Collingwood resident Mike Jackson earned his second Investors Group Ontario Senior Mens Amateur title on Thursday, finishing off the tournament with a three-hole playoff victory at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London.
Jackson, the 2010 champion, was the talk of the tournament when he opened the competition with a blistering eight-under 64 on Tuesday to take a four stroke lead over the field of Ontarios best amateurs age 55 and older.
I started on the back nine and knocked one almost in the hole on the (par 4) 11th, then after that I was just birdiying every hole, especially the par-fours, said Jackson of his sensational opener that featured nine birdies.
Typically youd make birdies on the par-fives but those par-fours were coming in, he explained.
I also didnt go for the green on any of the par-fives, so you think that the scoring would come out from going for the greens and possibly making eagles, but I didnt do that, I was just in a zone.
When I finished I wasnt even sure what I scored. I knew it was deep, and Ive done this before where I just get down to it and focus on hitting quality shots instead of thinking about the score, he said.
His approach paid off, giving him a buffer hed need to stay ahead of the talented field. He followed up his 64 with a 76 on Wednesday, falling a stroke behind Londons Garry Spence when he teed up his final 18 holes. Despite taking a three-stroke advantage by the 7th hole, Jackson was forced into a playoff with Pickerings Chris Kertsos and Oakvilles Larry Cooper after going bogey-bogey on 17 and 18 to finish with a final round 75.
It could have ended earlier, I have to congratulate the other guys for playing well, they hung in there and I opened the door for them, said Jackson.
I didnt really hit a bad tee shot all week until number 14 today, and then it just seemed like bogey, bogey, and they werent loose bogeys I just should have been there, he said.
I missed a couple of short putts and three-putted 18 all three days. I knew that a two-putt would win for me but just didnt get it done.
It took three playoff holes to decide a winner, with Cooper narrowly missing putts to win on the first two holes while Kertsos dropped away as they took to a third extra hole. Jackson placed a shot from the rough to 25 feet, then rolled his putt uphill to within a foot while Cooper tackled with a tough lie after hitting over the green. Jackson would emerge as the eventual winner and two-time Ontario Senior champion after Cooper couldnt recover.
It would have been nice to win with a birdie on the second playoff hole but I had a job in front of me and Im glad I came through winning, said Jackson.
Despite taking a longer road to victory than he would have liked, Jackson was all smiles after picking up the gold medal.
Entering this year, I knew that my game was pretty good, but I didnt know that it was up to winning this because there were some younger guys coming in and theyre good players, he said.
Fortunately I had a really great day (on Tuesday). I cant say that I played as well as I could have in the last two days but because of the lead that I had, it made a big difference.
Jackson was impressed with the conditions at Sunningdale, which he hadnt played since competing in the Canadian Amateur in 1985.
The course is set up really nice and was great for a tournament like this and for the distance that we hit them. Im not a big hitter like a lot of the guys but I just try to sort of plod along methodically and try to get in position.
Jackson is also a former Ontario Mens Mid-Amateur champion (2003) and was thrilled to notch another senior provincial victory.
Its always nice to win, he laughed. Theres some other guys out there that have won this tournament multiple times and its really nice to be able to have done that, its an achievement.
Winning the first time was great, but this time around is just a little sweeter.
Finishing tied for second place were Cooper and Kertsos. Cooper, a member at Misissaugua Golf and Country Club, laid down three solid rounds of 70, 73 and 72 to share runner-up honours. Kertsos didnt stray far from the top of the leaderboard through all three rounds, carding 68, 73 and a final-round 74 to pick up a silver medal.
Second round leader Garry Spence of London finished alone in fourth place after carding a five-over 77 in his final round. The St. Thomas Golf and Country Club member was a local favourite throughout the week and put together rounds of 69 and 70 before closing out the tournament with a total score of 216 (+5), a single shot out of contention for the playoff.
National Golf Club of Canada member Dan Partland had the round of the day on Thursday, carding a solid 66 (-6) to close out his week at the tournament. His seven birdies and single bogey catapulted him up the leaderboard into a fifth place finish just two strokes off the lead, with a total score of 217 (74-77-66), one-over par.
Jackson also earned the mens 60 and over title with his overall victory, while in the mens super-senior (age 70 and over) category, Georgetowns Reg Finlayson earned the title for the second consecutive year, finishing with a total score of 231 (74-77-80), +15.
The Investors Group Ontario Senior Mens Amateur Championship also serves as a qualifier for the Canadian Senior Mens Amateur, set to take place in Ontario at The Briars Golf Club August 27-30. The top 39 finishers in the tournament plus the top three super seniors have earned exemptions into the national championship, and representing Ontario in the inter-provincial team championship will be Jackson, Cooper and Kertsos.
The Investors Group Ontario Senior Mens Championship is contested annually and features Ontarios best male amateur golfers age 55 and older. 2013 marks the 78th playing of the event, and notable past champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Stu Hamilton and Nick Weslock, Herb Carnegie, and Ed Ervasti.
The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank the staff, members, and volunteers from Sunningdale Golf and Country Club for being exceptional hosts and for the use of the Thompson course throughout the week. The GAO would also like to thank title sponsor Investors Group for their continued support of amateur golf in the province.
Leaderboard
1 Michael Jackson Georgian Bay Club (p) +3 F -1 64 76 75 215
T2 Larry Cooper Mississaugua E F -1 70 73 72 215
T2 Christopher Kertsos York Downs Golf & Country +2 F -1 68 73 74 215
4 Garry Spence St. Thomas Golf & Country +5 F E 69 70 77 216
5 Dan Partland The National Golf Club of -6 F +1 74 77 66 217
6 Lars Melander Hidden Lake GC – New -2 F +2 75 73 70 218
7 Ron Wilson King’s Forest Golf Club -2 F +4 74 76 70 220
T8 John Sagi Deer Ridge Golf Club -2 F +5 74 77 70 221
T8 Rick Fifield St. Marys Golf & Country +3 F +5 71 75 75 221
T8 Jim Morton Public Player(GAO Member) +7 F +5 68 74 79 221
T11 Sandy Billyard Hunters Pointe GC E F +6 76 74 72 222
T11 Kelly Roberts London Hunt and CC E F +6 75 75 72 222
T11 Wyatt Stinson The Oaks GC +1 F +6 74 75 73 222
T14 Mike Soucie Twenty Valley Golf & Coun -2 F +7 77 76 70 223
T14 Tom Hodgins Cedar Brae G & CC +2 F +7 73 76 74 223
T14 Paul Nielsen The Summit G&CC +5 F +7 73 73 77 223
T17 Tom Bell Batteaux Creek GC +2 F +8 76 74 74 224
T17 John Pate Cutten Fields +2 F +8 76 74 74 224
T17 Bob Masukawa St. Andrew’s East Golf Cl +3 F +8 78 71 75 224
T17 Peter Aharan Sunningdale GC +3 F +8 77 72 75 224
T17 Gerard McAnulty Public Player(GAO Member) +6 F +8 74 72 78 224
T22 Robert Chapman Riverbend Golf Community +1 F +9 75 77 73 225
T22 Jeff Van Vliet Pine Knot Golf & Country +3 F +9 76 74 75 225
T22 Robert Greer Listowel GC +4 F +9 75 74 76 225
T22 Michael Mealia Bayview G&CC +4 F +9 71 78 76 225
T22 Rich Parsons St. Marys Golf & Country +4 F +9 76 73 76 225
T22 Tom Hossfeld Hylands Golf Club +4 F +9 74 75 76 225
T22 Howard Mandelbaum Oakdale G&CC +5 F +9 73 75 77 225
T22 William King Sault Ste. Marie GC +6 F +9 72 75 78 225
T30 Greg Hotham Barrie CC +1 F +10 75 78 73 226
T30 Barry Fairhurst Public Player(GAO Member) +3 F +10 78 73 75 226
T30 Dave Bergeron Sunningdale GC +5 F +10 73 76 77 226
T30 Bruce McEwen Scarboro Golf & Country C +6 F +10 73 75 78 226
T30 Tony Ravenda Port Colborne Golf & Coun +6 F +10 71 77 78 226
T35 Murray Clark Sunningdale GC +1 F +11 77 77 73 227
T35 Dennis Gordon Carrying Place Golf & Cou +6 F +11 76 73 78 227
T35 Brian Jeffery Batteaux Creek GC +7 F +11 75 73 79 227
T35 Richard Evoy Sault Ste. Marie GC +7 F +11 72 76 79 227
T39 Alasdair Cayley Toronto Golf Club +5 F +13 78 74 77 229
T39 Robert Goss Port Colborne Golf & Coun +6 F +13 74 77 78 229
T39 Dominic Marchesano Wildfire GC +6 F +13 74 77 78 229
T39 Bill Preston Stratford CC +8 F +13 74 75 80 229
T43 Robert Nebel Whitevale GC +4 F +14 75 79 76 230
T43 Michael Horrocks The National Golf Club of +6 F +14 74 78 78 230
T43 Mike Grabowski National Pines Golf Club +8 F +14 75 75 80 230
T43 Bill Hilton St. Andrew’s East Golf Cl +7 F +14 73 78 79 230
T43 Robert McGregor Blue Mountain G & CC +10 F +14 73 75 82 230
T48 Wally Keating Sunningdale GC +7 F +15 76 76 79 231
T48 Reg Finlayson The Club at North Halton +8 F +15 74 77 80 231
T50 Gerard Denomme Public Player(GAO Member) +6 F +16 75 79 78 232
T50 Rob Grinton Brantford G&CC +7 F +16 73 80 79 232
T50 John Brown Midland G & CC +10 F +16 76 74 82 232
T53 Fred Fairs Trafalgar Golf & Country +7 F +17 80 74 79 233
T53 Marvin Glazier Public Player(GAO Member) +8 F +17 79 74 80 233
T55 Kent Klim Devil’s Pulpit Golf Assoc +8 F +18 78 76 80 234
T55 Jim Perivolaris Sunningdale GC – T +9 F +18 77 76 81 234
T55 Chester Graham Midland G & CC +10 F +18 75 77 82 234
58 Jim Craigmile St. Marys Golf & Country +10 F +19 74 79 82 235
59 Steve Stoyanovich Highland Country Club +11 F +20 74 79 83 236
60 John Herbert Sunningdale GC +12 F +21 74 79 84 237
61 Charlie Pittock The Club at Bond Head +14 F +22 75 77 86 238
DID NOT FINISH
MC Rick St Denis Public Player(GAO Member) +11 77 78 155
MC Neil Boddington Barrie CC +11 73 82 155
MC Warren Sye Weston G&CC +11 79 76 155
MC Robert Chaperon Timberwolf Golf Club +11 78 77 155
MC Dan Bates Credit Valley Golf & Coun +11 74 81 155
MC Tim Lee Public Player(GAO Member) +11 78 77 155
MC George Stokes Deer Ridge Golf Club +11 75 80 155
MC Larry Weir Mississaugua +11 76 79 155
MC Rick Valin Deer Ridge Golf Club +11 75 80 155
MC Sandy Kalle Essex G & CC +11 78 77 155
MC Jim Brown Public Player(GAO Member) +11 73 82 155
MC Don Dobrowolski Brampton GC +12 79 77 156
MC Carl Nanni Meadowbrook Golf & Countr +12 74 82 156
MC Paul Alexander Credit Valley Golf & Coun +12 76 80 156
MC Gerald Hiltz Woodlands Links +12 75 81 156
MC Rob Myhill Donalda Club +12 71 85 156
MC Paul Soyatt Public Player(GAO Member) +12 72 84 156
MC Paul Stone Blue Mountain G & CC +13 78 79 157
MC Guy Kohlmeier Sarnia G&CC +13 76 81 157
MC Denis Murphy Pointe West GC +13 80 77 157
MC Bill White St. George’s Golf & Count +13 77 80 157
MC Phil Lee King Valley Golf Club +13 81 76 157
MC Dan Gagliardi Chippewa Creek Golf & Cou +13 78 79 157
MC Greg Adoranti Glen Abbey Golf Club +14 81 77 158
MC Tom Hyman Firerock GC +14 80 78 158
MC Donald White London Hunt and CC +14 81 77 158
MC Sam Semple Public Player(GAO Member) +14 82 76 158
MC Herb Cowen Pike Lake G & CC +14 79 79 158
MC Brian Lofgren West Haven G & CC +14 74 84 158
MC Bill Simmons Flamborough Hills Golf Cl +14 77 81 158
MC Roger Amelotte Blackhorse Golf & Country +14 80 78 158
MC David Stroud Beacon Hall GC +14 80 78 158
MC Les Westlake St. Catharines Golf & Cou +14 76 82 158
MC Rick Dodds-Hebron Brampton GC +14 79 79 158
MC Jim Briggs Lookout Point Country Clu +14 75 83 158
MC Jim Mccallum Kingsville Golf & Country +14 79 79 158
MC Ross Ballantyne Midland G & CC +15 75 84 159
MC Chris Ingram Wyldewood Golf & Country +15 79 80 159
MC Blane Hamilton Blackhorse Golf & Country +15 82 77 159
MC Desmond Brady Lookout Point Country Clu +15 77 82 159
MC Paul Findlay Rosedale Golf Club +15 80 79 159
MC Marty Quincey Devil’s Pulpit Golf Assoc +15 78 81 159
MC Dave Laws The Summit G&CC +15 82 77 159
MC Christopher Reiter Public Player(GAO Member) +15 80 79 159
MC Cliff Brown Fanshawe Golf & Country C +16 80 80 160
MC Douglas Alexander London Hunt and CC +16 84 76 160
MC Dan Nywening Beechwood Golf Club +16 79 81 160
MC Jim Murdoch Rolling Meadows Golf & Co +16 79 81 160
MC Ian Dinning Credit Valley Golf & Coun +17 82 79 161
MC Stephen Brodie St. Thomas Golf & Country +17 81 80 161
MC John Nash London Hunt and CC +17 83 78 161
MC Eric Wright Granite GC +17 81 80 161
MC John Wellard North Bay G & CC +17 80 81 161
MC Keith Vassallo Markland Wood GC +17 86 75 161
MC Chris Fliesser Sunningdale GC +17 80 81 161
MC Bob Desautels Cutten Fields +17 83 78 161
MC Sid Segsworth Idylwylde Golf & Country +17 80 81 161
MC Andy Smart Cutten Fields +18 77 85 162
MC Walter Dalziel Oakville Golf Club +18 78 84 162
MC Adrian Ferreira Credit Valley Golf & Coun +18 79 83 162
MC Doug Piett Lookout Point Country Clu +18 83 79 162
MC John Mcbride Lakeridge Links Golf Club +18 80 82 162
MC Dru Lafave GreyHawk GC- Predator +18 83 79 162
MC Mark Davidson Hawk Ridge G&CC +18 77 85 162
MC Don Reed Public Player(GAO Member) +19 85 78 163
MC Derek Orr Barrie CC +19 79 84 163
MC Richard Harrison Public Player(GAO Member) +19 82 81 163
MC Scot Cherry Lakeridge Links Golf Club +19 82 81 163
MC Michael Pogor Hidden Lake GC +19 77 86 163
MC Rick Allum West Haven G & CC +20 80 84 164
MC Rick Paquette Beach Grove G&CC +20 79 85 164
MC Robert Dool Brampton GC +20 83 81 164
MC Michael Kelly Pakenham Highlands GC +20 83 81 164
MC Rollie Turrie Chapples Golf Club +20 80 84 164
MC Eric Stevens Garrison Golf & Curling C +20 84 80 164
MC Bill Mound Public Player(GAO Member) +21 82 83 165
MC Ron McKelvie Glendale Golf & CC +21 83 82 165
MC John Mealia Bayview G&CC +21 80 85 165
MC Philip Henley The Club at North Halton +21 79 86 165
MC Greg Pimento The Mandarin G & CC +22 81 85 166
MC Don Bathgate Big Cedar Point Golf & Co +23 83 84 167
MC John Cameron Barrie CC +23 83 84 167
MC Frank Mortensen Lookout Point Country Clu +23 76 91 167
MC Kevin Boland Brampton GC +26 85 85 170
MC Scott MacKenzie Conestoga Golf & Country +27 87 84 171
MC Mike Garbutt Batteaux Creek GC +29 89 84 173
MC John German Nottawasaga Inn Golf Club +30 90 84 174
MC Albert Dietrich Grey Silo Golf Course +31 94 81 175
MC Gerald Pilkington Woodlands Links +31 83 92 175
MC Jeff Crampton Sunningdale GC +32 86 90 176
MC Grant Smillie Public Player(GAO Member) +34 94 84 178
WD Ted McCahill Indian Hills Golf Club
DQ Ross Macdonald Deer Ridge Golf Club +8 75 77 152
(p) denotes won playoff, * denotes a 10th hole start
