T1 @ GTAAT Mazda Majors

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Osprey Valley Major - GTAAT - Jeremy Choi

Caledon ON (July 14, 2014) – This week, the GTA AM Tour players competed in the third and final Major of the 2014 Tour season, a two day, 36-hole event, where Myrtle Beach Order of Merit points and the prizing are increased by 50%!! The Tour would make a return visit to Osprey Valley Resort, where two months ago, players were tested on the Toot Course, playing in the Golf Away Tours Tussle. This week, Players were tasked with the challenge of playing the The Hoot and Heathlands courses, the two, more challenging, 18 hole courses of the three offered at Osprey Valley,. The Championship and A-Flights would compete on the Heathlands over the two days, an inland links style course, resembling a traditional seaside course, dotted with pot bunkers, shaped dunes and mounds covered in sheep’s fescue grass, where players could imagine they were overseas, playing for the Claret Jug this week. The B and C Flights would have it a little easier, but not by much, as they would compete on the Hoot course, a less daunting challenge, but with plenty of water and tee-to-green waste bunkers, offering a test on the wasteland style course. Players would not be able to take anything for granted, as no shot would be easy, with only smart golf aiding the player to victory on the Hoot.

Day One was one for the books as GTA AM Tour players would be challenged by similar conditions the Pros will be facing later this week playing in The Open Championship, with high winds, overcast skies and slick fast greens. According to Osprey Valley Resorts, Director of Golf, Robert McClure “The Players will have one tough day out there, and should expect the low round to come in around an 80, as both courses will be playing at least 6-8 strokes harder. It would take strategic play to conquer the courses today, along with a master’s touch of the bump and run, to set up well for day two.”

GTAAT - Osprey Valley - Two Day Champion - Jeremy Choi

When the sun rose on second day of competition, all four flights were set for an exciting day! With several players only a few strokes back of the leaders, it was anyone’s to win. With another great field of competitors vying for the Mazda Major trophy and the extra points to provide them with a possible edge in the Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, it was anyone’s to win, especially for those who could pace themselves over a long day of competition, one that would test every player’s stamina and ability to focus throughout the entire day!

Over the two days of competition, the winner of the very competitive Championship Flight would need to exhibit unwavering abilities to keep it down the middle of the tight Heathlands Course and to be able to combat the winds which were prevalent on the first day of competition. John Harrington (Ajax, ON), the current leader the Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, would make it back to back Major wins as he would take the event and lead wire to wire. After Day One, John would have a two stroke lead, finishing with a score of 75. On Day Two, John would better his Day One score by turning in a round of 73, for a two day total 148, to win by four strokes. The second place finisher of the Mazda Major did give it the old college try to keep it close. Stephen Wright would finish the first day three strokes back, with a round of 78. Stephen’s second round was interesting, to say the least, as he would not par his first hole until the tenth and, amazingly, would only be shooting a one over par to that point. With five bogies and four birdies, he would finish the final eight holes with a score of two over par for a round of 74 and a two day total of 152. Rounding out the top three, Robert Genno (Washago, ON) finished the event with rounds of 80 and 77 for a two day total of 157. The Championship Flight’s Myrtle Beach Order of Merit continues to see John Harrington holding down top spot with 610 points and an 85 point lead. Third place finisher, Robert Genno (Washago, ON), continues to hold down second place with 525 points. Jumping back into third, was our second place finisher Stephen Wright who has 497.5 points.

In the A-Flight, it came down to exciting Day Two finishes to determine the winner. After Day One rounds were complete, the leaderboard was stacked and tight, with three players tied for first and two others within two strokes of top spot, setting up for an exciting finish. After the first round, Mark O’Neill (Uxbridge, ON), Darryl Scott (London, ON) and Tony Oliverio (Brampton, ON) would find themselves tied for top spot, all finishing with rounds of 84. However, only one can hoist the trophy and after the dust settled on Day Two, the A Flight would only see one name at the top of the leaderboard. Capturing The Mazda Major and making it our second back-to-back Major winner on the day, Darryl Scott (London, ON) would put up another great round on Day Two, turning in a card of 78 for a two day total of 162. Alone in second, starting one stroke back, having finished Day One with a round of 85, was Shavi Kahlon (Brooklin, ON) who would keep his amazing season going by carding a six stroke swing from Day One, for a round a 79 and a two day total of 164. To determine third place, last round matching was required as two were tied with two day totals of 167, Mark O’Neill (Uxbridge, ON) and Tony Oliverio (Brampton, ON), co-leaders of round one. As both would match first and second round totals, it would come down to matching the final nine score of the second round and Mark would capture third over Tony, having fired 38 over Tony’s 40. The A-Flight’s Myrtle Beach Order of Merit continues to see Shavi Kahlon holding down the number one spot and improving his lead to 147.5 points with 497.5 points. Moving up eight spots, into second place, was today’s winner Darryl Scott, having earned 150 points today, sits with 350 points. Slipping to third place is Matt Ward, who did not play today, remains with 310 points.

Jeremy Choi - Lining up the Putt

In the B-Flight, it would come down to the experience of a veteran to capture the Mazda Major because, after Day One rounds were complete, the leaderboard was stacked with many past Tour winners, as ten players found themselves within four strokes of each other, setting up for an exciting finish. After Round One, Jeremy Choi (Toronto, ON) would find himself sitting at the top of a leaderboard, for the first time since August of 2012, with a one stroke lead, having shot 82. On Day Two, Jeremy would continue his outstanding play and course management to turn in a matching low round on day of 80, giving him a total score of 162 over the two days of competition, enough to give him a wire to wire finish, capturing his first victory of the 2014 season. Finishing alone in second, was Andrew Mitchell, who would start Day Two four strokes back and tied in seventh, having shot 86 on Day One. On Day Two, Andrew’s mission was to go out and correct the errors made on the first day of competition, and he did just that, turning in an outstanding round of 80 that would match the low round on the day, giving him a two day total of 166. To determine third place, last round matching was required as two were tied with two day totals of 167. Robin Hutchins would capture second, over Jeff Price, as Robin fired 80 while Jeff carded an 81 on Day Two. In the B-Flight’s Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, Michael Cann, continues to hold a commanding lead, 520 points for a 150 point lead. Alone, in second, is John Farrugia, with 370. However, John is far from sitting comfortably, as Andrew Mitchell, who climbed a few spots today, lurks only 17.5 points back, in third, with 352.5 points.

In the C-Flight, another veteran would play the steady hand to win as John Baty (Toronto, ON) would keep it safe and down the middle over the two days turning in rounds of 83 and 88 to capture his first win of The Tour season with an amazing nine stroke victory. In second place, Bob Sikorski (Toronto, ON) would continue his amazing run this season and continues to be the hottest player in the C-Flight, coming off a second place finish at Taboo last week. Having started Day Two seven strokes back and alone in fourth, by shooting 90 on Day One, Sikorski would continue his steady play, turning in a matching round of 90 on Day Two, for a two day total of 180, giving him his fourth, second place finish on the season. To determine third place, and for the third time on the day, last round matching was required as three players: Evan Kilimnik (Barrie, ON), Robert Perri (Toronto, ON) and Steven Teo (Mississauga, ON) would finish the two day event with matching totals of 181. Steven would capture third place prizing over Evan and Robert, as Steven shot 86 while Evan carded an 88 and Robert a 96 on Day Two.The C-Flight Myrtle Beach Order of Merit continues to see today’s second place finisher, Bob Sikorski, hold down top spot, with 627.5 points, stretching his lead to 190 points over Krish Nair, who continues to sit in second with 437.5 points. Climbing into third, Robert Perri sits with 365 points.

Another one of the many ways to win on Tour is net score. This is a calculation based on the net scores of all the players who did not place in the top three gross winning positions in their respective Flights. The top two net winners at each event will receive one dozen TaylorMade golf balls and one case (24) of Mill Street beer. This week winners were Robert Perri, with a two day net total 131, and Doug Cann with a two day net total of 133. In addition to the season-long Gross Score, Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, players will compete for a parallel season-long Net Score Order of Merit. After 11 events, Mark Matusiak leads with 493.5 and in second sits Micheal Cann with 474.5. For complete standings click on the link.

The winners of the closest-to-the-pin from Sunday were Paul Inglis and Troy Langley, Monday’s winners, was John Harrington and Sharad Kerur. Both players won a dozen TaylorMade golf balls. Also at every event, there is a Mazda Hole in One hole, where all players will have a chance to win a $2,500 sponsor product shopping spree. This week’s winners of the Hole in One closest to the pin on Sunday were Michael Alcott and Bob Chapman and on Monday it was Jeremy Choi and Jamie Langois. Along with these prizes, Petro-Canada, TaylorMade and Mill Street Brewery products are awarded to the top 3 finishers in each of the four Flights. The Tour also awards a draw prize at each event for a $50 certificate redeemable at the Mill Street Brew Pub; the winners of the Mill Street Brewery Certificate were Mark Mah and Robert Genno.

Another new addition to the 2014 Tour prizing is an opportunity to win a $20 Ultra 94 Preferred Pricing gas card. A per-event draw will take place from all players who fire a score of 94. The winner of the Mazda Major, Ultra 94 $20 gas card from Sunday was John Duffy of the C-Flight and from Monday Troy Langley of the C-Flight.

Click here to view THE RESULTS from today’s event the MazdaMajor played today at Osprey Valley Resorts. Also, to see all the actions from today’s event check out these GREAT PICTURES! We are certain you will enjoy watching today’s VIDEO courtesy of Tour Sponsor Capture Scratch. We hope you have a chance to check them out and download them for FREE!!

ABOUT THE GTA AM TOUR:
The GTA AM Tour is owned and operated by Canadian Golf Tours Inc. and is sponsored by: BMO World Elite MasterCard, TaylorMade Golf Canada, Mazda Canada, Mill Street Brewery, Ultra 94, Nature Valley, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, ECCO Shoes, P.J. Dermody Insurance Brokers, Joshua Kingsmill, Prodigy Headwear, LG Electronics Canada Inc., Cellworks, Sundog Eyewear, Golf Away Tours, Paradym Tech, Privileged Play, The Golf Lab, Pixelcarve, Pacific Links, Bright Blue Wave, Dyma, Honsberger Physiotherapy and Biomechanics Clinic, Capture Scratch and Fame International Salon and Spa. Tournament rules officials are organized through the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

About the author

Jeremy Choi

I’m a husband, father, entrepreneur, mentor, and an irredeemable golf addict. Possibly like you, my big hairy audacious goal (vision) is to make a positive dent in this world. I write about creating better leaders, workers, and people. I also write about my experiences in all aspects of my life. These ideas are my experiences living & learning through my own core values; integrity, authenticity, leadership, inspire, and health.

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