Todd Fanning rallies to win Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in playoff
(Josh Schaefer/ Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
REGINA, Sask. – Todd Fanning shot a 2-under-par 69 on his way to winning the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at The Wascana Country Club on Friday.
The 49-year-old from Winnipeg, Man., captured gold-medal honours in both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master division to capture his third career national amateur competition.
“What an amazing week,” he said, on the first green and final playoff hole. “I won a couple Canadian Juniors back in the mid 80s and to win another provincial and then follow that up with a national title is a dream come true for me at 49,” said Fanning, who captured consecutive Canadian Junior Boys Championships in 1985-86.
Fanning, who also won the 2017 Manitoba Mid-Amateur, won after a four-hole playoff against three-time champion Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) and 54-hole leader Steven Diack (Coquitlam, B.C.), who entered the final round leading Fanning by five strokes and Rank by eight.
After the group made the turn, Rank and Fanning aggressively closed the gap.
“That was amazing,” said Fanning. “When I saw Rank drive it on the 10th green I knew he was going to come guns a blazing. After that, he and Diack were trading birdies and I was kind of just getting dragged along, but luckily I got a big break when I birdied 18 to force the playoff.”
“The last hour and a half I sunk every putt I looked at and that’s how you have to win.”
Prior to the playoff, the final group approached the final tee with Rank and Diack tied at 10 under par and Fanning sitting one stroke back. The co-leaders both missed the green with their second shots and Fanning found the fringe to set up an eagle opportunity.
Diack came within inches of holing out a chip for birdie which would have won the tournament in regulation, and moments later Fanning thought he had the win as his eagle putt skimmed the lip of the hole – Fanning had his arms in the air and was walking the putt in when he realized it missed.
“I hit the best putt I had all day, it was kind of breaking right and just skimmed the edge and stayed out,” he said. “Hands were up I was walking it in. I gave it the curse but after that I settled down and in the playoff hit some good shots.”
Diack was the most consistent golfer in the field through three rounds, but during the final round he shot a 3-over-par 74, his only round over par during the championship.
“It was pretty crazy,” said Diack. “Those guys came on strong. They both played such good rounds of golf today and under pressure they hit such good shots. I could feel them coming and I was kind of going the opposite way.”
“Obviously I would have loved to take it today, but it was such a good experience to go down the stretch with those guys and get in a playoff. It was lots of fun.“
Both Diack and Fanning registered birdies during the first playoff hole while Rank settled for par and was knocked out of the tournament. The two remaining golfers both had opportunities to win the championship over the next three holes, but it was the 49-year-old who bested the 25-year-old with an eight-foot putt for par.
Rank had the most impressive round of the day after he shot a 5-under-par 66. The 29-year-old won the championship in each of the last three years and made a stellar effort to become the first person to ever win four times in a row.
For much of the day, it looked like a two-horse race between Fanning and Diack, but Rank aggressively chipped away at the lead on the back nine where he made five birdies.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, Fanning receives an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
On Wednesday, Team Ontario defended their inter-provincial title after they defeated the hometown favourite Team Saskatchewan in a playoff that secured the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy for the third straight year.
Diack holds lead heading to final round at Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship
(Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
Steven Diack continued his stellar play after shooting a 4-under-par 67 during the third round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the Wascana Country Club on Thursday.
The Coquitlam, B.C., native bought himself some breathing room on the leaderboard when he drained a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth hole, causing the crowd following the final group to erupt into a chorus of cheers. The 25-year-old then carded his second eagle of the day on the par-5 18th hole securing himself a five-stroke lead heading to the final day.
“I’m so happy just to play through today and finish with the score I did,” he said, walking out of the scoring tent. “I’m just going to stick to the game plan I’ve had the last three days and count on my ball striking which has what got me through the last three days.”
Diack has been consistently dominant through three rounds posting scores of 67-66-67, while limiting himself to just five bogeys and racking up a collection of 14 birdies and two eagles.
Todd Fanning, from Winnipeg, Man., stunned the rest of the field after he shot a 6-under-par 65 – matching the tournament low set by Charles Fitzsimmons in round 1 – in gusts of wind reaching upwards of 53 km/h.
The 49-year-old notched only one bogey back on the second hole and carded five birdies heading down the stretch on the back nine.
“I felt the first two rounds like I didn’t putt very well and was leaving a lot out there and today was the opposite,” said Fanning. “Everything I looked at seemed to go in from the fifth hole on. It was just one of those days where the hole looked like a bucket and you have to take advantage when that happens.”
The round moves Fanning into solo possession of second place at 8 under par, and gives him a huge lead in the mid-master division where he is up by 11 strokes. Dwight Reinhart (Renfrew, Ont.), who played in the same group as Fanning on Thursday, is second in the mid-master division and Regina’s Ryan McNall is third at 4 over par.
After Fanning tapped in his final birdie on 18, Reinhart dropped to his knees to salute the round that he had just witnessed.
“That’s probably the best round of golf I’ve ever seen,” said Reinhart. “He played his shots so precisely through the wind, the veteran in him just took over. Anytime he needed to make a putt it went in, it was unbelievable. It got to the point where I was just watching him and forgetting about what I was doing.”
Rounding out the final group is Garrett Rank, the three-time defending champion from Elmira, Ont., who shot the only other round under par on Thursday. Rank birdied the final hole to move him to 1 under on the day and 5 under for the tournament.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2017 champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Diack takes lead at Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship after round 2
(Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
REGINA, Sask. – Steven Diack shot a 5-under-par 66 to take the lead at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana Country Club on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., improved on his opening-round 67 and carded seven birdies and two bogeys and moved to 9 under par for the tournament.
“My whole game was pretty good today,” he said. “My driver is by far the best point in my game. The putter was a little cold early but then I started to make some putts coming in, but I think I hit 17 greens yesterday and 17 greens today, so overall ball striking has been pretty solid.”
Diack, who is playing in his last amateur event before turning professional, has only registered three
bogeys through two rounds.
Daniel Brown from Grand Folks, B.C., registered five birdies and two bogeys en route to a 3-under-par 68 and 8 under par total score. The 2009 B.C. Men’s Amateur champion has landed himself in second place, one stroke back of the leader.
The 18-hole leader Charles Fitzsimmons carded a 70 to finish 1 under par on the day and move to 7 under on the tournament. The London, Ont., product made five birdies and four bogeys one day after shooting a bogey-free 65 and sits in third place, two strokes back of Diack.
“I made a couple of putts yesterday that I missed today,” Fitzsimmons said. “That was the main difference. I got a couple of bad bounces where I was put in an unfortunate situation, but that’s golf. For the most part it was just a couple of bad swings that yesterday I would have got away with.”
The three-time defending champion Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) posted a one-under par 70 to move him into a tie for fourth with two-time champion Kevin Carrigan (Victoria, B.C.) who shot an even-par 71. The pair are 4 under on the tournament.
Check out all the shots from the first two rounds of the #CDNMidAm at the @The_Wascana
Team Ontario defended their inter-provincial title after they defeated the home-town favourite Team Saskatchewan in a playoff that secured the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy for the third straight year.
Fitzsimmons forced the playoff after he landed his second shot on the par-5 18th in the greenside bunker. After his sand shot landed within three feet of the hole, Fitzsimmons converted the birdie and the two teams met on the first tee to determine a winner.
Saskatchewan jumped out to the early lead in the playoff as the first group consisting of Jim Born (Lloydminster, Alta.), Tyler Wright (Regina, Sask.) and Dave Bunker (Brampton, Ont.) shot par, bogey, bogey, respectively, leaving the door open for Brad Phelps (Saskatoon, Sask.) to secure the win.
In the second and final group, Phelps’ and David Lang’s (Toronto, Ont.) drives found the middle of the fairway while Fitzsimmons pushed his tee shot into the water on the right of the fairway. Fitzsimmons ended the playoff with a bogey while both Phelps and Lang were on the green lining up their birdie putts.
Phelps put his putt five feet past the hole while Lang nailed a clutch 20-foot putt and posted the only birdie of the playoff. Phelps missed his opportunity to force a second playoff hole after he pushed his putt right, securing the victory for Team Ontario.
In the Mid-Master division, Todd Fanning from Winnipeg, Man., jumped to the top of the leaderboard after he carded a 2-under-par 70 for the second consecutive day. Dwight Reinhart (Renfrew, Ont.) and Ryan McNall (Regina, Sask.) sit one stroke back in T2 at 1 under par.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2017 champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Fitzsimmons leads Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship after round 1
(Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
Charles Fitzsimmons shot a 6-under-par 65 to lead the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship after round one at Wascana Country Club on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old from London, Ont., who started on the back nine, stayed bogey-free on the day and carded four of his six birdies in his final six holes of the day.
“I hit the ball really, really well and I was able to make some putts,” he said, after walking off the ninth green. “When I got into some trouble I was fortunate to be in a good enough spot to recover and even made a couple birdies doing so. So, that’s always a bonus.”
Daniel Brown, from Grand Folks, B.C., shot a 5-under-par 66 to sit alone in second, one stroke back of Fitzsimmons. The 34-year-old jumped to the top of the leaderboard after he hit a nine-iron from 150 yards out on the 12th hole to hole out for an eagle.
“I just hit a half-nine-iron and it took one bounce up and spun a little bit to the left and just went right into the hole. Making an eagle always helps and after that I told myself to just hit fairways and keep it in play, hit the greens and you’re bound to make another putt.”
Brown made his fifth and final birdie of the day on the following hole and limited himself to two bogeys on the day, both on the front nine.
Kevin Carrigan from Victoria, B.C., Kevin Fawcett from Toronto, Ont., and Steven Diack from Coquitlam, B.C., shot matching 4-under-par 67’s to sit at T3. All three played consistent golf through the day. Diack carded one bogey on his scorecard while Carrigan and Fawcett recorded two.
Brad Phelps and defending champion Garrett Rank are three strokes off the leader after they both finished at 3 under par. Rank, who has won the event in each of the last three years, registered seven birdies throughout the day but struggled on the first and 10th hole where he tallied a double-bogey on each, his only two holes over par.
Phelps, a 52-year-old from Saskatoon, Sask., leads the over-40 Mid-Master division by one stroke. Chris Henri from Beaconsfield, Que., sits in second at 2 under par, and Todd Fanning from Winnipeg, Man., holds onto third after his 1-under par 70.
Defending champion Team Ontario leads the inter-provincial competition largely due to Fitzsimmons’ low-round of the day. Fellow teammates Dave Bunker (Brampton, Ont.) and David Lang (Toronto, Ont.) have Ontario at the top of the leaderboard by one stroke at 3 under par.
“It’s a really cool part of this tournament,” said Fitzsimmons. “In golf there isn’t a lot of opportunity to play as a team, so getting to play in that format here is a little bit extra special. We won last year and we would love to defend but just being in contention is an honour and a joy so it will be fun to go out there and play for it tomorrow.”
Teams Manitoba and Saskatchewan are tied in second at 2 under par.
Bunker, who won this event three years in a row from 2008-2010, shot a 3-over-par 74 and sits T42.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2017 champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Wascana Country Club to host Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship
(Wascana Country Club)
Golf Canada
Amateur golfers over the age of 25 will gather for the 31st playing of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana Country Club from Aug. 22-25.
The field of 156 amateur golfers will navigate the course that is stretched out along the winding shoreline of the Wascana Creek. Established in 1911, the Wascana Country Club offers a peaceful wetland setting and identifies as one of the premier golf courses in Saskatchewan.
“We are truly honoured to host this prestigious tournament here at Wascana,” said Greg Dukart, CEO of Wascana Country Club. “We look forward to challenging this strong field with our ‘wetlands’ golf course, in addition to showcasing what the city of Regina has to offer.”
Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que., captured the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title seven times between 1987 and 2002. He is among a group of five other players who have captured this championship on multiple occasions, including 2014, 2015 and 2016 winner Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.
“The Mid-Amateur is a great opportunity for Canadian amateurs to find success and experience on a national stage and we are excited to bring this talented field to Wascana,” said Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna. “The course is beautiful and in great condition to draw out some exciting competition.”
In 2016, Rank finished at 19 under par to claim a six-stroke victory at Golf Château-Bromont for his third consecutive victory at the event. He became the third person to win the tournament three years in a row along with Dave Bunker (2008-2010) and Graham Cooke (2000-2002). Rank will look to become the first ever champion to win four consecutive titles.
The first round will take place on Aug. 25 and the field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the final two rounds.
The championship was first contested in 1987 and includes an inter-provincial competition which is held over the first 36 holes. In addition, the championship includes a Mid-Master competition for players over the age of 40 that runs concurrently with the tournament.
Team Ontario will attempt to defend its title in the inter-provincial team competition, and a new winner will try to win the 40-and-over Mid-Master division. Rob Couture, who won the division last year, will not be competing.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2017 champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Additional information about the tournament, including the full field and tee-times is available here.
Garrett Rank captures third consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title
Garrett Rank (Charles Laberge/ Golf Canada)
BROMONT, Que. – Garrett Rank conquered strong winds at Golf Château-Bromont to claim his third consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title with a 19-under 269 final score to earn entry into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open.
The product of Elmira, Ont., surged up the leaderboard, beginning with a 7-under 65 showing on moving day. That momentum carried into the final round of competition with Rank carding three birdies on the front nine to quickly separate himself from third-round co-leader Jordan Irwin.
“I got off to another nice start,” said Rank. “I hit a close shot on 6 and missed a three-footer for eagle which would have been a dream. I got a little sloppy through 8 and 9, but started to play really well again on the back nine – great last two days.”
The 28-year-old NHL referee bogeyed the 8th hole, but rebounded with four birdies across the back nine en route to a 5-under 67. The win is Rank’s third Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur victory in as many years, and it has earned him an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open hosted by Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 24 to 30.
“It’s always special winning a national championship and to win it three times in a row is a huge honour,” said the Team Canada National Amateur Squad alumnus. “My goal for this week was to come here and win and get back into the [RBC] Canadian Open and I accomplished that. No matter the score, no matter what happened this week, I’m really pleased with how it went. I’m happy to be a national champion again and get the privilege of playing in the Open.”
Rank finished with a T77 result at the 2016 edition of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey.
Ryan Sevigny of Stittsville, Ont., who began the day in a tie for 15th, shot 8-under 64 to match Golf Château-Bromont’s course record and catapult into a share of second. The 27-year-old carded seven birdies across his first 16 holes before an eagle on the par-5 17th moved Sevigny into the runner-up position alongside 54-hole leader Jordan Irwin.
Irwin of Banff, Alta., made consecutive bogeys on his first two holes, but birdied Nos. 6 and 9 to move within two strokes of Rank heading into the turn. Despite an additional birdie on the final stretch, the 2016 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur champion finished at 13-under 275.
Rob Couture made a push for the Mid-Amateur title after matching the course record during the third round of competition. The 41-year-old was 2-over through his first 15 holes, but a trio of birdies to end the day earned the Dallas native the 40-and-over Mid-Master title at 8-under 280.
Three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Dave Bunker of Woodbridge, Ont., looked to reclaim his 2015 Mid-Master title after leading the division through 54-holes, but was disqualified for signing the wrong score card.
Matthew Sim (Oakville), Ryan Kings (Kitchener) and Charles Fitzsimmons (London) combined to finish 15-under 273 in the inter-provincial team competition – contested over the first 36-holes – to claim a second consecutive victory for Ontario.
Additional information from the tournament can be found here.
Rank catches Irwin in chase for third consecutive Men’s Mid-Amateur title
Garrett Rank (Taylor Craig/ Golf Canada)
BROMONT, Que. – Winds gave way to a light drizzle at Golf Château-Bromont as defending champion Garrett Rank shot a third-round 7-under 65 to claim a share of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur lead alongside Jordan Irwin.
Rank of Elmira, Ont., began his climb from fourth place following a consecutive trio of birdies on holes 2 to 4 to make the turn at 3-under.
“I played really well today. My putter was hot really early,” said Rank. “I missed three chances on 6, 7, and 8 which cooled the round down, but I finished with an eagle and a birdie, so that was fun.”
The 28-year-old collected birdies on holes 11 and 13, but lost the lead with a bogey on No 15. An eagle on the par-5 17th followed by a birdie on No. 18 pushed Rank into a share of the lead at 14-under 202. The University of Waterloo alumnus won this event back-to-back in 2014 and 2015, and is determined to earn his third-straight exemption into the RBC Canadian Open.
“I’m going to be really aggressive again tomorrow. For me in this event, I’m either first or I’m last. You get the [RBC] Canadian Open exemption if you win, so finishing second or sixth, it doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, I’ll be playing for first place.”
Coming off a commanding second-round 7-under performance, Irwin faltered early with bogeys on holes 2 and 8. The 36-hole leader from Banff, Alta., carded four birdies through the back nine to finish the day 2-under.
A six-birdie day propelled Mattoon, Ill., native Derek Meinhart into sole possession of third, while Nashville’s Joseph Deraney registered a bogey-free 66 to follow in fourth at 9-under alongside Woodbridge, Ont., native Dave Bunker.
In addition to his three Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur titles, Bunker was also crowned the 2015 Mid-Master champion at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S. The 51-year-old currently leads the 40-and-over division by one stroke.
Matthew Sim (Oakville), Ryan Kings (Kitchener) and Charles Fitzsimmons (London) combined to finish 15-under 273 in the inter-provincial team competition – contested over the first 36-holes – to claim a second consecutive victory for Ontario.
The 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open hosted by Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 24 to 30.
The final round of competition will see the first groups tee off from holes 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m.
Additional information from the tournament can be found here.
Ontario defends Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur team title
Charles Fitzsimmons, Matthew Sim and Ryan Kings (Taylor Craig/ Golf Canada)
BROMONT, Que. – The second day of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship saw Team Ontario capture the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy after reclaiming their province’s 2015 team title with a 15-under 273 showing. Team Alberta’s Jordan Irwin carded a 65 through persistent winds at Golf Château-Bromont to sit alone atop the leaderboard.
Matthew Sim (Oakville) led the Ontario contingent – including Ryan Kings (Kitchener) and Charles Fitzsimmons (London) – with a 5-under 67 performance.
“It’s my first time on Team Ontario and it’s just been so much fun. It’s nice to bring this title back,” said Sim, a University of Waterloo alumnus. “Playing with a team is different because there’s a little more pressure behind it that you definitely feel, but it’s just like university golf.”
The 29-year-old recorded a single bogey through his six-birdie day to sit T2 at 8-under in the individual standings alongside 18-hole co-leader Jacob Peterson of Montréal.
Kings carded a bogey-free 68 to claim a share of fourth at 7-under alongside Philip Arci (Vaughan, Ont.) and two-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.). The 39-year-old Kings enjoyed the novelty of representing his home province alongside the people against whom he typically competes.
“I’ve never played on a golf team before so it’s nice to form some camaraderie with the guys. I loved representing Ontario and I hope I can do it again next year.”
First-round co-leader Jordan Irwin (Banff) shot 65 to lead Team Alberta to a runner-up result. Irwin and teammates Paul Briske (Calgary) and Gerry MacDonald (Chestermere) finished five strokes behind the leaders with a combined 10-under 278.
Irwin recovered quickly from a bogey on his first hole with a trio of birdies through Nos. 3 to 8 and an eagle on the par-5 9th. A 3-under back nine vaulted the 2016 Alberta Mid-Amateur champion into a four-stroke advantage in the overall standings at 12-under 132.
“I didn’t hit the ball as well as I would have liked, but my putter was solid and my misses were pretty good,” said the 31-year-old. “I didn’t think about the cut all day, which is rare. I’m just going to keep trying to play well, work hard at every shot and enjoy it.”
Three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Dave Bunker of Woodbridge, Ont., and Darren Shaw of Stoney Creek, Ont., lead the 40-and-over Mid-Master division at 6-under 138. Bunker claimed the Mid-Master title in 2015 at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S.
The 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open hosted by Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 24 to 30.
A total of 70 players finished 149-or-better to advance to the final two rounds of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The third round will see the first groups tee off from holes 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m.
Additional information from the tournament can be found here.
Montréal’s Jacob Peterson and Banff’s Jordan Irwin share Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur lead
Jacob Peterson (Taylor Craig/ Golf Canada)
BROMONT, Que. – Clear skies and mountain winds at Golf Château-Bromont welcomed competitors to the first round of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. At 5-under 67, Montréal’s Jacob Peterson holds a one-stroke lead alongside Jordan Irwin of Banff, Alta.
Peterson took off from the 10th tee with the morning wave and moved into quick possession of the lead with three birdies through holes 12 to 15 and an eagle on the par-5 17th.
“It was a pretty windy morning, but I managed pretty well,” said Peterson. “It honestly helped me at some points. I got some good breaks, I made some good putts and I holed-out from a bunker.”
The 25-year-old Concordia University Stinger, who is competing for the first time at this national championship, birdied No. 2, but settled for a bogey on the par-4 5th hole. A birdie on his final hole solidified Peterson’s 67.
“I was pretty lucky to get the morning draw today, so hopefully it’s not too windy tomorrow afternoon. 5-under is hard to beat, but there are a lot of golfers out here, so I’ll just try to do the same thing tomorrow.”
The 31-year-old Irwin also began his round on the back nine, collecting a birdie on the 14th hole followed by a trio across holes 16 to 18. A final push with birdies on Nos. 1 and 8 nudged Irwin into his share of the lead.
Three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Dave Bunker of Woodbridge, Ont., put himself in good position to defend his 2015 40-and-over Mid-Master title with a 4-under 68. The 51-year-old sits T3 in the overall competition with Vaughan, Ont., native Philip Arci, Brandon Markiw of Edmonton and Calgary’s Dustin Yeager.
The team representing Ontario – consisting of Charles Fitzsimmons (London), Ryan Kings (Kitchener) and Matthew Sim (Oakville) – lead the inter-provincial team competition which takes place concurrently with the first two rounds of stroke-play. The trio combined for a two-stroke lead at 6-under 138 as they look to defend their province’s 2015 title.
Team Quebec’s Sebastien Levasseur (Nicolet), Alain Dufresne (Deux-Montagnes) and Dwight Reinhart (Renfrew, Ont.) follow closely in second at 4-under 140.
In addition to the 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open hosted by Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 24 to 30.
The second round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will see the first wave tee off from holes 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m., followed by the second wave from Nos. 1 and 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Additional information from the tournament can be found here.
Golf Château-Bromont set for Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship
Golf Château-Bromont
BROMONT, Que. – The 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be contested at Golf Château-Bromont from August 23 to 26. The nation’s top amateur golfers aged 25-and-over will vie for the title and an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
The Howard Watson and Graham Cooke designed par-72 course boasts a challenging layout with a breathtaking view of Mount Brome.
“Our course was designed by the first Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion and a true legend in our sport. We could not be more honoured to host this tournament,” said Host Club Tournament Chair Martin Ducharme.
Cooke of Hudson, Que., captured the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title seven times between 1987 and 2002. He is among a group of five other players who have captured this championship on multiple occasions, including 2014 and 2015 winner Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.
“The Mid-Am is such a great opportunity for Canadian amateurs to find success and experience on a national stage and we are excited to bring this talented field to Bromont,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock. “The course is beautiful and in great condition to draw out some exciting competition.”
A total of 38 players on the World Amateur Golf Rankings will be in attendance, led by World No. 118 Rank. The two-time champion claimed a seven-stroke victory at this national event in 2015 at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S., and is coming off a T77 performance at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open and a T9 showing at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The 28-year-old will be joined by three returning champions from the past five years.
Woodbridge, Ont., native Dave Bunker claimed three consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur titles from 2008-10, and claimed runner-up honours in 2015. The 51-year-old will also look to defend his 2015 Mid-Masters title in the competition’s 50-and-over division.
Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas emerged victorious in 2011 at Coppingwood Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont., before collecting Top-5 finishes in each of the three following years.
Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan will compete in the national championship in which he claimed victory in 2012 at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf & Country Club. The 30-year-old successfully defended the title in 2013 and will look to improve upon a T9 result from 2015.
Returning alongside Rank and Bunker are Michel Landry of Saint John, N.B., Michael Rutgers from Windsor, Ont., and Winnipeg’s Justin McDonald to form the Top-5 from 2015.
Golf Château-Bromont members Anthony Marandola of Bromont, Que., and Anthony Jacques of Granby, Que., will represent the host club. 2016 Quebec Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Sébastien Levasseur will also be in attendance. The product of Nicolet, Que., is eighth on the Quebec order of Merit and the highest-ranked local in the field.
Team Ontario will attempt to defend its title in the inter-provincial team competition which will take place over the first 36-holes of the championship. The 50-and-over Mid-Masters division will be contested concurrently with the tournament.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2016 champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Additional information about the tournament, including the full field and tee-times is available here.
