BATHURST, N.B. – Peter Detemple and Brady Exber were the only players in the red at the end of the first round of the 2018 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club.

It was a sunny blue bird day with a little wind which was proving to throw off some players, but not Detemple.

“It was a beautiful day, perfect enough breeze for the mosquitoes to keep away. You know, the wind is your friend in golf, you use it. It wasn’t overly windy, it was a normal wind,” said the Vancouver native.

Detemple opened with two birdies on his front nine but struggled with his putter on hole 10 as he made the turn.

“I missed a 12-inch putt on 10, I tapped it in and missed it. I was standing there like ‘what the heck’ that don’t happen,” Detemple laughed.

He didn’t let that stop him. The Lexington Park, MD., resident continued to card two more birdies against two bogeys to finish 1 under.

“I played conservative, I kept it in play today, that was my goal. You don’t want to shoot yourself out,” said the 56-year-old.

Unlike Detemple, Exber had a rough start to the tournament when he arrived in Bathurst, but his clubs did not. Exber was one of many players whose clubs didn’t make it for the practice round, but thankfully arrived just on time for the beginning of the championship.

“I’m really happy, I didn’t have my own clubs until today, so I just didn’t want to get off to a bad start,” said the Las Vegas native. “I wanted to get in the feel of the golf course because I didn’t really know how far the ball was going with my own equipment. It took me a few holes to kind of get going, but I did get off to a good start.”

The 62-year-old had a similar opening round to Detemple recording two birdies. Exber made the turn–also recording a bogey on hole 10 and a birdie on hole 11–and recorded an eagle on hole 14 after a chip-in just off the green.

Two players trail the duo after carding even-par 72s. Ken Griffith of Red Deer, Alta. and Allen Barber of Yorktown, Va., both share third heading into Wednesday’s second round.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Member and 2014 Champion, Doug Roxbough, leads the Super Senior (65 years +) Division by two strokes over Lars Melander from Oakville, Ont. and Mike Hosford from Dieppe, N.B. Roxbough recorded a 2-over-74 in Tuesday’s round.

Defending champions, Team Alberta, has a share of the lead with neighbouring province, Team Saskatchewan, at 4 over. Three strokes back, with a share of third, are Team British Columbia (+7) and Team Ontario (+7).

The 2018 Canadian Men’s SeniorChampion will earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at the Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C., on Aug. 24-29, 2019.

Additional information, including full scores from the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be here.

The 2018 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship heads to Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club for the 57th playing of the event on Sept. 4-7, with a practice round to take place on the 3rd.

“With a field of accomplished senior golfers ready to take on Gowan Brae, the 2018 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship is sure to be an exciting competition,” said Tournament Director Adam Cinel. “Our hosts at Gowan Brae have brought together a great team of volunteers and the course is sure to provide our golfers with a challenging, rewarding experience.”

Designed by Mr. C.E. (Robbie) Robinson, Gowan Brae was established in 1958 as a nine hole venue before it was turned to eighteen holes in 1962. Constructed along the windy shores of the Bathurst Harbour near the Bay of Chaleur, the course features water views from at least 14 different holes throughout.

“Gowan Brae is proud and excited to host the 2018 Canadian Men’s senior Golf Championship. Our staff and volunteer team have been working hard to prepare for the event,” said Gowan Brae Director of Golf Adam Chamberlain. “We hope the players will enjoy the scenery and a good test of golf at Gowan Brae and get a chance to enjoy some maritime hospitality on their trip to the North Shore of New Brunswick.”

A full field of 156 competitors aged 55-and-over will take to Gowan Brae for the 57th playing of this national championship in hopes of joining its list of notable winners. Returning to defend his Canadian Men’s Senior title is Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ill., who shot a final-round 70 to win the event by two strokes.

Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at the Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C., from Aug. 24-29. 

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship will also run concurrently throughout the championship, crowning a champion after 72 holes of play. In 2017, Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., claimed a one-shot victory in the division over Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C. 

An inter-provincial team competition for the Phil Farley Trophy will also be contested over the tournament’s first two rounds. Team Alberta will be looking for their third consecutive inter-provincial title after a 3-over 283 in 2017 gave them a commanding twelve-stroke victory over Team British Columbia.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here.

NOTABLES
Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ill.
The 56-year-old comes in as the event’s defending champion. He has won three titles in 2018 — Golfweek Senior National Match Play, Iowa Masters and George C Thomas Invitational – Senior — in addition to four top-three finishes this season.

Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que.
The 71-year-old is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has won the event four times (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009). Cooke, who helped to renovate the host course, recently won the Championnat Senior Montreal and is one of Canada’s greatest amateur golfers of all time, holding the record number of wins at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship with seven. 

Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga.
The 61-year-old won the event in 2015 and finished T3 last year. In 2018, he won both the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame and the Georgia Senior Match Play Championships.

Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver B.C.
The 2014 winner of the event is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and was the low-Canadian in last year’s tournament after finishing T6. The 66-year-old won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship four times (1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988). He also has the record for most wins at the B.C. Men’s Amateur Championship with 13.

David Schultz of Calgary, Alta.
The 61-year-old won the event in 2013 after making a birdie on the final hole of the tournament. Schultz also won the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Men’s Championship and the Calgary City Amateur Championship – the latter he won five times – earning himself a spot in Calgary’s Golf Hall of Fame.

FAST FACTS 
Conducted since 1962.

Golfers must be 55 and over to be eligible. 

In 1995, the 70 and over Canadian Super Senior division was added and is contested through the first two rounds. For the first time, this competition will be contested over 72 holes.

The inter-provincial competition, which began in 1977, occurs concurrently over the first two rounds.

The champion is awarded the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The winner of the Super Senior division is awarded the Governors Cup.

Calgary’s Bob Wylie has won the event seven times since 1985. 

Nick Weslock won the event six times between 1973 and 1983. 

Paul Simson became the first person to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year in 2010. 

The winner receives an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship. 

ABOUT THE COURSE
Officially opened in 1958 as a nine hole venue; by 1962 the course was open for 18 holes of play.

Designed by Mr. C.E. (Robbie) Robinson. Renovated by seven-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Graham Cooke.

The property was essentially donated to the Bathurst Golf Association by Leach Investments, of Winnipeg.

Hosted four National Championships including the 1998 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur and the 2006 Canadian Junior Girls along with many other provincial and Atlantic competitions.

The 6,700 yard layout features 4 sets off tees to offer a great experience to all skill levels.

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – American Gene Elliott carded an even-par 70 during the final round to claim the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Kanawaki Golf Club and hoist the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The native of West Des Moines, IA, finished at 3-over (283) for the championship, which was good enough for a 2-shot win over third-round leader Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA.

“I am so thrilled – this is tough competition,” said Elliott, who recently competed in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship where he fell in the round of 32. “Senior golf is tough; these guys are good. You win very little in golf at all and when you do it’s very special. To win in Canada, I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Elliott may be new to the senior circuit having just turned 55 in February, but he’s enjoyed a stellar competitive golf career throughout the years. Among his many accomplishments, he’s amassed more than 20 titles in his home state of Iowa and also won the prestigious Porter Cup in 1998.

The veteran had high praises for the host club of Kanawaki.

“I hit the ball well today. I hit a lot of greens this week. I didn’t have many 3-putts,” he added. “But this Kanawaki, it’s a tough little bugger. It looks like you can get after it, but it gets after you. It’s a wonderful place to host a championship.”

With the win, Eliott earns an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from August 25^th to 30^th.

He’s also committed to returning to Canada to defend his title at next year’s Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, which will take place September 4-7 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.

“I can’t wait to get to New Brunswick,” he laughed. “I have no idea where it is or how to get there, but I’ll be there.”

Hanzel, who finished runner-up, never could get things on the right track during Thursday. His 5-over round of 75 included four bogeys, a double bogey and just a single birdie.

A trio of Americans tied for third. Allen Barber of Yorktown, VA, Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC and Jack Hall of Savannah, GA, all finished at 7-over (287).

Doug Roxburgh, an honored member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, was the top Canadian finisher. The Vancouver native finished tied for 6^th at 8-over (288). Roxburgh won the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship in 1970 and Canadian Amateur titles in 1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988. He also claimed the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2014.

Additional information, including complete scoring info for the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – Doug Hanzel edged closer to winning his first Canadian Men’s Senior title on Wednesday, firing his third straight even par 70 at Kanawaki Golf Cub to take a 3-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round.

Following his round today, the Savannah, GA, native gave credit to dialed-in approach shots and club selection off the tee for the lead.

“I could have gone really low on the front nine today; I hit it close to a few pins and made a couple of short putts for birdie to get a couple under early,” said Hanzel, who won the U.S. Senior Amateur title in 2013. “The back was pretty uneventful; I hit it decent. Game plan for tomorrow is to keep doing the same – only hit a couple drivers. You don’t need to hit drivers much here. I went with a lot of rescues and 3-woods and plan on doing the same again.”

Hanzel, who is sitting at even par (210), was the low amateur at the U.S. Senior Open in 2011 and 2012.

Trailing Hanzel by three-shots is Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, IA. The American carded the low round of the tournament Wednesday, a 4-under 66, to climb 14 spots into second at 3 over. (213).

Two additional Americans round out to the top 3. Buzz Fly of Memphis and Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., hold a share of third at 4-over (214).

The winner of this year’s championship will earn an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from August 25^th to 30^th.

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship continues Thursday with the final round beginning at 8 a.m. EDT.

Additional information, including tee times, for the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – The second round of the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship concluded Thursday at Kanawaki Golf Club with Team Alberta emerging as provincial team champions.

The trio of Frank Van Dornick (Camrose, Alta.), Brian Laubman (Edmonton) and Ken Griffith (Red Deer, Alta.) posted a combined second-round score of 1-over 141 to capture the Phil Farley Trophy with a total of 283 (+3).

The squad finished 12-strokes ahead of runner-up Team British Columbia, which was comprised of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh (Vancouver), John Gallacher (Burnaby, BC) and Greg Bismeyer (Mission, B.C.) The team had a two-day total of 295 (+15).

Team Quebec and Team Manitoba finished at 299 (+19) to share third. Quebec’s team was comprised of François Bissonnette (Mirabel, Que.), Danny Turbide (Québec City) and Peter Harrison (Ottawa). Mike Walker (Winnipeg), Garth Collings (Matlock, Man.) and Brent Clague (Winnipeg) represented Manitoba.

In the 65-and-over Super Senior Division, Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC., claimed a one-shot victory over Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C. Simpson carded matching rounds of 71 to finish at 2-over 142 for the victory. With the Super Senior title under his belt, the 65-year-old will now set his sights on another trophy.

“The conditions were a little more difficult today and the wind was blowing, which caused some problems,” said Simson, who in 2010 made history by becoming the first person to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year. “But I’ll take the win. It’s always nice to win something. I’m going to focus over the next two rounds and hopefully I can take home the Senior title, too.”

Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C., was leading the Super Senior category after the first round at even-par, but a 3-over 73 dropped him into second at 3-over 143.

Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta., finished third at 4-over 144.

Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA, took the overall lead in the Senior Division. He’s even for the championship at 140.

“I was very steady all the way around,” said Hanzel, who is the lone player not over par. “I hit 16 greens in regulation today. The greens are tough, you need to nail the speed and the line. But I’ve been putting the ball in good spots. If you don’t, you have some work left to make par.”

Simson and Brian Laubman of Edmonton share second at 2-over 142.

A total of 71 players finished 155-or-better to advance past the 36-hole cut. The third round will begin Wednesday at 8 a.m. EDT.

The winner of this year’s championship will earn an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from August 25^th to 30^th.

Additional information, including tee times, for the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – Allen Barber of Yorktown, Va., fired a blazing 3-under-par 67 Monday to take the opening-round lead at the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Kanawaki Golf Club.

Barber was the lone competitor to break par (70) at Kanawaki on Monday. Following his round, he credited his strategy for tackling Kanawaki’s treacherous greens and some solid putting for the stellar start.

“The golf course is really, really good. One of the best I’ve played and it’s in pristine shape,” said Barber. “But those greens are really tough. My plan for the day was to hit fairways and leave it below the hole. I did that and thankfully I putted well on those greens, too.”

Barber has been enjoying a great summer of competitive amateur golf. He’s amassed four top-5 finishes including a T4 at the prestigious Senior Porter Cup.

Four players trail Barber after carding even-par 70s. Buzz Fly of Memphis, Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA and Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C., all share second heading into Tuesday’s round.

Lundy leads the Super Senior (65 years +) Division by a single-shot over 2010 Canadian Senior Champion Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., after a 71. Another shot back is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Graham Cooke. The Hudson, Que., native, who celebrated his 71st birthday Monday, shot a 2-over 72. Cooke is a four-time winner of the senior title (2001, 2002, 2008 & 2009).

Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. Also contested over the tournament’s first two rounds is an inter-provincial team competition.

Team Alberta, comprised of Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Brian Laubman of Edmonton and Ken Griffith of Red Deer hold the lead after combining for a score of 142 (+2). Team Quebec and Team British Columbia are tied for second five shots back at 147 (+7).

Additional information, including full scores from the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be here.

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – The 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship heads to Kanawaki Golf Club for the 55th playing of the event on Sept. 11-14. A qualifying round will take place at Caughnawaga Golf Club on Friday, Sept. 8 before the championship’s four tournament rounds begin on Sept. 11.

“Golf Canada is thrilled to once again visit Quebec for our national amateur championships,” said tournament director Akash Patel. “It has been our pleasure to partner with these tremendous venues for what is sure to be a fantastic championship. Our hosts at Kanawaki have brought together a great team of volunteers; our players are going to have a wonderful experience.”

Ranked at No. 104 on SCOREGolf’s 2016 Best Courses in Canada 2016 list, Kanawaki Golf Club is one of Quebec’s premier private golf courses. Founded in 1914, the course–designed by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame brothers Albert and Charles Murray–features a challenging layout with lush fairways lined with majestic trees and quick, true greens, and was also where the movie “The Greatest Game Ever Played” was filmed.

A full field of 156 competitors aged 55-and-over from five countries will take to Kanawaki for the 55th playing of this national championship in hopes of joining its list of notable winners. Returning to defend his Canadian Men’s Senior title is Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla., who shot a final-round 70 to win the event by two strokes.

John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C., will play for a second consecutive Super Senior title after capturing the 36-hole, 70-and-over division in 2016. Also contested over the tournament’s first two rounds will be an inter-provincial team competition. Team Alberta finished 4-under 284 in 2016 to claim a dominant nine-stroke victory.

Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Or., from Aug. 25-30.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here, while details from the qualifying competition are available here.

NOTABLES

Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que.
The 70-year-old is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has won the event two times in 2008 and 2009. Cooke is one of Canada’s greatest amateur golfers of all time and holds the record number of wins at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship with seven.

Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver B.C.
The 2014 winner of the event is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. The 65-year-old won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship four times (1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988). He also has the record for most wins at the B.C. Men’s Amateur Championship with 13.

Pierre Archambault of Candiac, Que.
The 73-year-old is a member of the host Kanawaki Golf Club. He was recently inducted into the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame and he won the Quebec Amateur Championship three times (1972, 1979 and 1987). His victories include the 1974 Duke of Kent, the 1983 Alexander of Tunis and the 1987 Spring Open.

Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla.
The 59-year-old comes in as the event’s defending champion. In 2015, he won the Welsh Open Seniors Championship at Nefyn and District on the North Whales coast.

Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta.
Van Dornick finished T3 at the 54th playing of the event and earned low-Canadian honours. He is fresh off a win at the 2017 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Men’s Championship – his fourth win at the event.

Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga.
The 60-year-old won the event in 2015 and finished T7 last year. On Aug. 21 he won the Golfweek Senior Match Play Championship at Tobacco Road Golf Club in N.C.

David Schultz of Calgary, Alta.
The 60-year-old won the event in 2013 after making a birdie on the final hold of the tournament. Shultz also won the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Men’s Championship and the Calgary City Amateur Championship – the latter he won five times – earning himself a spot in Calgary’s golf Hall of Fame.

FAST FACTS

Conducted since 1962.

Golfers must be 55 and over to be eligible.

In 1995, the 70 and over Canadian Super Senior division was added and is contested through the first two rounds.

The inter-provincial competition, which began in 1977, occurs concurrently over the first two rounds.

The champion is awarded the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The winner of the Super Senior division is awarded the Governors Cup.

Calgary’s Bob Wylie has won the event seven times since 1985.

Nick Weslock won the event six times between 1973 and 1983.

Paul Simon became the first person to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year in 2010.

The winner receives and exemption into the 2018 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Kanawaki Golf Club.

Par 70.

Founded in 1914.

Ranked at No. 104 in SCOREGolf’s 2016 list of Canada’s best golf courses.

Kanawaki hosted the 1929 RBC Canadian Open, won by legend Leo Diegel.

The Disney movie “The Greatest Game Ever Played”, starring Shia LaBeouf, and based on the true story of Francis Ouimet and the 1913 US Open, was filmed at Kanawaki in 2004.

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – Brilliant sunshine and high temperatures welcomed Michael Mercier to the final round of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Grand Niagara Golf Club. The Juno Beach, Fla., native fought through the intense heat to claim Canada’s national senior title.

Mercier began the day with a share of first alongside Dave Schultz of Calgary, but a five-birdie, 2-under 70 propelled him to victory.

“Today, I didn’t quite strike the ball as well as I was striking it the first three days. The first three days, I hit the ball very well, only missed a few greens over a total of three days, but I struggled a little bit putting. Today, I didn’t hit it that well, but I kind of figured out my putter last night on the practice green. I got the stroke and it freed up a little today. I putted much better today and I hit it good enough to get by.”

The 58-year-old is the tournament’s 54^th champion. With frequent visits to Canada and a number of ties to the country, Mercier spoke fondly of being its newest senior champion.

“It means a lot because Canada is somewhat dear to my heart since my great-grandfather came from here,” reflected the winner. “And apparently, I still have many cousins out there named Mercier up in the Montreal area that I’m related to. Because of that and the great spirit of the Canadian people, [my wife] Andrea and I, when we come up here every summer, it’s a real pleasure to come here. Because of that, Canada is more than just a stop for me to play golf in a great national championship, it’s like a second home to me.”

In addition to claiming the national senior title, Mercier has earned entry into the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested from September 17-22 at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo. Despite only learning of the exemption moments after his final putt, Mercier was buoyed by the victory and looks forward to the challenge ahead.

“When I’ve won in the past, I’ve gained some confidence,” explained Mercier. “I played okay earlier in the year, but in July and August, I hadn’t really played very well, so I started to lose some confidence. And then I could tell, my confidence started coming back during the second round because I started hitting some good shots and I was able to get up on some of the tougher holes and drive the ball a little more precise with confidence. I’m sure – I won’t know until next week when I go down to the U.S. Senior Amateur – but I know I’ll have more confidence than I came here with which will be a big help.”

Finishing in second-place was James Gallagher of Yorktown, Va. The 58-year-old collected four birdies, but fell shy of his goal by two strokes. Claiming shares of third at 2-under were Brady Exber of Las Vegas and Camrose, Alta., native Frank Van Dornick.

Van Dornick, Schultz and Brian Brown of Nanton, Alta., captured the inter-provincial team championship which was contested concurrently over the tournament’s two opening rounds. The trio claimed a nine-stroke victory over Team Manitoba.

Also played alongside the championship’s first 36-holes was the Super Senior division. John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C., posted back-to-back 72s to secure a six-stroke victory in the 65-and-over competition.

The 2017 edition of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will be hosted at Kanawaki Golf Club in Montréal from September 11-14.

Additional information regarding the 2016 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship is available here.

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – The stifling heat and humidity gave way to blustery winds on the third round of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. David Schultz battled the gusty conditions to move into a share of the lead alongside Michael Mercier.

A steady 2-under 70 saw Schultz of Calgary tally a trio of birdies, including two across a bogey-free back nine to move into a share of the lead at 3-under.

“It was a tough round,” said Schultz. “The wind was up today for sure and it created a lot of problems for everybody, but I kept it in play quite well. I actually hit a lot of iron shots close. I’m pretty frustrated with the way I putted – I could have gone really low today, but I was pretty happy with the way I played. Didn’t make many mistakes, so that was the key for sure.”

The 59-year-old is knotted alongside Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla., who collected four birdies on the day. Schultz credited his hometown conditions for his performance.

“It fits me quite well,” he said when asked about the gusty day. “We play in a lot of wind in Calgary and I’m used to that. I play as good in the wind as I do when it’s not as windy. It just makes me hit some different shots and sometimes, I’m better hitting those shots. It was good for me.”

Schultz looks ahead positively to the final round, maintaining the need to stay the course and to keep composed.

“I think most of it is just playing the same way I have. I think I’ve got the right game plan and I know what shots I need to hit on the holes and just to be patient. It’s hard when you’re missing a few putts, but that’s what I’ve got to do – just not make a lot of mistakes. I’ll get down the stretch and see what happens.”

Trailing the co-leaders by two strokes at 1-under 215 are Schultz’s provincial teammate Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta., and 36-hole leader Brady Exber of Las Vegas. Super Senior champion John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C., James Gallagher from Yorktown, Va., and defending champion Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga., sit T5 at even-par.

Schultz, Van Dornick and Brian Brown of Nanton, Alta., claimed the inter-provincial team championship which was contested concurrently over the tournament’s two opening rounds. The Albertan trio claimed a nine-stroke victory over Team Manitoba.

Also played alongside the championship’s first 36-holes was the Super Senior division. Gallacher posted back-to-back 72s to secure a six-stroke victory in the 65-and-over competition.

The 2016 Men’s Senior champion will receive an exemption into the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., from September 17-22.

The final day of competition will begin with groups teeing off Nos. 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m. ET. Additional information from the championship can be found here.

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – An unrelenting heat continued to envelop the Grand Niagara Golf Club during the second round of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. A trio of Albertans emerged victorious in the inter-provincial team competition, while John Gallacher claimed the Super Senior national title.

Camrose, Alta., native Frank Van Dornick began the day with a share of 19th, but vaulted up the leaderboard with six birdies on the day, including four across a bogey-free back nine, en route to a 4-under 68.

“My round was fairly steady,” said Van Dornick. “I haven’t been hitting it very well, so I was just trying to manage the golf course as best I could. Today, I hit a lot of decent irons, I actually made a lot of putts, and that was the difference.”

The performance propelled Team Alberta to a nine-stroke victory after entering the day two shots back of Manitoba. Teammates David Schultz of Calgary and Brian Brown from Nanton carded rounds of 1-under and 2-under, respectively. Team Manitoba claimed second, while the squad representing British Columbia came third.

“Historically, we’ve been in the hunt, but we don’t always win, of course,” reflected Van Dornick. “When we do, it’s always very special. This is Brian’s first year and David and I go back 25-30 years, so I’ve known David an awfully long time. I think it was really nice for Brian to not only be a part of this, but also play as well as he has to date. I think you’ll see a lot more of Brian in the future.”

Van Dornick was pensive when asked about his fellow competitors and the unique nature of this national championship.

“A lot of these guys, we’ve gone through illnesses together; we know what everyone’s had in the past. The ones that have survived and can continue to compete and still find joy in the competition, they’re the ones we still see. Our hats are off to the ones that are unable to do that for health reasons. We’ve made a lot of friends nationwide as a result of these competitions and all of these friendships are very special.”

At 2-under 142, Van Dornick holds a share of second alongside first-round leader Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla., and Garth Collings of Matlock, Man. The trio trails Las Vegas native Brady Exber by a single stroke. The 60-year-old Exber is playing in his third consecutive Canadian Men’s Senior Championship with his best finish being a runner-up result in 2014.

Back-to-back 72s have earned Burnaby, B.C., product John Gallacher the Super Senior title. The 65-year-old closed the round with nine straight pars to win the 65-and-over division by six strokes. A trio of Albertans in Howard Broun (Calgary), Merv Dusyk (Sylvan Lake) and Ron Kelly (Calgary) tied for second.

A total of 77 players finished 155-or-better to advance to the final two rounds of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. The winner will receive an exemption into the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., from September 17-22.

The third day of competition will begin with groups teeing off Nos. 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m. ET. Additional information from the championship can be found here.