The 89th Ontario Senior Men’s Championship heads to Brockville Country Club July 23 – 25.
The top 156 province golfers aged 55 and over are set to compete for a provincial title.
On July 22, a qualifier will take place with tee times between 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to determine the final 24 players who will advance and compete in the 70 and over Championship.
Since its inaugural play in 1936, the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship has featured the best provincial senior golfers that either aim to or already have their names carved into the Ontario golfing legacy.
Notable past champions include Stu Hamilton (2001, 2006), Mike Jackson (2010, 2011 and 2013), Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Warren Sye (2012) and 11-time winner between 1968 and 1980, Canadian and Ontario Golf Ontario Hall of Famer, Nick Weslock.
The first two rounds will see morning start times at 7:30 a.m. and afternoon start times at 12:30 p.m. until the 36-hole-cut after the second round.
For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
Senior Men’s Amateur Order of Merit Rankings: Rob Cowan, No. 1, Doug Brophy, No. 2, Dave Bunker, No. 3.
PLAYER NOTES
The 156-player field includes:
Last year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Champion, Adam Creighton (Cherry Hill Club).
Dave Bunker (Cherry Hill Club), winner of four different Golf Ontario championships, including the 2020 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.
Rob Cowan (Westmount Golf & Country Club), winner of three different Golf Ontario Championships.
Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Inductee of 2024 and 2021 Ontario Senior Men’s Champion, Ashley Chinner (Coppinwood Golf Club).
The 2019 Ontario Senior Men’s Champion, David Greenaway (Barrie Country Club).
Darren Shaw (King’s Forest Golf Club), who won the Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Championship earlier this year.
2023 Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Champion, Steve Fredericks (Kawartha Golf Club).
Robert Gibson (Cedar Brae Golf Club), who won the 2023 Ontario Senior Men’s Champion of Champions.
QUOTES
Adam Miller, Head Club Pro – Brockville Country Club: “The Brockville Country Club and its members are extremely proud and excited to be hosting the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship. We are looking forward to showcasing the best that our great town has to offer and to set the stage on our beautiful and challenging golf course for a fantastic, competitive event featuring some of the best senior players in the province.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Brockville Country Club
Championship Dates: July 23 – 25
Field: 156 players (Overall: 132, 70 and over Championship: 24)
Format: 54-hole Stroke Play (Overall: 36-hole-cut – low 60 & ties – 70 and Over Championship: 36-hole-cut
Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Senior Men’s Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)
Fun Fact: Cherry Hill Club will be represented by six players in this championship (Dave Bunker, Adam Creighton, Gord Henderson, Mark McBride, Joe Miszk, Mark Tomasello).
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
SCARBOROUGH — The final round of the Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship, July 27 at Cedar Brae Golf Club, was a back and forth affair. The day saw numerous lead changes between Orillia’s John Murphy and Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos. The two players were the first and second-round leaders respectively, so it only made sense that they would be battling on the final day for the prize.
Things began well for Murphy, from Barrie Country Club, as he was three-under through seven. Meanwhile, Kertsos, from York Downs Golf & Country Club, had some early struggles and was two-over through three. However, Murphy would bogey eight, nine and 10 allowing Kertsos to regain the lead. Both players bogeyed the 12th and 14th and it was Kertsos with a one-shot lead with four holes to play.
It came down to the final hole where Kertsos put his second shot into a hazard. That resulted in a double bogey and opened the door for Murphy. Murphy was able to get up and down for par to win the title. He finished the day and the tournament at two-over (69-73-73-215). Kertsos finished the day five-over (76), the championship three-over (72-68-76-216) and tied for the silver medal.
Barrie’s David Greenaway also finished the tournament at three-over (74-71-71-216) in a tie for the silver medal. Greenaway, began the day in the second to last group at three-over. The Barrie Country Club member had one of the more consistent rounds on the day and found himself even after nine. He went on to play the back nine even as well, which helped lift him to the podium.
Afterwards, Murphy spoke about what winning the title meant to him. “Winning this means everything. It is what we practice for and is why we play as much as we do. To win the Ontario Senior is unbelievable!”
Murphy chalked up his success during the week to his game off the tee. “For the most part, I drove the ball pretty well. Near the end, I didn’t hit it as well but you just can’t win here, with the field as tough as it is, without everything going your way.”
During the tournament, Murphy saw a first-round lead disappear after the second round. He admitted his nerves got to him but entering the third round he found a way to put it past him. “I had never held the lead at an Ontario Championship. I was pretty nervous in round two but I got through it. Coming into today I thought ‘If I handled round two, today should be fine.’”
The 65+ Division title went to Vineland’s Kerry Short. Short, who entered the day with a share of the division lead, went on to card a two-over (73) during the final round to end the tournament at 10-over (75-75-73-223).
In the 70+ Division it was New Hamburg’s George Stokes who captured the title. Stokes shot a six-over (77) on the last day to bring his tournament total to 14-over (71-79-77-227).
Murphy, Kertsos and Greenaway all earned the right to represent Ontario in the interprovincial competition at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Sept. 11-14 at Kanawaki Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec.
For more information, including the final leaderboards see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao175/index.htm
Golf Ontario would like to thank Cedar Brae Golf Club, their staff and volunteers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers and to title sponsor Investors Group for their continued support of golf in the province.
About the Investors Group Senior Men’s Championship
The Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Championship is contested annually and features Ontario’s best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2017 marks the 82nd playing of the event, and notable past champions include: Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock, Herb Carnegie, Ed Ervasti, and Michael Jackson.
