Mckinnon’s success not a surprise
Ashburn clubmates rave about Glace Bay golfer
Sean Stuart saw this coming.
The Ashburn golfer played a round with clubmate Brett Mckinnon at the old course in Halifax before the two entered into the 36-hole Apple Blossom tournament at Ken-wo that weekend.
“Right before the Apple Blossom at the old course, which is a par 67, I shot a 64,” Stuart recalled. “And he still beat me by two shots.”
The Apple Blossom was the start of a stupendous streak of brilliant golf by MCKinnon.
The Glace Bay native carded rounds of 70 and 67 to finish the June 26-27 tournament at 3 under for a three-stroke victory.
The following weekend, Mckinnon travelled to the Island for the three-round P.E.I. Amateur at Fox Meadow. He opened with a 2-under 70 and then closed with rounds of 66 and 69 to take the provincial championship by four shots at 11 under.
The momentum continued into the next weekend at the Nova Scotia amateur championship at Avon Valley. Rounds of 70, 68 and 70 (5-under 208) earned Mckinnon his second provincial amateur title (to go with his 2016 crown) by seven strokes. He was the lone golfer to finish under par for the tournament.
During this streak of eight consecutive competitive rounds, Mckinnon has either scored par (his first round of the Apple Blossom) or better (seven straight rounds in red numbers).
Following his Nova Scotia amateur victory, Mckinnon said, “this 100 per cent is the best I have ever felt on a golf course.”
The 27-year-old must be considered the consensus favourite heading into his next tournament — the upcoming Nova Scotia mid-amateur at Paragon. The 54-hole championship begins Friday at the Kingston track.
“I kind of saw this coming,” said Stuart, a two-time mid-am champion. “When Brett became mid-am age (25), I was lucky enough to beat him in his first one (in 2019). I told myself, ‘I better get this done now because it might be tough to beat him in the next few years.'
“He's at the sweet spot age, before starting a family. He has an edge on us. His rhythm is so good and he has a Division 1 college swing. It's the same every time.
“You have to play perfect golf to beat him. You might be able to do it over a day but it's pretty hard to do it over three days.”
Another Ashburn clubmate — David Williamson — witnessed Mckinnon's talent as his partner during an interclub team competition last fall at Amherst.
“It was the last hole and he duck hooks his tee shot on 18 and loses his ball,” Williamson recalled. “He then smashes his provisional, hits his 3-wood to within 25 feet before draining the eagle putt to make par on the last hole of the tournament.
“When you're playing with him as a partner, you just stand back and watch him do his thing. It's impressive to see.”
Williamson, a two-time Nova Scotia amateur champ, is seeking his first mid-am title. He's back in shape, having dropped nearly 40 pounds since January.
But he knows it will take three rounds of flawless golf to upend Mckinnon.
“Brett's a class act who has all of the talent in the world,” Williamson said. “Every so often players get on a hot streak and all of the extra work you put into it manifests into what he's doing on the course now.
“He's taking advantage of the opportunities in front of him and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. As a friend, it's awesome to see.”
“...His rhythm is so good and he has a Division 1 college swing. It’s the same every time.you have to play perfect golf to beat him. You might be able to do it over a day but it’s pretty hard to do it over three days.” David Williamson