Tyler Mcdannold wins Ontario Mid-am
Ron Pearson, Paul Stevens qualify for nationals
Tyler McDannold didn’t wait long to make his move on the final day of the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur.
The Brampton Golf Club member entered the third and final round one shot back of twoday leader Michael Rutgers but led by two strokes after just two holes. That margin proved the difference as McDannold (70-6971) fired a three-under 210 at Peterborough Golf and Country Club.
Rutgers, of Erie Shores Golf Club, was second at (68-7074–212) minus-one and Ottawa’s Darren Shaw, with the low round of the day, third at even par (7174-68–213). Shaw claimed the Ontario Mid-Am Masters (40+) division. The trio will comprise Team Ontario at the Canadian Mid-Amateur championship in Edmonton, Alta. Sept. 3-6.
The top 36 golfers this week all qualified for the nationals including Lakefield native and Kitchener resident Ron Pearson (72-71-78–221) who dropped from a tie for fourth after two rounds to a tie for 16th and Kawartha GCC’s Paul Stevens (72-74-79–226) who was the top local golfer tied for 32nd.
This is a second provincial championship for the 30-yearold McDannold who won the 2005 Ontario Match Play title. The Eastern Michigan University grad is a Brooklin native.
“This means a lot. It’s a provincial championship which is nice to have,” McDannold said. “This is awesome. I’m looking forward to going to Edmonton with Mike and Darren Shaw and hopefully we can bring home my second inter-provincial championship to go along with 2009.”
McDannold birdied the opening two holes tying Rutgers on the opening hole after he parred. Rutgers slipped to second after a double-bogey on the second and trailed by four after another double on 14. He birdied 16 and 17 gaining two strokes to add drama to the final hole. McDannold had an eight-foot advantage off the 18th tee and maintained it on his approach shot. Both golfers sank their second putt to par the final hole.
“I played well the first two days and Mike played well as well,” McDannold said. “I was lucky to only be down by one. Today I wanted to come out firing. I was very fortunate a couple of putts went in early for me. I just kind of held on coming down the stretch but I got it done.”
Rutgers could take some con- solation in the fact he won a family rivalry by beating his fatherin-law and three-time Canadian Mid-Amateur champion Dave Bunker. Bunker (70-74-74–128) finished tied for eighth.
“I had a blast,” Rutgers, a former pro, said. “I had a couple of goals. Of course one has been the story all week that I wanted to beat my father-in-law and I did that. I also wanted to make the team. I haven’t made a team because I’ve only played in three Ontario championships because I’ve been in the States for years.”
Rutgers says golf beats work so he doesn't get too hung up on results.
“Tyler started birdie, birdie making two 12 to 15 footers and you can't do anything about that,” Rutgers said.
“I missed a three footer for par on the second hole and he jumped up to a two stroke lead after two and then he chipped in on four. There is nothing you can do. I just tried to keep going and have fun. The plan was to enjoy the game. Not everyone has the opportunity to travel and play golf.”
Rutgers three-putted on 12 for bogey and doubled on 14 or else he might have done himself more of a favour with the late birdies.
“That’s the string which really killed me. Overall I hit the ball very well, I just didn’t make any putts. That's what you have to do to win golf tournaments,” he said.
KGCC's Michael Farrugia (7578-74–227) finished tied for 40th one stroke shy of qualifying for nationals. Other local results included Steve Stanlick (76-7877–231) tied for 48th and Steve Fredericks (81-73-78–232) tied for 56th.
NOTES: The winner received a trophy, gold medal and soap stone carving by local artist Kris Nahrgang…. The tournament is one of 15 GAO events PGCC is hosting between 2010 and 2015. It culminates in the Ontario Amateur championships which features the field seen this week with the addition of the province’s top golfers under 25.