Investors Group Men's Amateur Championship

Peter Laws Wins Ontario Men's Amateur Championship

Peter Laws carded a final round 72 at the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, enough for a two-stroke margin of victory at the 81st playing of the Ontario Men's Amateur Championship, Sponsored by Investors Group.

Laws, 20, combined dogged determination and a tireless work ethic leading up to and during his quest for the Ontario Amateur title. "I've worked hard with my coach (Steve Chapman) and my coach at school (Kent State's Herb Page) to trust my swing and play with more confidence," revealed Laws.

The Trafalgar Golf & Country Club member assumed the lead in the tournament after a third round 67 vaulted him into top spot, two clear of clubmate Tom Schupp of Oakville. Laws, Schupp and Craig Hicks of Tecumseh were the feature group on day four.

The 'Battle of Trafalgar' never materialized. Schupp, 22, took himself out of contention with a string of bogeys on the middle holes and a final round 78 dropped him from 2nd to a tie for 8th.

However, a different Napoleonic sub-plot was emerging as the diminutive Shawn Lafontaine of Cobourg was mounting his own charge in the group ahead of the leaders. The Dalewood Golf & Curling Club member began the final round seven in arrears of Laws but opened with two consecutive birdies coupled with a bogey by Laws on the par 4, 2nd hole and suddenly the lead was four after just two holes.

After bogeys on holes 5 and 9, Lafontaine, who was the #1 ranked Junior golfer in Ontario in 2001, managed to post five birdies on the difficult back nine at Mississaugua. After making a birdie on the devilish par 4, 17th, Lafontaine had eroded Laws' lead to just one. The driveable 17th hole which doglegs right and measures 321 yards proved to be the decisive hole of the tournament as Laws answered Lafontaine's birdie with one of his own.

"The birdie on 17 was definitely good, I thought he (Lafontaine) was close after 16," said Laws. The decision to leave the driver in the bag never crossed Laws' mind, "that's the play on 17, you have to get close to the green even the bunker would've been a good place considering where the pin was today."

The Mississaugua golf club takes it's name from the Native Peoples who occupied these lands many years ago. Ontario's best amateur golfers played the Mississaugua course from a total of 6,870 yards and a par 71.

Lafontaine's goal entering the final round was to put himself into a position to make the provincial team. "I thought seven shots might be a little too much to overcome, but I wanted to finish in the top four." By finishing second, Lafontaine joins Laws, Hicks, who had to win a three-man playoff for the final spot and Andrew Parr of London who carded an even-par 71 and finished alone in third place on Ontario's Provincial Team that is competing for the Willingdon Cup next month in British Columbia.

Laws rode a tremendous wave of confidence leading up to Ontario's preeminent amateur event. "I knew if I kept on doing what I was doing leading up to the Amateur, that I would be in good shape," said Laws, who recently enjoyed a triple-title at the Copa de las Americas Team Championship with wins in the Individual, Men's Team and Combined Men's and Women's Team Championships.

"The most important thing I've learned from Herb and Steve is that my game is good enough to compete, I've just got to tell myself to stay positive and focused," said Laws. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School graduate competed in the British Amateur earlier this Spring and was forced to call upon some of the teachings of Page and Chapman en route to an appearance in the second round of match play. Laws eventually was felled by the eventual champion - Gary Westenholme of England.

The Roman General Quintus Tullius Cicero once said, "During war, the laws are silent." In this battle, Laws made it known, loud and clear, that he is Ontario's top amateur golfer.
Final Results

Place
Competitor Hometown
Club Affiliation
Scores
6
3
1
1
Peter Laws Mississauga, ON
Trafalgar Golf & Country Club
70-70-67-72--279
1
5
5
2
Shawn Lafontaine Cobourg, ON
Dalewood Golf & Curling Club
68-73-73-67--281
6
8
3
3
Andrew Parr London, ON
London Hunt & Country Club
70-72-70-71--283
6
10
3
4
Craig Hicks Tecumseh, ON
Lakewood Golf Club
70-74-68-72--284
6
5
10
4
Dave Bunker Woodbridge, ON
Public Player
70-71-74-69--284
23
1
5
4
Mark Leon Brampton, ON
Devil's Pulpit Golf Association
73-66-75-70--284
6
5
5
7
Nicholas Kenney Etobicoke, ON
Islington Golf Club
70-71-73-72--286
3
1
5
8
Chris Markle Cobourg, ON
Dalewood Golf & Curling Club
69-70-75-73--287
1
8
2
8
Tom Schupp Oakville, ON
Trafalgar Golf & Country Club
68-74-67-78--287
3
3
11
10
Michael Rutgers Kingsville, ON
Erie Shores Golf Course
69-71-76-72--288
15
33
21
11
Charlie Woo Markham, ON
York Downs Golf & Country Club
72-77-72-68--289
30
18
13
11
Pete McMenemy Waterloo, ON
Deer Ridge Golf & Country Club
74-73-70-72--289
12
10
11
13
Richard Scott Kingsville, ON
Kingsville Golf & Country Club
71-73-72-74--290
15
14
13
13
Tyler McDannold Ancaster, ON
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
72-74-72-72--290
15
22
17
15
Brad Pemberton Port Hope, ON
Dalewood Golf & Curling Club
72-76-71-72--291
3
12
15
16
Chris Barber Kingston, ON
Landings Golf Course
69-76-73-74--292
12
14
5
16
Ron Pearson Kitchener, ON
Deer Ridge Golf & Country Club
71-75-68-78--292
15
14
21
18
Darren Shaw Stoney Creek, ON
King's Forest Golf Club
72-74-75-72--293
30
22
15
18
Jim Kenesky Hamilton, ON
Southbrook Golf & Country Club
74-74-70-75--293
84
22
25
18
Michael Schramm Mississauga, ON
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club
77-71-74-71--293
101
44
45
21
Craig Revell Kingston, ON
Cataraqui Golf & Country Club
78-73-75-69--295
23
33
25
21
Larry Cooper Oakville, ON
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club
73-76-73-73--295
30
14
17
21
Mark Brewer Pickering, ON
Whitevale Golf Club
74-72-73-76--295
30
44
43
21
Michael Dinner Oakville, ON
Trafalgar Golf & Country Club
74-77-74-70--295
30
18
25
21
William Seagris Windsor, ON
North Shore Golf Club
74-73-75-73--295
15
12
19
26
Chris Holmes Fort Erie, ON
Bridgewater Country Club
72-73-75-76--296
15
44
25
26
Dan Partland Bolton, ON
The National Golf Club of Canada
72-79-71-74--296
23
44
19
26
Paul Sobottka Thornhill, ON
Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club
73-78-69-76--296
72
38
50
29
Jay Campbell London, ON
Westminster Trails Golf Club
76-74-77-70--297
72
18
35
29
Louis Muir London, ON
River Road Golf Club
76-71-77-73--297
30
22
25
31
J.C. Deacon Unionville, ON
Beacon Hall Golf Club
74-74-74-76--298
84
53
35
31
Kyle Mackenzie Listowel, ON
Listowel Golf & Country Club
77-75-72-74--298
23
22
35
31
Matthew Bliss Burlington, ON
Tyandaga Municipal Golf Club
73-75-76-74--298
41
22
30
34
Andrew Ross Dundas, ON
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
75-73-75-76--299
84
38
35
34
Bill Hutcheson Richmond Hill, ON
The National Golf Club of Canada
77-73-74-75--299
41
44
30
34
Brad Moulton Orangeville, ON
Shelburne Golf Club
75-76-72-76--299
12
22
45
34
Matthew Gibb Toronto, ON
St. George's Golf & Country Club
71-77-78-73--299
41
33
43
38
Craig Bishop Brampton, ON
Shelburne Golf Club
75-74-76-75--300
41
22
21
38
Jim McCallum kingsville, on
Kingsville Golf & Country Club
75-73-73-79--300
41
22
35
38
Joshua Dean Richmond Hill, ON
Summit Golf & Country Club
75-73-76-76--300
101
44
30
38
Lee Wilson Kincardine, ON
Kincardine Golf & Country Club
78-73-72-77--300
6
18
35
38
Tyler McGhie Thornhill, ON
Public Player
70-77-77-76--300
23
53
45
43
Graham Hill Bright's Grove, ON
Huron Oaks Golf Club
73-79-74-75--301
41
44
30
43
Michael Fiorini Woodbridge, ON
Lionhead Golf & Country Club
75-76-72-78--301
72
44
56
45
David Arnold Brooklin, ON
Oshawa Golf Club
76-75-79-72--302
41
53
50
45
David Greenaway Barrie, ON
Mill Run Golf & Country Club
75-77-75-75--302
23
22
50
45
Michael Hall Burlington, ON
Millcroft Golf Club
73-75-79-75--302
72
38
55
48
Gari Ingertsa Burlington, ON
Saw-Whet Golf Club
76-74-79-74--303
41
22
21
48
Matt Hind Rodney, ON
Wardsville Golf Club
75-73-73-82--303
84
53
45
48
Robert Gibson Toronto, ON
Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club
77-75-74-77--303
30
33
50
48
Stephen Dimen Toronto, ON
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
74-75-78-76--303
30
38
45
48
Stephen Verschoote Burlington, ON
Beverly Golf & Country Club
74-76-76-77--303
41
33
35
53
Kelly Roberts London, ON
The Oaks Golf & Country Club
75-74-75-80--304
72
38
35
53
Paul Morrow Georgetown, ON
Devil's Pulpit Golf Association
76-74-74-80--304
84
53
59
53
Terry O'Brien Barrie, ON
National Pines Golf & Country Club
77-75-79-73--304
15
53
30
56
Kevin Dore Dundas, On
Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club
72-80-71-83--306
41
53
56
57
Alistair Varley Cobourg, ON
Dalewood Golf & Curling Club
75-77-78-77--307
41
53
56
57
Scott Hepburn St. Thomas, ON
St. Thomas Golf & Country Club
75-77-78-77--307
41
53
54
59
Todd Gerrard Markham, ON
York Downs Golf & Country Club
75-77-76-80--308
101
44
59
60
Sam Pappas Toronto, ON
St. George's Golf & Country Club
78-73-80-78--309
30
38
61
61
Mark Raven Burlington, ON
Millcroft Golf Club
74-76-85-81--316
Missed the Cut
41
62
Victor Ciesielski Cambridge, ON
Galt Country Club
75-78--153
41
62
Justin Fluit Cambridge, ON
Galt Country Club
75-78--153
41
62
Mike Fuller Oakville, ON
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club
75-78--153
41
62
Paul Gillis Toronto, ON
Credit Valley Golf & Country Club
75-78--153
72
62
Sean Donnelly Brampton, ON
Woodlands Golf & Country Club
76-77--153
72
62
Paul Nielsen Thornhill, ON
Summit Golf & Country Club
76-77--153
84
62
Peter Verschoote Burlington, ON
Beverly Golf & Country Club
77-76--153
101
62
Stephen Raitt Oakville, ON
Trafalgar Golf & Country Club
78-75--153
23
70
Martin Hay Stoney Creek, ON
Kings Forest Golf Club
73-81--154
41
70
Derrick Small Peterborough, ON
Kawartha Golf & Country Club
75-79--154
72
70
Brad Kerfoot Mississauga, ON
Islington Golf Club
76-78--154
72
70
John Sagi Kitchener, ON
Deer Ridge Golf & Country Club
76-78--154
84
70
Mike Kray Toronto, ON
St. Catharines Golf & Country Club
77-77--154
84
70
Kyle Rank Elmira, ON
Elmira Golf Club
77-77--154
101
70
David Lea Waterloo, ON
Westmount Golf & Country Club
78-76--154
113
70
Jason Aucoin Hanmer, ON
Cedar Green Golf Club
79-75--154
113
70
James Chan Ancaster, ON
Beverly Golf & Country Club
79-75--154
113
70
Lorne Don Toronto, ON
The National Golf Club of Canada
79-75--154
113
70
Peter McCarthy Toronto, ON
Rosedale Golf Club
79-75--154
113
70
Michael Moreland Orangeville, ON
Shelburne Golf Club
79-75--154
131
70
Kurt Kowaluk Lively, ON
Lively Golf Club
81-73--154
131
70
Jason McGrath Mississauga, ON
Public Player
81-73--154
15
84
Scott Niewland Oakville, ON
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
72-83--155
41
84
Jared Hoyle Peterborough, ON
Kawartha Golf & Country Club
75-80--155
41
84
Rick Keown Mississauga, ON
Public Player
75-80--155
41
84
John Simpson Oshawa, ON
Oshawa Golf Club
75-80--155
41
84
Ernie Vettese Woodbridge, ON
The National Golf Club of Canada
75-80--155
41
84
Paul Wildridge Etobicoke, ON
Weston Golf & Country Club
75-80--155
84
84
Bernie Bodogh Grimsby, ON
St. Catharines Golf & Country Club
77-78--155
84
84
Darren Mason Exeter, ON
Widder Station Golf Club
77-78--155
101
84
Nicholas Wheeler Ingersoll, ON
Ingersoll Golf & Country Club
78-77--155
113
84
Doug McNeil Newmarket, ON
Public Player
79-76--155
126
84
Brian Hadley Sarnia, ON
Sarnia Golf & Curling Club
80-75--155
30
95
Tom Price Chatham, ON
Countryview Golf Course
74-82--156
41
95
Chris Goad Cambridge, ON
Galt Country Club
75-81--156
41
95
Vince Palladino Sudbury, ON
Idylwylde Golf & Country Club
75-81--156
41
95
Mark St. Onge Barrie, ON
Barrie Country Club
75-81--156
41
95
Ryan Vassel Toronto, ON
St. George's Golf & Country Club
75-81--156
72
95
Rob Cowan Waterloo, ON
Westmount Golf & Country Club
76-80--156
72
95
Andy Holba Collingwood, ON
Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club
76-80--156
84
95
Michael Jackson Collingwood, ON
Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club
77-79--156
101
95
Scott Hickerson Waterdown, ON
Credit Valley Golf & Country Club
78-78--156
101
95
John Mealia Toronto, ON
Bayview Country Club
78-78--156
126
95
Ian Gibson Toronto, ON
Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club
80-76--156
131
95
Jamie Peden Midland, ON
Midland Golf & Country Club
81-75--156
41
107
Richard Ross Markham, ON
Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club
75-82--157
84
107
Jaden Gates Cavan, ON
Kawartha Golf & Country Club
77-80--157
84
107
Bill White Aurora, ON
St. George's Golf & Country Club
77-80--157
101
107
Arjun Walia Waterloo, ON
Foxwood Golf Club
78-79--157
113
107
Cody Harris Belle River, ON
Lakewood Golf Club
79-78--157
113
107
Bill Hilton Newmarket, ON
St. Andrew's East Golf & Country Club
79-78--157
126
107
Barry Caland Thunder Bay, ON
Strathcona Golf Course
80-77--157
126
107
Douglas Walker St. Thomas, ON
St. Thomas Golf & Country Club
80-77--157
131
107
Brandon Justras Ennismore, ON
Peterborough Golf & Country Club
81-76--157
41
116
Matt Hoffman Thornhill, ON
Thornhill Country Club
75-83--158
84
116
Matthew Ion Young Burlington, ON
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
77-81--158
101
116
Paul Deloose Tillsonburg, ON
Tillsonburg Golf & Country Club
78-80--158
30
119
Steve Caldwell Rockwood, ON
Rattlesnake Point Golf Club
74-85--159
84
119
Rodney Chypyha Richmond Hill, ON
Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club
77-82--159
84
119
Jim McNeil Beamsville, ON
Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club
77-82--159
113
119
Adam McKay Scarborough, ON
Public Player
79-80--159
131
119
Michael Arnoldi Toronto, ON
The Toronto Golf Club
81-78--159
41
124
Patrick O'Neill Ancaster, ON
Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club
75-85--160
72
124
Scott Davis Blenheim, ON
Blenheim Golf Club
76-84--160
141
124
Hugh Brown Scarborough, ON
The Toronto Hunt Club
82-78--160
113
127
Mike Kavander Oakville, ON
Wyldewood Golf & Country Club
79-82--161
113
127
Rob Weir Toronto, ON
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club
79-82--161
84
129
Russell Barnes Dunnville, ON
Dunnville Golf & Country Club
77-85--162
101
129
Tim Donovan Markham, ON
York Downs Golf & Country Club
78-84--162
113
129
Sandy McIntyre Mississauga, ON
Public Player
79-83--162
131
129
Mike Cuff Toronto, ON
St. George's Golf & Country Club
81-81--162
131
129
Peter Jury Bancroft, ON
Oak Hills Golf Club
81-81--162
145
129
Robert Crifo Toronto, ON
Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club
83-79--162
41
135
Darrin Parker Toronto, ON
The Toronto Golf Club
75-88--163
113
135
Jim Hewitt Mississauga, ON
Mississaugua Golf & Country Club
79-84--163
141
135
Michael Thorm Thunder Bay , ON
Fort William Country Club
82-81--163
145
135
Dana Johnson Brantford, ON
Brantford Golf & Country Club
83-80--163
126
139
Wesley Clayden Woodbridge , ON
The National Golf Club of Canada
80-84--164
131
139
Tom Hodgins Oshawa, ON
Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club
81-83--164
141
141
Paul Graham Peterborough, ON
Kawartha Golf & Country Club
82-83--165
152
141
Jim Currie London, ON
Highland Country Club
86-79--165
131
143
Patrick Adam Enright Mississauga, ON
Royal Woodbine Golf Club
81-85--166
141
144
Calvin Kupeyan Tecumseh, ON
Beach Grove Golf & Country Club
82-85--167
153
145
Michael Pogor Burlington, ON
Hidden Lake Golf & Country Club
87-81--168
131
146
Mark Romanelli Uxbridge, ON
Mill Run Golf & Country Club
81-88--169
145
146
Terry Magee Toronto, ON
Weston Golf & Country Club
83-86--169
150
146
Paul Deuzeman Cobourg, ON
Dalewood Golf & Curling Club
84-85--169
150
146
David Lai Thunder Bay, ON
Thunder Bay Country Club
84-85--169
145
150
Dave Deverall Waterloo, ON
Westmount Golf & Country Club
83-87--170
153
150
David Birimcombe Barrie, ON
Springwater Golf Club
87-83--170
145
152
Christian Le Fave Tecumseh, ON
Sutton Creek Golf & Country Club
83-88--171
155
153
Kevin Bryce Mississauga, ON
Lake Joseph Golf Club
88-85--173
101
154
Andrew Egerter Thorold, ON
Beechwood Golf Club
78-97--175
156
154
Greg Karfor Oakville, ON
Public Player
89-86--175
156
156
Shawn Perry Bradford, ON
Harbourview Golf & Country Club
89-100--189
41
Tim Ash Toronto, ON
Lambton Golf & Country Club
75-0--WD
Gregory Shaw Linwood, ON
Pike Lake Golf Club
0-0--DQ
Jon Steiner Toronto, ON
Weston Golf & Country Club
0-0--WD
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