This was DiCarlo’s fifth time playing in the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship and his first appearance in the finals of this championship. He hadn’t advanced past the Quarterfinals in his first four appearances.
In his first experience in the finals of this championship, he got the job done and can now call himself winner of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship.
As for Smith, he falls short in the Ontario Men’s Match Play Finals for a second straight year.
Shaw came in ranked 32nd and got into the championship as an alternate. He faced some of the toughest names in the field like defending champion Steve Fredericks,along with tough competitors Doug Brophy and Rob Cowan.
He was even down five strokes through the first six holes of his quarterfinals match with Brophy.
However, he was still able to prevail and become Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play Champion and cap off an amazing story.
Charles Fitzsimmons (Summit Golf & Country Club), two-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship (2021 & 2022), returns to match play action after missing last year’s championship due to injury.
Connor Doyle, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Men’s and Senior Men’s Match Play Championship is always a great way to kick off the men’s & senior amateur championship season. We have another very competitive field which we saw almost 400 players attempt to qualify across the province along with multiple past champions in the field. Tarandowah will certainly be an excellent test for the players with the fast, and firm conditions, it should create many excellent matches next week.”
Ted Pease, Tarandowah Golfers Club General Manager & PGA of Canada Executive Professional: “Tarandowah Golfers Club is honoured to host the top men’s and senior men’s golfers across Ontario as they go one-on-one in match play. Having this level of competition is a great venue for us to showcase the unique challenges our course presents.”
Fun Fact: Tarandowah Golfers Club only has two par fives (holes 9 and 14), yet the course still measures 7,067 yards due to nine of its 12 par four holes having a length of over 400 yards.
Top 100: Tarandowah Golfers Club was ranked the No. 75-best golf course in Canada according to SCOREGolf.
Gravenhurst, ON – The week of excellent Match Play competition came down to our final four competitors in the Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship. Today, rain drizzled down to open Friday matches at Taboo before giving way to warm blue skies as the finals intensified.
After a strong week of play, defending champion and number one seed, Charles Fitzsimmons (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club), would prevail on the second playoff hole to achieve Men’s Match Play back-to-back champ status. A see-saw battle between Fitzsimmons and Taylor Hull (Granite Golf Club) resulted in a birdie on 17 and 18 respectively to force extra holes.
As for the Senior Match Play, Dave Greenaway (Barrie Country Club) came out strong going 3UP on the front nine and cruising to a 5&4 win over Allen Champman (Lindsay Golf & Country Club).
Golf Ontario would like to thank the players, staff, and volunteers for their support of the Ontario Men’s and Senior Men’s Match Play Championship. To Taboo Muskoka Golf Resort, and all their hard-working staff, thank you for hosting at such an exceptionally maintained course, especially with all the rain. Also a big thank you to the volunteers, as you are extremely valuable and we appreciate the time you take out of your week to assist. Lastly, a huge thank you to our sponsors and partners; Adidas, Taylor Made, Golf Talk Canada, Play Golf Myrtle Beach, Humber College, HUB International, BioSteel, Golf Genius, Modern Golf, Dormie, Durham Artificial Grass, Foresight Sports Canada, Baka, Nikon, and Sport Travel. We are always grateful for your continued support.
For full media coverage of the Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship, please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page to view our photo albums and our Instagram page for Story updates. To follow along with the leaderboard, visit our Golf Genius page.
About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship
Established in 1986, The Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually. It features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers who have qualified earlier this season or gained an exemption into the event. Former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Ian Leggatt, David Hearn, David Byrne and Dave Bunker.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
For more information please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario; PMacKellar@gao.ca
Gravenhurst, ON – With light rain coming down all morning, competitors were fortunate as the sun came out for the semi-finals later in the day to heat up the play and competition. Both the Men and Senior Men played out their quarter-finals and semi-finals as the numbers continued to be cut in half, setting up for Friday’s finals.
In the Men’s quarter-finals, Team Ontario golfer Cameron Pero (Picton Golf & Country Club) faced off against Jaret Chipman (Cherry Hill Club), resulting in the longest match of the week. After being all tied up at the 18th, they went on to play nine more playoff holes. However, Chipman took down his opponent on the 10th when Pero would concede.
Chipman went on to face-off against number one seed Charles Fitzsimmons (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club) in the semi-finals. Fitzsimmons was up one going onto the 18th hole and sunk a 10-foot par putt to secure his position in Friday’s final.
After his two outstanding performances in today’s quarter and semi-finals, Fitzsimmons will face off against Tyler Hull (Granite Golf Club), who played just as well through his matches on the day.
In the Senior Men’s division, Allen Chapman (Lindsay Golf & Country Club) took down his opponent, Nick Digiandomenico 6 & 5 in the first semi-final. Next, Chapman will face off against Dave Greenaway (Barrie Country Club), who knocked out his opponent Joe Miszkin (Cherry Hill Club), in a tight 2 & 1 victory.
Tomorrow morning the Men are set to tee off at 7:30 am, and the Senior Men will be teeing off right after at 7:38 am. For media coverage of the Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship, please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page to view our photo albums. To follow along with the leaderboard, visit our Golf Genius page.
About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship
Established in 1986, The Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually. It features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers who have qualified earlier this season or have gained an exemption into the event. Former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Ian Leggatt, David Hearn, David Byrne and Dave Bunker.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
For more information please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario; PMacKellar@gao.ca
Adam (AJ) Abraham, Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario; AAbraham@gao.ca
Gravenhurst, ON – Mother nature redeemed herself on day two of the Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship. Today, the sun was beaming down at Taboo Muskoka Golf course, making for great weather and intense competition. The Men played 36 holes (Round of 32 and 16), setting them up to compete in their quarter-final matchups on Thursday morning. The Senior Men played 18 holes (Round of 16) in the morning after finishing their round of 32 yesterday. Their quarter-final matchups are also set for early tomorrow morning.
With a tournament full of upsets, past champion and number one seed, Charles Fitzsimmons (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club), earned his ticket to the quarter-finals after draining a birdie putt on the first playoff hole. Additional key players to keep an eye on in the quarter-finals are Team Ontario members Ryan Somerville (Summit Golf & Country Club) and Cameron Pero (Picton Golf & Country Club). After winning his round of 32 matchup 7 & 6, Somerville took down his opponent Nolan Wilson (Galt Country Club) in a much closer battle, finishing 2 & 1. In the round of 16, Pero was down 1 to his opponent Josh Dicarlo (Pointe West Golf Club) after the front nine but recovered down the stretch, winning the match 3 & 2 after a great back nine.
For the round of 8, the Men will tee off at 7:30 am, and the Senior Men will tee off right after starting at 8:02 am on Thursday. For media coverage of the Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship, please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page to view our photo albums. To follow along with the leaderboard, visit our Golf Genius page.
About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship
Established in 1986, The Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually. It features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers who have qualified earlier this season or gained an exemption into the event. Former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Ian Leggatt, David Hearn, David Byrne and Dave Bunker.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
For more information please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario; PMacKellar@gao.ca
Adam (AJ) Abraham, Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario; AAbraham@gao.ca
Gravenhurst, ON – Mother nature was not on our side today at the Ontario Men’s & Senior Men’s Match Play Championship from the beautiful Taboo Muskoka Golf Course. Competitors fought off heavy rain throughout their entire round, and while the wet conditions were difficult for some, they proved helpful for others. Both the Men and Senior Men completed 18 holes today, with the Men (64 bracket) teeing off at 7:30 am and the Senior Men (32 bracket) teeing off just past 12:30 pm.
Even with the tough conditions, it was an exciting round today, with many golfers proving that seeding is just a number. The lower seeded underdog won over a quarter of all matches, making for some exhilarating play.
In the Men’s grouping, some competitors to keep an eye on heading into the round of 32 include Charles Fitzsimmons (St. Thomas Golf & Country Club), Bavake Sihota (Golf Canada Club – Ontario), Dave Bunker (Cherry Hill Club), Nolan Piazza (Cherry Hill Club) and Team Ontario members Isaiah Ellis, Ryan Somerville, Cameron Pero and Justin Matthews. With the Senior Men’s, competitors to take note of include Joe Miszk (Cherry Hill Club), Dave Greenaway (Barrie Country Club), and Perry Freda (Madawaska Golf Course).
Rainy AND TOUGH DAY 1 CONDITIONS, BUT STILL SMILING
Tomorrow, the Men will play 36 holes, whereas the Senior Men will play 18 again. Tee times for the Men’s round of 32 will begin at 7:30 am, and the Senior Men’s round of 16 will tee off at 8:34 am. Please visit the Golf Ontario Facebook page for media coverage of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship to view our photo albums. To follow along with the leaderboard, visit our Golf Genius page.
About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship
Established in 1986, The Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually and features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers that have qualified earlier this season, or who have gained an exemption into the event. Notable former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Ian Leggatt, David Hearn, David Byrne and Dave Bunker.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
For more information please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario; PMacKellar@gao.ca
Adam (AJ) Abraham, Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario; AAbraham@gao.ca
