THORNTON — It was a wet end to the week, on July 1, at the Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship, hosted by Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club. When all was said and done, it was Barrie’s Abe Holmes who hoisted the championship trophy.
The championship match featured Holmes, from the Barrie Country Club, and Peterborough’s Sam Meek, from the Kawartha Golf & Country Club. Holmes, 17-years-old, got out to an early lead after sinking a long birdie putt on the third hole. However, the lead was short-lived as Meek, 17 and a member of Team Ontario, nailed a birdie putt of his own on five to even the match. Meek got aggressive with his second short on the seventh hole, which ended up hurting him. Holmes would take advantage, winning the hole and regained the lead. Holmes added to the lead with another win on the eighth hole, but found the tall grass on the ninth with his drive. He was forced to punch out and Meek capitalized by winning the hole and went to the back nine only down one.
Rain began to beat down on the players on the back nine. Meek conceded the 10th and Holmes went 2up. It would remain that way until the par-five 13th when Meek chipped in for birdie to win the hole. Holmes regained the 2up lead with a par putt on 15, putting the pressure on Meek with only three holes to go. After halving the 16th, Meek’s tee shot found the long grass on 17 and he was unable to find his ball. That proved to be the end for Meek as Holmes took the match and the title 3&1.
“It was really good to finally get my game together for this long, endurance test of golf,” said Holmes. “I am very proud of my performance and happy to win this championship. The conditions were tough out there today. Sam and I were grinding it out and both had a tough time, but I was able to hang on and get the win.”
Holmes’ road to the championship began with a 3&2 win over Guelph’s Matthew Onik in the first round. Then he needed 22 holes to knock out Waterloo’s Dylan Henderson. Holmes then defeated St. Thomas’ Sam Manfredi 4&3, before beating Courtice’s Cory Williams 7&5 in the quarter finals. He earned a 2&1 win over King City’s James Wyndham-West and punched his ticket to the final.
As for Meek, his road to the final included wins over: Toronto’s Matthew Puzhitsky 1up, Mississauga’s Trevor Corner 3&2, Waterdown’s Nic Francis 2&1, fellow Team Ontario members Dunrobin’s Jake Bryson 1up, and London’s Jackson Bowery in 19 holes.
Golf Ontario would like to thank Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club along with their staff and volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued efforts in making provincial events successful.
For full tournament information, including round-by-round results, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao167/index.htm
About the Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship
The Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship has been contested since 1998. Male golfers under 19 years of age before August 1 are eligible to compete. The field is determined by results from four qualifiers. Notable past champions include Matt McQuillan, Justin Shin, Stephane Dubois, and Jon Boncoddo.