DuNdas Valley Golf and Curling club hosts

the Nature Valley Open

Dundas ON (August 19, 2014) - Part deux of week sixteen of the 2014 GTA AM Tour season was played today, and it could not have been any better!!! The weather was amazing, the course conditions were impeccable and the competition was intense at today's Nature Valley Open. The event took place on the historic Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club - Long Course; a Canadian classic, designed in 1929 by the prolific and very talented Stanley Thompson. This fabulous course, set on western tip of the Niagara Escarpment, is a composition of lush fairways that are majestically lined with mature oak, willow, and maple trees guarding the challenging greens which make you think twice and, hopefully, putt once. This classic, strategic layout appeals to golfers of all abilities while challenging the low handicap players. Success would come to Tour players who were able to execute with equal parts patience and accuracy.

In the Championship Flight, the best round of the 2014 season would be recorded; making it back to back wins in the week and four straight victories. Peter Willis (Aurora, ON) shot the lights out today, firing an amazing sub-par round of 69!!! Peter, would play the course to perfection, carding five birdies, ten pars, and three bogies. Alone, in second today, was Jay Skukowski (Toronto, ON) who is coming off a second place finish last week at the Ultra 94 Classic. Jay turned in another great round of 77. To determine third place, card matching was required, as two players would be deadlocked with matching rounds of 78: Chris Willis (Toronto, ON), the younger of the Willis brothers, and Tour Sponsor and competitor Joshua Kingsmill (Toronto, ON). When matching the last nine holes, both players would remain tied having shot 41. When matching the last six holes, Chris would take third place having scored 24 over Joshua with a 26. The Championship Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Merithas a small change: John Harrington sees his lead shrink to 200 points as he currently sits with 810 points. Capturing his fifth Tour win this season, today's winner Peter Willis jumped three spots into second place and now has 610 points. Slipping one spot into third place, but only 7.5 points back of second, is Stephen Wright with 602.5 points. 

In the A-Flight, for a second straight day, the Tour would hold a playoff to determine the winner. The current, first and third place Myrtle Beach Order of Merit leaders, would make it an exciting finish today as both would turn in matching rounds of 78: Shavi Kahlon (Brooklin, ON) and Matt Ward (Location?). Matt and Shavi headed to the 236 yard par three ninth hole (which finishes at the clubhouse patio) to begin their playoff. Matt would hit his tee shot to pin high, just right of the green, leaving him a fairly easy, uphill, 20 foot putt. Shavi, on the other hand, landed just past the pin in the rough, left of the green, leaving him a very slippery downhill chip. Matt ended up parring the hole for the victory, turning out to be a wonderful birthday gift he gave himself..! To determine third place, card matching was required as two players would enter the clubhouse with matching rounds of 80: Mike Reynolds (Toronto, ON), and Scott Lundy (Ajax, ON). When matching the last nine holes, Mike would come out on top, capturing his first top three finish of the season, scoring 39, over Scott who carded a 42. The A Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Meritsees little change As Shavi Kahlon continues to hold down the number one spot. However, Shavi saw his lead diminish to only 117.5 points as Matt Ward jumped one spot, into second place, and now has 570 points. Sliding one spot down, to third place, is Darryl Scott who has 490 points.

In the B-Flight, Michael Cann would make it three wins on the season!! Another great day for Michael, as he would play, yet another, steady round. Although starting off his round with a double bogie, he would settle down for the rest of the front nine, keeping it in the short grass to make the turn with a 40. On the back nine, he would find some trouble on the eleventh and fourteenth, taking another two double bogies to finish the round with four straight bogies for 44. His round of 84 would turn out to be enough to win by two strokes. To determine second and third place, card matching was required, as three players would all play to matching rounds of 86: Fred Snel (Brampton, ON), John Baty (Toronto, ON) and Dick Freeborough (Oakville, ON). When matching the last nine holes, Fred would take home a TaylorMade putter, for second place, having carded a 42. Taking home third place prizing, with his back nine score of 43 ,was John, who was recently promoted to the B Flight from the C Flight, due to his outstanding play the past two months. In the B-Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, with his win today, Michael Cann saw his lead grow to 155 points, as he continues to hold down top spot with 695 points. In second spot is John Farrugia who has 540 points and, in third place, is Mark Armatage with 422.5 points.

In the C-Flight, The Tour would crown yet another first time winner of the 2014 Tour season. Dana Wedlock's (Stoney Creek, ON), round would not be without its challenges, as he would struggle on the front nine to keep it together. Dana would head to the fifth hole at even par, after four holes played but the next five holes could not end fast enough as he would finish the front nine at eleven over, 46. The back nine would be a different story as he would play it safe and up the middle, to finish with a 41 on the back nine, for a total of 87 which would be good enough for Dana to win by two and capture his first win ON TOUR. To determine second and third places, card matching was required, as two players would enter the clubhouse with matching rounds of 89:  Chun Zhang (Brantford,  ON) and Bob Sikorski (Toronto, ON). The result of matching the back nine scores would see Chun, playing in only his second event, capture second place, by carding a 44 on the back, over Bob's score of 46. Bob would return to form at today's event and would go home one happy man for placing third as would be taking home the Mill Street Beer and TaylorMade balls for his efforts. The C-Flight Myrtle Beach Order of Merit sees a small change as Bob Sikorski's impressive lead shrinks by twenty-five points as he sits with 747.5 total points to lead by 275 points. In second place is Krish Nair, who gained some ground today, by finishing in fifth place. Krish has 472.5 points and, climbing into third, Robert Perri has 420 points..

Another one of the many ways to win on Tour is through Net Score competition. The net score competition is based on the net scores of all the players who did not place in the top three gross winning positions in their respective Flights. The top two net winners at each event receive one dozen TaylorMade golf balls and one case (24) of Mill Street beer. This week's winners were Mark Hagen, with a net 67, and Scott Lundy with a net 68. In addition to the season-long Gross Score, Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, players will compete for a parallel season-long Net Score Order of Merit. After 16 events, Mark Matusiak continues to hold down top spot with 629.5 and, in second, Michael Cann has 610.5. For complete standings click on the link.

The winner of the closest-to-the-pin from today's event the Mill Street Brewery Challenge was Jeremey Choi winning a dozen TaylorMade golf balls. Also at every event, there is a Mazda Hole in One hole, where all players shoot at a chance to win a $2,500 sponsor product shopping spree. This week's winner of the Hole in One closest to the pin was Gerry Beasley Along with these prizes, Petro-Canada, TaylorMade and Mill Street Brewery products are awarded to the top 3 finishers in each of the four Flights. The Tour also awards a draw prize at each event for a $50 certificate redeemable at the Mill Street Brew Pub; the winner of this week's Mill Street Brewery Certificate was Trevor Green.