TORONTO (AUGUST 11, 2010) – A placement type golf course can test a player’s patience in the best of conditions, but throw in some really humid and sticky weather, and you really have to keep a level head if you want to score well. That was just the challenge that GTAAT competitors faced today at Royal Woodbine GC while playing the B-C Flight Nature Valley Open. Fifty-nine players competed today in hot and sticky weather on the challenging Michael Hurdzan designed course. The Toronto area course weaves its way around a very small property demanding some well placed shots if players hoped to score well. The two able to accomplish that were those who came out on top today, posting consistent numbers all the way around the course.
With a dazzling score of 77, Bill McLean took home the B Flight title. The Brampton native has been a competitor on the Tour for four seasons and has always had at least one strong tournament each season. McLean’s scorecard featured only one double bogey and few other scores over par: “It’s certainly a shot-maker’s course,” remarked McLean. “You have to stay focused and always be thinking about your shots.”
McLean’s consistent play was just enough; a birdie-par finish squeezed him by his closest competitor, Ajax’s Bob Chapman, by only one stroke. Stoney Creek’s Shawn Kowalyshyn finished in third with an 80.
Matching McLean’s consistent play, with a steady round of his own to take today’s C Flight title was Toronto’s Jeremy Choi. The hometown competitor shot an impressive 83, which featured only a couple of double bogies – an impressive feat for a C Flight golfer. Choi’s 83 convincingly handed him the title by three shots over hometown rival Ernie Loch. Tying for third with 93s were Bolton’s Victor Ranieri, Richmond Hill’s Bernie Saunders and Etobicoke’s Diarmuid Swan.
Choi attributed much of his success today to great friendship and support from his fellow competitors: “Everyone was really friendly – we really helped each other through the bad shots and holes.”
For a complete listing of competitors and full field scores, from today’s event, please visit www.gtaamateurtour.com.
George Stephenson and Bob Chapman won the closest-to-the-pin and long-drive titles, respectively.
In addition to TaylorMade products awarded to the top-four finishers in each flight, participants on The Tour also have the chance to win numerous draw prizes at every event with product from TaylorMade, ECCO Shoes, and The Mill Street Brew Pub.
Today’s winner of the TaylorMade Driver was Diarmuid Swan; TaylorMade Rescue was Bill McLean; ECCO shoe draw was Mike MacPhail; and The Mill Street Brewery Gift Certificate was Mark Thomas.
The GTAAT will be at The Georgian Bay Club on Monday August 16 to play The Battle at the Peaks, one of this year’s most highly anticipated events.
The GTA Amateur Tour is owned and operated by Canadian Golf Tours Inc. and is sponsored by TaylorMade, Mazda Canada, Prodigy Headwear, Sundog, ECCO Shoes Canada, Eco Golf Tees, Myrtle Beach Golf Holidays, Howard Johnson Canada, Knights Inn Canada, Nature Valley, BlackBerry, Buck Productions, The Mill Street Brewery, Zoom Media, P.J. Dermody Insurance Brokers, Mavea Water Systems, Privileged Play, The Globe and Mail and Digital Cement. Tournament Rules Officials are certified by the Royal Canadian Golf Association.
Chris McCafferty-Mumford
Director of Media
The Greater Toronto Area Amateur Tour
(416) 884-1277
[email protected]
Sources: GTA Amateur Tour
