After two days of competitive play, the 2025 Ontario Public Amateur Championship crowned its champions on August 28 at Mill Run Golf Club in Uxbridge. Despite periods of heavy rain, players pushed through the conditions and delivered an exciting finish across all flights.

Low Gross Overall Divisions

Men’s –
In the men’s division, Jay Finlay of Port Perry claimed the title with rounds of 72 and 71 for a two-day total of 143 (+1). Ben Snaidero of Burlington opened with an impressive 69 before closing with 76 to finish two shots back at 145 (+3), while Scott Herod of Cambridge remained steady with scores of 74 and 73 to take third at 147 (+5). The leaderboard stayed tight throughout the day, with all three contenders within striking distance at various points. At one stage, the standings even looked headed toward a playoff, but Finlay held firm down the stretch to secure the victory.

Women’s –
In the women’s division, Elaine Surjoprajogo of Brampton posted rounds of 76 and 81 for a total of 157 (+15) to capture the title. Just one shot back was Angelina Chang of Aurora, who bounced back on day two with a 76 to finish at 158 (+16). Rounding out the top three was Rachel Sidor of Stouffville, who put together rounds of 79 and 82 to finish at 161 (+19). The battle proved to be a thrilling one, with Surjoprajogo and Sidor trading the lead throughout the final round before Surjoprajogo pulled ahead late. Chang’s strong second round also put her in the mix, creating a dramatic finish with the top three separated by only four strokes.

Net Flight Champions

Beyond the overall titles, champions were also crowned across the flighted net divisions. Finlay’s steady play earned him the Men’s A Flight victory with his 143 (+1), while Akshay Gupta secured the Men’s B Flight with the same total after rounds of 69 and 74. In the Men’s C Flight, Nick Moskun claimed top honours with a two-day total of 149 (+7). On the women’s side, Rachel Sidor captures the Women’s Net Championship, pairing rounds of 73 and 76 for a winning total of 149 (+7).

Thank you to Mill Run Golf Club

Golf Ontario thanks Mill Run Golf Club for once again providing an outstanding stage for the Ontario Public Amateur Championship. With its versatility and long history of hosting, Mill Run continues to be an ideal home for this event, offering both a challenging test and a welcoming atmosphere for competitors.

Championship Photo Album:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1360801235728100&type=3

For full scores and leaderboards: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11301121104074033407

Photos, highlights, and final round content: @thegolfontario on Instagram and Facebook.

Mill Run Golf Club in Uxbridge will welcome Ontario’s best public players Aug. 27-28 for the 2025 Public Amateur Championship presented by Baka Mobile.. This championship offers a stage for public player golfers to compete at a high level and test their games on a championship layout.

Tournament Director Mason Cowan emphasized the importance of the Public Amateur Championship within Ontario’s golf community, “Unlike some championships that are exclusive to private club members, this event is designed for public players. It levels the playing field and ensures that talent from all backgrounds has the opportunity to compete in a professionally run, provincial-level event.”

Cowan added that Ontario has a strong base of golfers who develop their game on public courses, and this championship provides them with valuable exposure and opportunity, “This championship gives them a platform to showcase their skills and often serves as a stepping stone to higher-level competitions.”

Championship Format

A full field of 120 players will take on 36 holes over two days at this year’s championship. The men’s competition is divided into three flights: the “A” flight for gross scoring, and the “B” and “C” flights for net play, with “B” flight golfers also eligible to contend for the overall title.

The women will compete in their own division, with both gross and net champions recognized. This year also marks a milestone, with 14 women in the field, the highest number of female competitors in this championship’s history. 

The structure of this tournament ensures every golfer has a meaningful opportunity to compete, regardless of experience or handicap. By recognizing both gross and net champions, the championship celebrates achievement across all skill levels.

Players to Watch / Defending Champions (2024)

• Joshua Taylor : Men’s A Flight Champion
• Jamie Howe : Men’s B Flight net Champion
• Joe Smith : Men’s C Flight net Champion
• Jenna Power : Women’s overall & net Champion

These players have already proven they can perform under pressure, and each will aim to build on last year’s success in pursuit of another championship.

Mill Run Golf Club: A Familiar Stage

Mill Run Golf Club in Uxbridge has a long history with the Public Amateur Championship, having hosted the event nine times, more than any other tournament venue. 

Tournament Director, Mason Cowan, praised the course’s versatility, “The Grist/Wheel rotation ranges from 5,200 to 6,500 yards, accommodating all divisions. It offers players a variety of looks off the tee and into the greens, with challenges that include risk-reward doglegs, elevation changes, and multi-tiered greens.”

With a full field of talented public players, the 2025 Ontario Public Amateur Championship promises two days of exciting golf at Mill Run.

Stay Connected  

For full tournament results and leaderboards: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/11301121073539500252

For updates, highlights, and live scoring throughout the tournament, follow along @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook  

The final round of the 55th Ontario Public Amateur Championship presented by Baka Mobile from Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club saw interesting finishes all around.

The men’s Gross and ‘A’ Flight divisions were won by none other than Tangle Creek’s very own Josh Taylor, who had two very impressive rounds of play, shooting 2-under-par-70 yesterday and 4-under-par-68 today.

Taylor finished nine strokes ahead of runner-up, Brett Wira of London and 11 ahead of Toronto’s Paul Sobottka in both ‘A’ Flight and total Gross play. Overall, Taylor shot 138-6-under-par in both competitions while Wira shot 147 and Sobottka 149.

Jenna Power of Hornby Glen Golf Course captured both the women’s Gross and Net titles, shooting 87-par in Net play in the final round to finish two strokes ahead of runner-up, Loren Gabel of Cambridge.

Power shot 85-97 for a two-day total of 182 in gross play and 75-87 for 162 in net competition. Meanwhile, Gabel shot 92-86 for 178 in Net and 95-89 for 184 overall.

In the ‘B’ Flight division, Glencoe’s Jamie Howe took the reigns on the back of an impressive final round, where he shot 68-4-under-par in B Flight Net to finish six strokes ahead of Mike Vieira of Whitby. In Gross play, Howe shot 79 in the final round and both he and Vieira shot a two-day total of 159 in the overall competition.

The ‘C’ Flight division was decided in a playoff, where Joseph Smith of Alliston knocked off Whitby’s Steve Stone. Stone shot 72-even-par in C Flight Net play in the final round, which allowed him to rally from five strokes behind to allow a playoff. In the end, Smith, who shot 75-par in Net competition in the second round, prevailed after a nine-hole grind.

CLICK HERE for all final results.

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The 2024 Ontario Public Amateur Championship presented by Baka Mobile heads to Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club August 29 – 30.

The event will see 109 public golfers, the most in Ontario Public Amateur Championship history, compete in four sperate flighted divisions.

The men will play in three flighted divisions—the ‘A’ flight division will compete in Gross competition, while flights ‘B’ and ‘C’ play in net competition with the option for ‘B’ flight golfers to compete in the overall championship. The women will compete in their own division, with both gross and net competitions.

Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club is no stranger to hosting Golf Ontario championships, having previously hosted events such as the 2019 Ontario Junior Boys Championship and last year’s Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship.

First played in 1958, the Ontario Public Amateur Championship has provided great opportunities for public players of either the Golf Ontario Public Player Program and of semi-private golf courses to compete in a competitive tournament with gross and net flights. This allows high-handicap players to compete with players in their handicap grouping.

Past champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Famer Dave Bunker (2009, 2010), Robert Mclean (2021), Arnold Johnson (2011, 2015), Peter Willis (2014), Gail Pimm (2015) and Nobelle Park (2022).

Both rounds will see morning tee-offs between 8-9:30 a.m. and afternoon times between 12:30-2 p.m., each on first and 10th tees.

CLICK HERE for all first-round pairings and start times.

PLAYERS

Notable players include:

Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club’s own, Bradley Greenside, who won the 2023 Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions.

Defending men’s Ontario Public Amateur champion, Paul Sobottka.

Michael Naus, who won the 2022 Ontario Men’s Public Amateur Championship.

QUOTES

Rob Watson, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Public Amateur Championship has served as a great opportunity for public players across the province to play in a competitive field. With about 110 players making up the field, as well as a course that brings plenty of hole-by-hole challenges in Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club, competition at this year’s event promises to be fierce.”

Richard Edmonds, General Manager – Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club: “It’s an honor and pleasure to be able to host such a prestigious event at our club. Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the experience this week will be world class. The course is in immaculate shape and will test all golfers’ abilities. I would like to thank Golf Ontario and all the Volunteers that have dedicated their time to organizing this event.”

FAST FACTS

Championship Venue: Tangle Creek Golf & Club

Championship Dates: August 29 – 30

Field: 107 players (‘A’ Flight: 42,  ‘B’ Flight: 36,  ‘C’ Flight: 27  Women’s Overall: 2)

Format: 36-hole, stroke play

Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Public Amateur Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)

Fun Fact: Mill Run Golf Club in Uxbridge has hosted the Ontario Public Amateur Championship nine times, a tournament record.

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X