy of Mississaugua Golf and Country Club triumphed at the Ontario Junior Players Invitational in Myrtle Beach. Park, a Team Ontario member, held on to her first-round lead, finishing even-par in the final round to win at one-over for the tournament.
Mundy claimed the boys’ title with a 216 total (70-74-72), finishing even-par, while Team Ontario’s Jordan Hwang of Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club finished second at +1.
Several Team Ontario players made strong showings in the boys’ division at the Ontario Junior Players Invitational. Luke Smith of The Thornhill Club finished tied for 9th with a +10 total (80-74-72), while Chase Jerome of Royal Ottawa Golf Club claimed 3rd place with a +2 total (75-73-70). Bode Stephen of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club tied for 4th at +3 (77-73-69), and Spencer Shropshire of Hawk Ridge Golf Club finished tied for 9th with a +10 total (81-72-73). Gabriel Mainella of Summit Golf & Country Club rounded out the group, also tying for 9th with a +10 total (73-77-76). These Team Ontario athletes showcased their skill and competitiveness throughout the event.
In the girls’ competition, Team Ontario players dominated the leaderboard. Nobelle Park led the way with a +6 total (75-72-75), while her teammate and sister, Kaprice Park, finished second at +7 (75-74-74). Alexis Card of Galt Country Club secured third place with a +8. Team Ontario also placed several other players in the top 10, including Sadie Wu, Claire Roberts, Kaylan Green, Amelia McFarlane, Avery Nordman, and former Team Ontario player Angela Cai showcasing the depth of talent from Ontario.
For the full leaderboard, CLICK HERE.
FAST FACTS
- All Team Ontario Girls finished in the Top 10.
- The lowest girls’ score was 71, achieved by Riviera Lindholm (St. Georges G&CC).
- Seven of the Top 10 boys are Team Ontario members.
- The lowest boys’ score was 69, achieved by Bode Stephen (Team Ontario).
- The 5th hole was the toughest, with an average score of 3.88.
- The 4th hole was the second toughest, averaging 4.67.
- The easiest hole was the 9th, with an average score of 4.07.
- The course’s scoring average was 80.33
Doornekamp and Xing Capture Ontario Peewee U13 Championship
Sarah Xing of Players Club- Ottawa on the girl’s side and Wilson Doornekamp of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in the boy’s division are both walking away with new hardware this week.
Xing pulled off impressive scores of 73 and 69. While Doornekamp stayed on top both days shooting 66 and 71.
The intense competition continued as the second place medalists kept it close with Riviera Lindholm of St. Georges Golf & Country Club on the girl’s side finishing with scores of 72 on both days and Dustin Zhao of National Pines Golf Club on the boy’s side had scores of 75 and 64.
Kaige Zhu and Grace (HyunYi) Kim followed along in third place to close out the championship.
CLICK HERE for all results of the Ontario Peewee U13 Girls Championship.
CLICK HERE for all results of the Ontario Peewee U13 Boys Championship.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Totino and Park Win 2024 Ontario Bantam U15 Boys & Girls Championship
The second round and final day of the 2024 Ontario Bantam U15 Boys & Girls Championship at Chedoke Golf Club came down to the wire.
Throughout the championship Nobelle Park of RattleSnake Point Golf Club pulled off impressive scores of 67 and 67. While Joseph Totino of Summit Golf and Country Club finished the championship with scores of 65, 68 and a 1-hole playoff win.
On the girl’s side, Park battled both days with runner up Alexis Card of Galt Country Club, who had scores of 69 and 73. Evelyn Li of Brampton Golf Club and Regan Andrusyk of Hamilton Golf & Country Club fell close behind as both players finished in third place.
In the boy’s division, Andy Dai of Station Creek Golf Club was the runner-up with scores of 66 and 67 to end the final day. Justin Chu of Meadowbrook Golf Club was close behind, finishing in third place with scores of 69 and 66.
CLICK HERE for all results of the Ontario Bantam U15 Girls Championship.
CLICK HERE for all results of the Ontario Bantam U15 Boys Championship.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Ontario Bantam U15 Boys & Girls Championship Heads to Chedoke Golf Club
The Ontario Bantam U15 Championship will take place August 8-9 at Chedoke Golf Club in Hamilton.
This event will feature 50 players on the boys’ side and 40 players in the girls’ division.
Both divisions will be starting off in a split tee format, beginning on holes No. 1 and No. 10.
The first group will tee of at 8 a.m. Thursday. For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
TOP 10 U15 BOYS JGP RANKINGS: Owen Fong, No.1, Max Li, No.2, Joseph Totino, No.3, Oscar Lin, No.4, Karson Hurlburt No.5, Justin Chu, No.6, Austin Reid, No.8, Terrence Den, No.9, Dustin Zhao, No.10.
TOP 10 U15 GIRLS JGP RANKINGS: Nobelle Park, No.1, Kaprice Park, No.2, Alexis Card, No.3, Andrea Lai, No.4, Kaylan Green, No.5, Riviera Lindholm, No.6, Ava Gilbart, No.7, Evelyn Ma, No.8, Payton Pattison, No.9, Evelyn Li, No.10.
PLAYER NOTES
Notable names in the 90-player field include:
Last year’s U13 Peewee Boys Champion, Oscar Lin (Station Creek Golf Club).
Nobelle Park (RattleSnake Point Golf Club), winner of this year’s Junior U19 Girls Spring Classic and Women’s Amateur Champion.
2024 Junior Girls Match Play Champion, Kaylan Green (Scarboro Golf and Country Club).
QUOTES
Mason Cowan, Tournament Director: “I’m looking forward to watching some amazing golf this week. Chedoke Golf Club has provided us with great playing conditions for our championship. This tournament will showcase the outstanding talents of the top U15 golfers in the province, and we get to watch them display their abilities against each other.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Chedoke- Beddoe Course
Dates: August 8-9
Field: 50 Boys, 40 Girls.
Format: 36 Hole Stroke Play
Leaderboard Link: 2024 Ontario Bantam (U15) Championship
Fun Fact: This is the 100th Anniversary between the City of Hamilton and Chedoke Golf Club.
Cam Burke wins the 32nd Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship
Cam Burke of Golf Canada Club-Ontario captured the 2024 Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at North Bay Golf & Country Club.
Burke entered the final round leading with a total score of -4. As the final round came to an end, a thrilling sudden death playoff including Cam Burke of Golf Canada Club- Ontario, Charles Fitzsimmons of Summit Golf & Country Club and Ben Thompson of Scarboro Golf & Country Club was required.
Burke prevailed with a par on the second playoff hole to be crowned the 2024 Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion.
Michael Hospodar of Brantford Golf & Country Club was also crowned 2024 Mid-Master Champion of the tournament.
The top 34 players including the winner all qualify for the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship held at Carleton Yacht & Country Club on August 20-23rd 2024.
For final results of the championship, CLICK HERE.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship Heads to North Bay
The 2024 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship takes place July 29 – 31 from North Bay Golf & Country Club.
The field will feature 144 of province’s top golfers aged 25- and- over competing for a provincial title.
Despite its young history, the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship has seen a number of notable past champions since its first playing in 1993.
Notable past winners include Garret Rank (2015, 2018), as well as Ontario Golf Hall of Famers Stu Hamilton (1993, 1998), Kelly Roberts (1997), and Dave Bunker (2007, 2011, 2014, 2021).
The first two rounds will see morning groups tee off at 8 a.m. and afternoon groups at 1 p.m. until the 36-hole-cut.
For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE
FIELD NOTES
Men’s Mid-Amateur Order of Merit Rankings: Charles Fitzsimmons, No. 1, Derek Dalziel, No. 2, Brett Nymeyer, No. 3.
PLAYER NOTES
Notable names in the 144-player field include:
Defending Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion of 2023, Simon McInnis (Cherry Hill Club).
Dave Bunker (Cherry Hill Club), who comes in fresh off winning the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship. He has won this championship four times (2007, 2011, 2014 and 2021).
Charles Fitzsimmons (Summit Golf & Country Club), who won this championship in 2019 and the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship twice (2021 & 2022).
The past two Men’s Ontario Champion of Champions, Bradley Greenside (Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club) – 2023 – and Kyle Gordon (Coppinwood Golf Club) – 2024.
David Lang (Donalda Club), winner of the 2022 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2018 Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions.
Winner of the 2023 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship, Adam Creighton (Cherry Hill Club), who also finished second in the recent Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.
The reigning 2023 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year, Phil Arci (The Pulpit Club).
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: North Bay Golf & Country Club
Championship Dates: July 29 – 31
Field: 144 players
Format: 54-hole Stroke Play (36-hole-cut – low 60 & ties)
Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)
Fun Fact: Four of the 144 players will represent North Bay Golf & Country Club: Jacob Udeschini, Michael Wellard, Ricky Allen and Rob Gribbons.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
Dave Bunker claims the 89th Ontario Senior Men’s Championship
Dave Bunker of the Cherry Hill Club wins the 89th Ontario Senior Men’s Championship at Brockville Country Club.
Bunker entered the final round on top of the leaderboard and finished on top after shooting 2-under-par-70 to finish three strokes ahead of fellow Cherry Hill Club competitor, Adam Creighton, who shot even-par-72 in the third round.
Overall, Bunker shot 209-7-under-par during an amazing week. The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member can now add a second Ontario Senior Men’s Championship title to his legendary cabinet as part of an incredible Ontario golf career.
Larry Cooper of Mississauga Golf & Country Club claimed the 65 and Over division after shooting 219-par in three rounds while Burlington Golf & Country Club’s Jeff Fielding claimed the 70 and Over division, shooting 228-par.
For the final results of the championship, CLICK HERE.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
Truong claims the 89th Ontario Junior U19 Girls Championship
Joline Truong of Mississauga Golf & Country Club secured the 89th Ontario Junior U19 Girls Championship at Beverly Golf and Country Club.
Truong entered the final round leading the way with a score of -5. Her lead held after shooting a 71 to finish the round ahead of runner up Julia Alexander-Carew of Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, and Natasha Korman of Hamilton Golf & Country Club who both finished at -2 for the championship.
Throughout this championship the level of competition has reached new heights.
“It has been a week filled with incredible excitement and intense competition. Witnessing the high-calibre performances of these young athletes is truly inspiring and bodes well for the future of Junior Golf in Ontario. Thank you to our wonderful hosts here at Beverly Golf & Country Club for their role in making the 89th Junior Girls Championship a resounding success,” said Kyle McFarlane Chief Executive Officer at Golf Ontario.
The Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden who was in attendance to present the Championship trophy believes these junior golfers are inspiring the next generation.
“These young golfers especially deserve praise for their hard work, sportsmanship and commitment to the sport, and for inspiring the next generation of golfers to pursue excellence on the course,” he said.
On top of that, “Our government applauds all participants of these championships-athletes, coaches, officials, the Beverly Golf and Country Club, and all the dedicated volunteers for making this event a success.”
The top three players of Joline Truong (Mississauga Golf & Country Club) Julia Alexander-Carew (Credit Valley Golf & Country Club) and Natasha Korman (Hamilton Golf & Country Club) will all represent Ontario at this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship held in British Columbia.
For final results of the championship, CLICK HERE.
Golf Ontario’s EDI Journey Continues with Visit from Special Olympics Ontario
With the sixth annual Ontario Adaptive Championship is right around the corner, Golf Ontario welcomed members of Special Olympics Ontario to share their life experiences and lead a professional development session around adaptive golf.
Nine Special Olympics Ontario athletes visited Wyndance Golf Club in Uxbridge to present what Special Olympics Ontario does, how they support athletes with intellectual disabilities and showed our staff how to support athletes with intellectual disabilities to create a welcoming and inclusive sporting environment.
“This was a great opportunity for our team on our learning journey in an adaptive golf space and having Special (Olympics Ontario) here today was to help us learn and understand what the experience is for them on the golf course,” said Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane.
The day started with an opening presentation from Special Olympics Ontario’s Director of Sports, Johnny Byrne. He took Golf Ontario staff through Special Olympics Ontario’s competition structures and how Special Olympics Ontario uses sport to create opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
He also alluded to Special Olympics Ontario’s mission of building the lives Ontarians with intellectual disabilities through sport, vision of creating disability-inclusive environments across the province and values of empowerment, excellence, respect, diversity and inclusion.
“I think what we got out of today was seeing just the great connection and how both Golf Ontario and special Olympics Ontario have the same bigger picture goals,” Byrne said.
We were then introduced to the eight Special Olympics Ontario athletes in attendance, which included 2015 World Games Gold Medalist, Tess Trojan, accompanied by her caddie and father, Mike Trojan.
“Special Olympics has really changed my life,” she said. “I’ve learned that we’re all friends first and not just competing against one another.”
Along with Trojan, the remaining seven athletes of Special Olympics Ontario, along with their caddies and coaches, were:
Natasha Stasiuk; Mike DiRaddo; Luke Cooney; Catherine Partlow; Ryan Colpitts; JJ Scorcia; Krystian Pushka.
Later in the day, Golf Ontario staff got the chance to play an eight-hole round of golf accompanied by a different athlete on each hole. The day brought about many smiles, conversations and capped off a wonderful day of learning for all.
“Exciting for our team to get out there, have connections, build those relationships, but more importantly, to have conversations and use this as an opportunity to learn and understand what it means to be a Special Olympian and a Special Olympics golfer,” McFarlane said.
Getting outside, playing golf and making connections was beneficiary for both Golf Ontario and Special Olympics Ontario.
“The universal language that we always fall back to when we’re trying to explain Special Olympics to people is just get out and play, and that’s what today was about,” said Byrne.
For more information on the upcoming Ontario Adaptive Championship at Weston Golf & Country Club July 15 – 16, CLICK HERE.
To support the growth of adaptive golf opportunities in Ontario, consider donating to the Golf For All Fund.
Golf Ontario Announces Alexandra Taylor as New Manager of Junior Performance
Uxbridge, Ontario – Golf Ontario is delighted to announce the appointment of Alexandra Taylor as the Manager of Junior Performance. In this pivotal role, Alexandra will be responsible for managing the strategy for Golf Ontario’s Junior Performance program.
Taylor has been an integral member of the Golf Ontario team since 2021, supporting and implementing GO’s Regional Support Strategy as Regional Coordinator as well as assisting Team Ontario as a coach and mentor.
As the Manager of Junior Performance, Alexandra will manage all of our junior golf initiatives, including the delivery of the Junior Golf Pathway, Junior Tour relations, Player ID, Next Wave athlete development, and the coordination for Team Ontario. With a commitment to nurturing a positive and encouraging environment, Taylor will play a key role in shaping lives through golf.
“With a true passion for the game and a proven drive to support young athletes in reaching their highest potential, we are thrilled to have Alex take on this role,” said Golf Ontario’s Director of Competitions and Performance, John Lawrence.
Taylor expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, “I am honoured and thrilled to take on the role of Manager of Junior Performance at Golf Ontario. Junior golfers represent the future of the sport, and I am committed to providing them with the best possible support and guidance to help them achieve their full potential. I am honoured to be appointed to this position and I am eager to contribute my skills and dedication to the success of junior golfers in Ontario. I believe through collaboration and innovation, we can elevate our program to new heights.”
Alexandra’s passion began as a junior where she competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Championships with her two older brothers. She then continued to develop as an athlete by competing on the Niagara Junior Tour, Ontario Summer Games team as well as Golf Ontario and Golf Canada Championships. After her junior golf journey, Alexandra was an NCAA golfer achieving 3 time All-Conference Golfer at Grand Valley State University in Michigan where her team participated in the NCAA DII National Championship three out of her four years. Alex continues to enjoy playing at a high level, competing in Provincial and National Amateur Championships.
Taylor is set to begin her new role, effective November 20th, 2023.
For more information about Golf Ontario’s junior golf initiatives and upcoming events, please visit https://juniorgolfpathway.ca/
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial sports organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.