SYRACUSE— It was an exciting day for four Ontario junior golfers on Aug. 8 at the 53rd annual Williamson Cup, hosted by the Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, New York. The team shot a combined two-round total of 11-over (437) to capture the 2016 title, the 12th for Ontario.
The event, started in 1964 by A. Fred Williamson, in memory of his father, one of the original founders of the famed Winged Foot Golf Club and a long-time member of the USGA Executive Committee, is a two-round, 36-hole, team competition for male junior golfers. Teams from golf association in the northeast United States and Canada send squads of four to compete for the title. After each round, the lowest three scores from the team are counted towards the team total.
Ontario’s 2016 team was comprised of Caledon’s Cougar Collins (Rocky Crest Golf Club), Long Sault’s Ty Celone (Upper Canada Golf Club), Georgetown’s Thomas Giroux (The Club at North Halton) and Mississauga’s Robbie Latter (Credit Valley G&CC).
After the opening round, Ontario held the lead at nine-over (222). Leading the way was Celone who carded a one-over (72). Also counting towards the team total were Giroux at three-over (74) and Latter at five-over (76).
Ontario took that lead to the afternoon round and managed to improve on it. They finished the afternoon as a team at two-over (215). This time they were led by Collins who rebounded nicely from the morning round and shot a one-under (70). Also factoring into the team score were Celone who carded his second consecutive round of one-over (72) and Latter who finished two-over (73).
When all was tallied up, Ontario won the 2016 competition by six shots, over the Metropolitan Golf Association, from New York. Celone also finished in a tie for the low individual at two-over (72-72-144).
The 2016 Championship marks the first title for Ontario since 2013. With the 12th win for the province, Ontario now holds the record for most Williamson Cup titles. Coaches for the team were Head Provincial Coach Reggie Millage and Golf Ontario Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Craig Loughry.
For complete scoring from the 2016 Williamson Cup, visit: http://www.ghintpp.com/nysga/TPPOnlineScoring/ResultsStroke.aspx?id=612