Team British Columbia and Team Ontario tied at 6-under in battle for the Willingdon Cup
Saskatoon, Sask. – Tyler Mawhinney and Nathaniel Gray-Lamont lead a crowded leaderboard following opening rounds of 7-under 65 on Monday at the 119th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, co-hosted by Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon, Sask.
Mawhinney, of Fleming Island, Fla. played Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (Saskatoon) in the morning flight for his opening round and bogeyed the opening hole. He quickly made up for it with a birdie on hole no. 2, followed by seven more birdies in his round to take a one-shot lead into the second round. The 16-year-old said he kept the ball in front of him and made some putts when he needed to on Monday with a slight wind to contend with.
“Just playing smart and knowing where the wind is at and using that to guide the ball closer to the hole. I’m from Florida so I get the beach wind so it’s not unusual and I’ve had some rounds under my belt,” said Mawhinney.
Gray-Lamont of Guelph, Ont. played Riverside Country Club (Riverside) in the afternoon and recorded an eagle and five birdies in a bogey-free round to grab a piece of the lead on Monday evening. Gray-Lamont was able to hit a lot of fairways and greens and says that will be key to keep momentum riding tomorrow.
“I really just have to try to do the same thing with the rough being so long, I just need to keep it in the fairway and have opportunities to make birdies,” he added.
Team Canada NextGen member, Cooper Humphreys also played Saskatoon on Monday and finds himself tied for third with Mackenzie Bickell of Richmond, B.C. who played Riverside following rounds of 6-under 66, to both sit one back of the leaders.
Humphreys has enjoyed a successful season having defended his British Columbia Amateur Championship successfully last month at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C. He credited his short game for his solid round on Monday, specifically his wedge play early in the round.
“Picking good targets going into greens, lately I’ve been getting too aggressive trying to go at pins and today I just tried to stay patient and hit to middle greens and it worked out well,” said Humphreys following his round Monday.
The stacked leaderboard includes four golfers tied for third at 5-under including Garrett Rank of Waterloo, Ont. (Riverside), Sam Easterbrook of Tomworth, England (Saskatoon), Maguire Lines of Victoria, B.C. (Saskatoon) and Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C. (Saskatoon).
Defending champion, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. is tied for ninth with four others at 4-under 68. In total 52 players recorded under par rounds on Monday.
In the battle for the Willingdon Cup, Team Ontario and Team British Columbia are tied with a combined score of 6-under. Michael Weber of Burlington, Ont. shot a 4-under 68 while Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. shot 2-under 70 for their scores to count on day one. Team Ontario is also represented by Team Canada NextGen member, Matthew Javier of North York, Ontario. In addition to Humphreys, Team British Columbia consists of Wyatt Brook of Heffley Creek, B.C. who shot an even par 72 and James Fahy of Vancouver, B.C. Team Prince Edward Island sit third at three shots back with the host province, Team Saskatchewan at 2-under.
The first two rounds of this year’s tournament are being contested on both courses with the 264-player field playing each course once. Following the opening 36-holes of the championship, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players plus ties. Wednesday and Thursday’s rounds will both played at Riverside Country Club.
The 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion receives an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. from August 12-18. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship. In addition, the winner will receive $1,200 CAD.
For the leaderboard following the opening round of the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.