Canadian Amateur Championship Comes to New Brunswick
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:42:00
Fraser Edmundston Golf Club is the proud host of this year's prestigious event, which has been conducted by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) since 1895.
Last year, Garreth Paddison of Wellington, New Zealand defeated Canadian Amateur golfing legend Graham Cooke of Hudson, QC 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final match at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, ON. With the victory, Paddison became the second New Zealand golfer to win Canada's most prestigious amateur golfing championship (Stuart Jones of Hastings, New Zealand won the event in 1967). However, Paddison will not return to defend his title in 2002 as he used the victory and automatic exemption into the Bell Canadian Open as a springboard to turn professional. As a result, a new Canadian Amateur champion will be crowned at the 6,620-yard, par-70 Fraser Edmundston Golf Club.
It was the third year in a row that an international competitor has clinched the top spot and according to Michael Tothe, Director of Amateur Competitions, a strong contingent of non-Canadian golfers are again expected to enter.
"Both the winner and the runner-up in the Amateur receive exemptions into the Bell Canadian Open and I think that a lot of U.S. college seniors will come and see if they can win the tournament and then play our Open to get a taste of professional golf," said Tothe. "We are anticipating another tremendous field and are very excited about hosting Canada's most prestigious amateur golf championship at Fraser Edmundston Golf Club."
Though Paddison will not be returning, a host of top Canadian and International golfers will be challenging for this years title. Cooke, the 6-time defending Canadian Mid-Amateur champion and 2001 Canadian Senior champion looks to better his runner-up finish in 2001 and claim his first ever Canadian Amateur title. Greg Puga of Los Angeles, CA - who won the 2000 USGA Mid-Amateur Championship - tops the list of international competitors looking to walk away with Canada's national Amateur title. A number of past Canadian Amateur champions are also scheduled to compete including Dale Goehring of Calgary, AB (1997), Darren Ritchie of Quispamsis, NB (1992) and 4-time champion Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver, BC (1972, '74, '82 and '88). Others to look for include 2-time Canadian Amateur runner-up Stephen Davies of Beaconsfield, QC (1991 & '98) and 2001 Canadian Junior Champion James Lepp of Abbotsford, BC, who in July captured both the BC Junior and Amateur Championships.
An Interprovincial Team Championship for the Willingdon Cup will also take place in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play. Last year, Nova Scotia made history by claiming its first-ever Willingdon Cup. The foursome of Paul Batchelor, Leon Carter, Rob Collins and Christopher Kucera shot a team-total 435 for a 1-stroke victory over Manitoba. Ontario finished third with a score of 438.
The Canadian Amateur Championship is open to male amateur golfers who are members of a club belonging to the RCGA or clubs in other countries, which are in good standing with their respective associations.
The championship consists of both stroke and match play. The stroke-play portion of the event will be played over 36 holes. The field will be reduced to 64 players after 36 holes qualifying for the match play portion of the championship. The field is open to a maximum of 162 players including all exempt and Monday qualifiers. The Interprovincial Team Championship for the Willingdon Cup features four-member teams competing in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play with the best three of four scores counting towards the overall team total.
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