Rank in contention for third straight title at mid-amateur

Elmira’s Garrett Rank shot a solid thirdround seven-under 65 to claim a share of the lead at the Canadian men’s mid-amateur golf championship on Thursday.

Rank, the two-time defending winner of this event which crowns Canada’s top amateur golfer aged 25 and up, is locked in a two-way tie at 14-under for first place with Jordan Irwin, of Banff, Alta.

An NHL referee and University of Waterloo grad, Rank ascended up the leaderboard from fourth place on Thursday with a trio of birdies on holes two through four. He made the turn at 3-under.

“I played really well today,” Rank said in a release.

“My putter was hot really early. I missed three chances on six, seven and eight which cooled the round down but I finished with an eagle and a birdie so that was fun.”

Rank, 28, said he is determined to win his third straight exemption into the RBC Canadian Open with a victory in Bromont.

“I’m going to be really aggressive again (Friday). For me in this event, I’m either first or I’m last.”

Derek Meinhart, of Mattoon, Ill., fired six birdies on the day and is in sole possession of third at 10-under, while Joseph Deraney of Nashville, shot a bogeyfree 66 for fourth at nine-under and is tied with Dave Bunker of Woodbridge, Ont.

Meanwhile, Kitchener’s Ryan Kings, Matthew Sim of Oakville and London, Ont. native Charles Fitzsimmons combined to shoot a 15-under 273 in the interprovincial team competition to claim a second consecutive title for Ontario.

Kings is minus-four and tied for 17th. Josh Hunke, of New Hamburg, is one over, tied for 31st and Waterloo’s Rob Cowan is two over, tied for 38th.

The final round of competition will see the first groups tee off at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

Local golfers Eric Velanoff and James Gregg, both of Kitchener, missed the cut.