MILTON— Golf Ontario took a new approach to their Annual General Meeting this year, April 21-22 at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, by creating an Ontario golf industry weekend. The goal was to bring together the various associations that are involved with the sport in the province and to strengthen relationships. Nothing showcased that more than the Golf IN Ontario Awards Night on April 21.
The evening was a chance for Golf Ontario, the PGA of Ontario, Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association (OGSA), and Golf Canada to recognize their award winners from the past year in front of the Ontario golf industry.
In all, 19 of the award winners were in attendance and recognized by the various associations for their achievements.
“It was an exciting night to celebrate together the many people who make the sport of golf in Ontario so great!” Said Golf Ontario Executive Director Mike Kelly. “It was an impressive group of volunteers, players, PGA professionals and course superintendents all of whom champion and serve the golf industry in communities across Ontario. Congratulations to all!”
The evening appeared to be a hit with the individual award winners as well. Many were excited to be sharing the spotlight with the other winners from across the province.
“This event is really fabulous,” said PGA of Ontario Golf Professional of the Year Dustin Kerr-Taylor. “To be here and celebrate with all of the award winners from 2016 is great. We are all trying to do one thing and that is grow the game. It was interesting to mingle with everyone and to hear the successes they are having in their associations. I am hoping to translate some of those successes into what I am doing as a golf professional.”
“This is pretty exciting,” added Christopher Kertsos, Golf Ontario Senior Men’s Order of Merit winner. “It is the first time for me to be ranked number one for the seniors. It is nice to see everyone here from all corners of the industry. It is great to see what Golf Ontario has done here tonight.”
Golf Ontario would like to congratulate all of the award winners from all of the golf associations in Ontario.
PGA of Ontario Winners
Adam Tobin – Retailer of the Year
Adam Steinschifter – Candidate for Membership of the Year
Sean Casey – Junior Leader of the Year
Henry Brunton – Teacher of the Year
Dustin Kerr-Taylor – Golf Professional of the Year
Gareth Raflewski – Coach of the Year
Jason Helman – Professional Development Award
Iain Reston – Class A Professional of the Year
OGSA Award Winners
Patrick Greenman – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Women’s Mid Am/Sr. Championship
Peter Kinch – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Mid Amateur Championship
Jim Burlington – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship
Dave Girard – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship
Greg McFarlane – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship
Chad Adamson – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship
Brooks Young – Shelburne G & CC – Ontario Bantam Boys Championship
Dan Magrin – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Summer Games Championship
Phil Auger – OSGA Recognition – Ontario Senior Men’s Championship
Perry Beausoleil – OSGA Recognition – Mackenzie Tour National Capital Open
Tom Kinsman – OSGA Recognition – LPGA Manulife Financial Classic
Richard Creed – OSGA William Sansom Distinguished Service Award
Pelino Scenna – OSGA 50 Year Member
Cecil-Roy French – OSGA 50 Year Member
Paul Dermott – OSGA 50 year Member
Ontario Order of Merit Rankings
Juvenile Boys
- Peyton Callens
- Kelvin Lim
- Zack Mason
- Robbie Latter
- Johnny Travale
Junior Boys
- Sam Meek
- Peyton Callens
- Ty Celone
- Minwoo Park
- Tyler Nagano
Juvenile Girls
- Monet Chun
- Chloe Currie
- Isabella Portokalis
- Emily Ward
- Jasmine Ly
Junior Girls
- Grace St-Germain
- Monet Chun
- Chloe Currie
- Isabella Portokalis
- Alexandra Naumovski
Women’s Amateur
- Grace St-Germain
- Monet Chun
- Mary Ann Hayward
- Crystina Kertsos
- Samantha Spencer
Women’s Mid Amateur
- Judith Kyrinis
- Mary Ann Hayward
- Casey Ward
- Ivy Steinberg
- Marion Reid
Men’s Amateur
- Garret Rank
- Maxwell Sear
- Blair Hamilton
- Josh Whalen
- Austin James
Men’s Mid Amateur
- Garret Rank
- Philip Arci
- Charles Fitzsimmons
- Ryan Kings
- Matthew Sim
Women’s Senior
- Judith Kyrinis
- Mary Ann Hayward
- Ivy Steinberg
- Terrill Samuel
- Marion Reid
Men’s Senior
- Christopher Kertsos
- Larry Cooper
- Lars Melander
- Robert Gibson
- Nick Digiandomenico
Golf Ontario Volunteer Awards
Jim Arbuckle – Volunteer of the Year
Ralph Franchino – Distinguished Service Award
Elaine Jackson – District Volunteer of the Year
John Turner – Honorary Life Director
Future Links Order of Merit Rankings (Ontario players)
CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit
2. Peyton Callens
6. Sam Meek
7. Kelvin Lim
CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit
2. Monet Chun
3. Grace St-Germain
5. Chloe Currie
8. Isabella Portokalis
10. Ellie Szeryk
VINELAND, ON – Milton’s Reggie Millage, weathered the storm and everything else Mother Nature blew at him July 7 to win his division at the PGA of Ontario Summer Championship presented by Golfing Buddies at Twenty Valley G&CC.
“It was so windy out there today it was hard to know if you hit a good shot until it landed,” said Millage, the Head Coach for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) U19 Team Ontario. “I have played a bit of golf with the kids, but I have not played particularly well yet this summer, so this is a nice boost heading into next week’s PGA of Ontario Championship at Deer Ridge.”
After a two-hour delay that saw close to an inch of rain fall on the golf course and make it nearly impossible to play, everyone finally got the green light to play. In the end, it was the howling winds that caused more grief than the damp fairways that dried out nicely throughout the day.
“When I drove into the parking lot this morning and took a look at the course I didn’t think there was any way we were going to play,” added Millage, who earned the one shot victory by carding three birdies and just two bogeys for a score of 1-under par, 71. “It was such difficult weather today. I just put my head down, played hard and didn’t think too much about my swing. I was really just trying to survive.”
There was a four-way tie for second place at even-par, 72 between Jeff Mills from Wildfire GC, Jonathan Anderson from Northern Greens Golf Center, Scott Cowx from Hamilton G&CC Teaching Academy and Brian McCann from Brampton GC.
The PGA of Ontario, will be heading to the always challenging Deer Ridge GC next week for their marquee event of the year. The Titleist FootJoy PGA of Ontario Championship is the most highly sought after trophy in the zone and the best PGA professionals in the zone will gather to duke it out for this prestigious title. The PGA of Ontario Championship is the longest running tournament in the history of the PGA of Ontario. First contested in 1939, the Titleist FootJoy PGA of Ontario Championship is synonymous with some of Canada’s most accomplished club and touring professionals. Those names include Moe Norman, George Knudson and Al Balding.
By Brent Long
From being Rookie of the Year at Ferris State College in 1985 to being honoured as PGA of Ontario Golf Professional of the Year for 2013, it’s been a memorable journey for Mark Ahrens.
As a kid from Toronto, Ahrens started playing junior golf with his brother Brian at the Donalda Club, where his parents Lyle and Heidi and Brian remain active members. It was during this time that Mark picked up a passion for the game that set him on a course to become recognized as one of the province`s premier golf professionals.
“It’s a true honour to be recognized by the PGA of Ontario as the Golf Professional of the Year,” says Ahrens who is looking forward to this 16th season as Head Professional at Kawartha Golf & Country Club in Peterborough. “This past year started off with a great win at the PGA of Ontario Tournament of Champions with our members Marc Savard and Marilyn Self. Then I had an opportunity to play in the PGA of Canada Wildfire Invitational, which was an awesome experience that I was able to share with my family and my two boys were able to play in the pro-am. To close out the year with this award is very gratifying, to me it’s for more than just one year, it’s being recognized for the hard work and dedication to the game over the years.”
After Ferris State, where Ahrens took the Professional Golf Management Program, only one of two offered in the United States at the time, he spent two years as an assistant at The Toronto Hunt under Head Professional Bill Morrison and then seven years as an assistant at York Downs G&CC under Bruce McCarrol.
He spent two years as the Head Professional at Tam O`Shanter GC in Toronto before applying for the position at Kawartha, to replace Al Hosick, who was the club’s Head Professional from 1968 to 1998 and was the PGA of Ontario Club Professional of the Year in 1987.
The move to Peterborough turned out to be perfect for Mark and his wife B.A. as they started to raise a young family. Truth be told, golf is a family affair in the Ahrens household. B.A. looks after the golf shop books, works in the shop on men’s night, plays with the ladies on ladies’ night, helps out with the merchandising and fills in where needed. Their two boys learned the game at an early age at Kawartha and it`s in their blood. Ryan, 16, is working with PGA of Canada Master Professional Henry Brunton and is hopeful of a golf scholarship, while Mitchell, 18 is currently in his first year of the PGM Program at Georgian College.
As for the secret behind his success at Kawartha, Ahrens says being there when needed, being part of the fabric of the club and providing a first-class member experience is essential to longevity at a club for a head professional. It`s also about connecting with the 630 members and their families on a personal level. Kawartha has consistently had one of the top junior programs in the province average in excess of 100 youngsters per year and 2013 was no different with 120 signed up for leagues, programs and clinics.
“Mark has transformed Kawartha into one of the best serviced clubs anywhere in the country, says Ian Webb, Executive Professional at Credit Valley G&CC. “Mark leads by example; he is an astute businessman as his golf shop consistently parallels big city clubs in sales and service. He represents the best of what the PGA has to offer in professionalism, integrity and enthusiasm for the game. Ahrens has also mentored close to 15 up-and-coming PGA of Ontario members who have passed through his shop over the years.
“Mark’s conduct and level of involvement at our Club and in the community is the envy of other area Clubs. He provides constructive input when asked and attends all Golf committee meetings; it’s important to him. He has instilled his qualities and approach to customer service in all of his staff from his assistant professionals to his back shop staff. Mark Ahrens is a person that doesn’t just wear the title Professional, he lives it,” says Tom Waudby, President, Kawartha G&CC.
