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.
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.
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.
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.
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. – Garrett Rank successfully defended his Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title at the 2015 edition of the national championship. Hosted by Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S., Rank led wire-to-wire and completed his title defence with a final-round of 1-under 69 to finish 3-under 277 in the competition.
“This means a lot to me. I worked really hard on my game this summer,” reflected the champion. “To win another national championship feels really good. I played solid again today and gave myself a lot of chances. I was just really steady.”
The native of Elmira, Ont., opened with an even-par 36 across the front nine and totaled four birdies on the day. With the victory, Rank has captured his second consecutive President’s Cup as Canadian Mid-Amateur champion, following a thrilling 2014 playoff victory. He joins a list of five past champions who have claimed more than one title at this event.
“This championship allows you to meet the different guys and hear their stories,” said Rank. “Playing with Dave (Bunker) again was nice. There are guys here like Graham Cooke who has won this tournament seven times. It’s great to play against those guys and then also learn what they do and where they come from.”
The 27-year-old has earned his way into the field for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. It will be his second foray into Canada’s National Open Championship after playing in the 2015 edition by way of last year’s victory in this tournament. The 107th playing of the RBC Canadian Open is slated to take place July 18-24, 2016.
“I’m excited to get back to the RBC Canadian Open,” added the former University of Waterloo Warrior. “Playing this year was a great experience. I’ll be able to play a little more settled next year. I won’t have as many nerves. I know if I play my game and if I play the way that I can play, I can compete out there.”
Finishing in second place was Dave Bunker. The native of Woodbridge, Ont., collected back-to-back birdies on holes 3 and 4 before finishing the day at 2-over 72. Michel Landry of Saint John, N.B., carded three birdies across the back nine to complete the competition in third place at 7-over 287.
With his four-day total of 4-over 284, Bunker captured the over-40 Mid-Master division of the championship. “I had a really good start. I felt really good,” said Bunker, who notched two birdies across his first four holes. “I ran into some trouble on holes 11 and 12. That kind of put me out of the chance to catch Garrett. In the end, a 72 is not a bad round in the wind and in the conditions we played through today.”
This is the seventh Mid-Master title for the 50-year-old. “I feel great about that. It means that I’m playing well because there are so many really good players over 40. To be able to finish second overall is really good. Garrett is a great person, first of all. He’s also a really good player. This is really good for him. He deserves everything he’s getting with the chance to play in the RBC Canadian Open again.”
Bunker finished six-strokes clear of Matlock, Man., product Garth Collings, who completed the tournament with a 1-over 71 showing. Three players finished tied for third at 295 – Calgary’s Kevin Temple; Moncton, N.B., native Stu Musgrave; and Glenn Robinson of Middle Sackville, N.S.
Played concurrently with the first 36 holes of the competition, Team Ontario emerged victorious in the inter-provincial team championship to claim the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy. Garrett Rank and teammates Kevin Fawcett of Toronto and Josh Hunke from New Hamburg, Ont., totaled 5-over 285. Playing in their home province, the members of Team Nova Scotia took runners-up honours with an 8-over 288 score while Team New Brunswick captured third-place at 12-over 292.
Additional information regarding the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship is available here.
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. – Garrett Rank tamed cool temperatures and gusty 47 km/h winds to maintain his lead atop the leaderboard at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The defending champion carded an even-par round to mark his third straight day ahead of the field at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S.
“The weather was tough today. It got really windy in the middle of the round,” said Rank. “But I played good and putted really well again. I made a few good six to 10-footers for par. I gave myself a few more chances today. It was just a solid round altogether.”
Rank registered another steady day, matching a bogey on hole 8 with a birdie on No. 15 to finish at even-par 70. The 27-year-old is four-strokes clear of his nearest competitor. Despite the advantage, Rank maintains a need to stay focused.
“I’m not really going to worry about what other guys are doing and just control what I can control,” added the native of Elmira, Ont. “I’ll just go out there and play against the golf course. I’ll stay patient again and give myself a lot of looks.”
At stake are the President’s Cup as Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion and an exemption into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. Next year’s edition of Canada’s National Open Championship will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
In second place is another competitor familiar with emerging victorious at this competition. Dave Bunker is hoping to return to the winning form he found during three consecutive championships between 2008-10. Bunker tallied four birdies on the day en route to a round of 2-under 68.
“I hit the ball really well considering how windy it was,” said the 50-year-old. “I think anything around par or under-par is going to be a good score today. It was very difficult out there, I think.”
The native of Woodbridge, Ont., reflected positively on his competitors when asked about the possibility of adding a fourth championship. “Another title would be special. Now that the younger guys are playing – and they’re playing very well – if I can put a good round together tomorrow and challenge for first place, that’d be pretty good.”
Paul Raycroft of Humboldt, Sask., completes the top-3 following a round of 2-under 68 to move to 4-over 214 in the competition. The 34-year-old collected five birdies on the day and registered a bogey-free 1-under 33 across the back nine.
At a combined 2-over 212, Dave Bunker leads the over-40 Mid-Master division. A victory would give Bunker a fifth Mid-Master championship following four consecutive titles from 2007 to 2010. He sits seven-strokes clear of 2003 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Garth Collings of Matlock, Man., and Middle Sackville, N.S., product Glenn Robinson.
Team Ontario captured the inter-provincial competition played concurrently with the first two rounds of the tournament. Garrett Rank and teammates Josh Hunke of New Hamburg, Ont., and Toronto’s Kevin Fawcett combined to shoot 5-over 285 to claim the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy by a three-stroke margin. Finishing in second was the team representing the host province while Team New Brunswick completed the competition at 12-over 292.
The final round will see players begin the day at 7:30 a.m. ADT with the leaders teeing off at 9:30 a.m. ADT. Additional information regarding the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship can be found here.
Team Ontario captured the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy as provincial team champions at the 2015 edition of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The three-man unit combined for a total of 5-over 285 at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S.
“When you make the team, the goal is to come here and win,” said team member Garrett Rank. “It’s really nice for me and the guys to bring it back home to Ontario.”
Rank, the competition’s defending champion, reflected on his time together with teammates Kevin Fawcett of Toronto and Josh Hunke from New Hamburg, Ont., as a building block to their victory. “I played with them in the final round at the (Golf Association of Ontario’s Investors Group Men’s) Mid-Amateur so I knew them pretty well. I grew up with Josh’s brother, so I knew his family a little bit better, too. (Kevin and Josh) are nice guys and good players.”
For the past 23 years, provincial teams at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship have contested the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy – awarded to the provincial team with the combined two lowest daily scores through each of the first two rounds of competition.
Finishing in second was the team representing the host province, made up of Dartmouth native Stuart Lenehan, Biblehill product Paul Coulson and Glenn Robinson of Middle Sackville that tallied 8-over 288. In third place with a combined effort of 12-over 292 was another maritime province – Team New Brunswick, comprised of Brett Taylor (Grand Bay-Westfield), Michel Landry (Saint John) and Greg Jones (Berry Mills).
Despite gusty conditions, Rank carded a 3-over 73 to maintain his lead in the individual competition. The 27-year-old’s round was highlighted by three straight birdies on holes 11 to 13.
“It was harder out there today in the wind,” reflected the native of Elmira, Ont. “I made a few mistakes and they cost me a couple of double (bogeys), but I putted really well. It wasn’t a good day, but I managed well out there.”
When asked about his mindset heading into the third round, the former Waterloo Warrior said, “I need to stay patient and give myself more looks. I didn’t give myself too many opportunities today. It seemed like I was working for par a lot more than I was yesterday.”
Kevin Carrigan and Glenn Robinson are knotted for second following identical rounds of 72 and 69. Carrigan from Victoria, B.C., opened with two bogeys on his first nine holes, but recovered with three birdies across the remainder of his round. Likewise, Robinson began the day with a 2-over 38 on the front nine before registering three birdies, including two back-to-back on holes 14 and 15, to complete the day.
With today’s 69, Robinson also took over top spot in the over-40 Mid-Master division. First-round leader Garth Collings of Matlock, Man., moved to second place following a round of 73 that including four birdies. Tied for third with two-day totals of 144 are Allan Stanley of Windsor, Ont., and fellow Ontarian Dave Bunker of Woodbridge.
In addition to claiming the President’s Cup, the winner of the 29th playing of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will earn a coveted exemption into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open to be played at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Advancing to the third round are 78 players who shot 15-over 155 or better. Additional information regarding the tournament can be found here.
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. – Garrett Rank wasted little time in opening his title defence at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Rank was one of three players to register a round below par on the opening day of the nation’s premiere competition for those over 25.
“I was pretty good off the tee today,” reflected the 27-year-old, who tallied five birdies en route to a 5-under 65 performance. “I got it in play and gave myself a lot of chances. I hit a few close and then hit a few really good wedge shots. I tried to give myself as many opportunities as I could from 15 feet all day.”
Rank is the defending champion after claiming the President’s Cup in 2014 following a playoff victory over Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas. The native of Elmira, Ont., recognizes the challenges of playing as a past winner, but likens the experience to the difficulties of participating in the many big events that have highlighted his season.
“There’s a little bit of pressure, but it’s not really anything that’s new or different. There’s pressure playing in the RBC Canadian Open. There’s pressure playing in the Pan Am Games. There’s pressure playing in the U.S. and Canadian Amateurs. You just have to try and take it one shot at a time.”
The former University of Waterloo Warrior remains focused on the task at hand – claiming victory and a prized exemption into the 2016 edition of Canada’s National Open Championship.
“The goal here is to win and get into the RBC Canadian Open again next year,” said Rank. “But you can’t think about that stuff. You’ve just got to worry about playing golf. You just need to stay patient. You can’t try and get too aggressive. If you just keep grinding away and hitting solid shots, hopefully some good scores will follow.”
Sitting with a share of second is another competitor looking to build upon his legacy at this championship – Garth Collings of Matlock, Man. The 57-year-old, who won this competition in 2003, opened with three birdies across a bogey-free front nine and would go on to finish 1-under on the day. Tyler Wright of Regina, Sask., notched three birdies to also end the first day of competition tied for runner-up.
With his round of 69, Collings leads the over-40 Mid-Master division. Woodbridge, Ont., product Dave Bunker’s 18 even-par holes has him in second. The 50-year-old is a three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion, having collected three consecutive titles from 2008-2010. Stony Plain, Alta., native Jeff Murdoch is in third at 1-over 71.
Team Ontario leads the inter-provincial competition that is played concurrently with the first 36 holes of the tournament. Comprised of Garrett Rank, New Hamburg, Ont., native Josh Hunke and Toronto’s Kevin Fawcett, the trio registered a combined score of 3-under 137 to lead by five strokes.
In second place totaling 142 is Team Alberta made up of Jeff Murdoch, Kevin Temple (Calgary) and Brandon Markiw (Edmonton). Rounding out the top-three is the host province – Team Nova Scotia. The efforts of Stuart Lenehan (Dartmouth, N.S.), Paul Coulson (Biblehill, N.S.) and Glenn Robinson (Middle Sackville, N.S.) have the hosts at 4-over 144. British Columbia, which hoisted the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy in 2014 as team champions, currently sits T6 at 148.
Following the two opening rounds of play, the field will be reduced to the low 70 competitors and ties.
For more information regarding the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please visit the tournament website.
The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Canada’s premiere competition for amateur golfers over 25, will make its way to Abercrombie Golf & Country Club from August 24-28.
“Golf Canada is looking forward to returning a national championship to Nova Scotia,” said Tournament Director Russell Mackay. “It is always a pleasure to bring competitions to golf fans across the entire country. The course is in great shape and will provide our competitors with an excellent challenge.”
The town of New Glasgow, N.S., in the heart of Pictou County is home to Abercrombie Golf & Country Club. Situated among the region’s picturesque woodlands, the course offers scenic backdrops across sprawling fairways and well-groomed greens. Throughout its 96 years, Abercrombie has accumulated a wealth of history and has hosted a number of championships at both the provincial and national levels.
In addition to claiming the President’s Cup as Canadian Mid-Amateur champion, competitors will vie for a prized exemption into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open to be held at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 18-24.
A field of 152 golfers will take to Abercrombie, including defending champion Garrett Rank. The Elmira, Ont., native will continue a busy summer which has included representing Canada at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and competing in his first RBC Canadian Open, as well as, a five-stroke victory at the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Investors Group Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and a T2 finish at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Rank, 27, is currently playing in the U.S. Amateur Championship being hosted by Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.
Joining Rank in the field is a number of players who have seen success at the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship. The competition’s most decorated winner, Graham Cooke, won the first edition of the event in 1987. The Hudson, Que., native followed the performance with six subsequent victories, including a string of three-in-a-row between 2000 and 2002.
Kevin Carrigan will look to become a three-time winner in this competition. The product of Victoria, B.C., registered back-to-back victories in 2012 and 2013. The 29-year-old’s final-round 7-under 65 at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship propelled him into a tie for sixth place.
Woodbridge, Ont., native Dave Bunker is hoping to add a fourth Canadian Mid-Amateur title to his resume after three consecutive victories from 2008-2010. The 50-year-old is coming off his second of back-to-back GAO Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship titles.
Introduced in 2006, the Mid-Master division will be contested by competitors over 40. Darren Shaw of Stoney Creek, Ont., will return to defend his title following his seven-stroke victory in 2014. First contested in 1992, an inter-provincial competition will be played concurrently with the opening two rounds of stroke play for the prestigious R. Bruce Forbes Trophy. Team British Columbia emerged victorious in 2014 with a combined total of 1-over 289 – four strokes clear of Team Alberta.
Following the first 36 holes of play, the field will be reduced to the low-70 competitors and ties. Additional information regarding the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship can be found here.
BARRIE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Garrett Rank rolled in a short birdie putt on the first playoff hole to capture the 2014 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Barrie Country Club.
Rank, 27, finished the championship tied with Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas at 4-under 284 after Couture forced the pair into a playoff by birdieing the par-5 18th hole in regulation.
The pair headed back to No. 18 tee for the first playoff hole, where Rank found the right rough off the tee. He went on to hit a magnificent 3-iron, leaving just 20 feet for eagle, putting the pressure squarely on Couture.
“It wasn’t a great lie, it was advanceable and I knew I could get some club on it,” Rank said. “I just took one extra club and it came out perfect. When it was in the air I knew it was going to be pretty good.”
After Couture’s approach from the fairway came up short, he left his third shot 20 feet below the hole and couldn’t convert his birdie putt after watching Rank’s eagle putt slide by. The stage was then set for Rank who was left with only a tap-in birdie for the victory and a spot in the field at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
“The reason I came here was to win and I was trying to get into the RBC Canadian Open,” Rank said. “Anytime you can win a national championship is a huge honour and I’m glad I pulled it out.”
The Elmira, Ont. native carded rounds of 73-70-69-72 to finish the championship at 4-under 284. His win adds to the list of successes the Team Canada National Amateur Squad program has amassed this season.
“The boys [Team Canada] have been playing really well, we’ve got a lot of trophies to the Golf Canada and Team Canada name in the last couple of years and it’s nice to just add another one my behalf,” he continued.
In the Mid-Master division, second round leader Darren Shaw narrowly missed a spot in the playoff for the overall title after a final round 2-under 70 that left him in solo third. The Stoney Creek, Ont. native ran away with the Mid-Master division finishing seven strokes ahead of Dwight Reinhart of Renfrew, Ont. at 2-under 286.
Complete scoring and results can found online by clicking here.
