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  GOLF LAB OPEN - TIGHT COMPETITION 

AND SUMMER TEMPS!!!

 

BARRIE ON (June 02, 2013) - Today, the 6th stop of the 2014 GTA AM Tour Season, The Golf Lab Open was held at the historic Barrie Country Club. Barrie Country Club was established in 1913, and started out as a nine hole layout. Throughout the years the course grew into the 18 hole gem it is today. In 2002, it underwent an extensive renovation that took place under the watchful eye of noted Canadian golf course architect Graham Cooke. A renovation that reshaped many of the bunkers, saw the addition of several new tee decks and the expansion of some of the existing tee decks. The course is best described as traditional, challenging and always in great condition while providing a fair test of golf for all. There were 97 Tour competitors in the field today which is a testament to the quality of the golf course layout and conditioning along with the clubhouse and excellent food.

 

Today, and for only the second time in Tour history, the most exciting of all the golf shots, a hole in one... with a prize attached!!! The thirteenth hole was set as this week's Mazda Hole in One hole. This is where players have a weekly opportunity to win a $2,500 sponsor product shopping spree. It would not take long today for someone to once again claim this prize as Aldo Bartolini, in the Championship Flight, would be celebrating!!! When GTA AM Tour, President Mark Young spoke with Aldo after his round he would learn this is old hat for Aldo as it would mark his fifth hole in one. Aldo, congratulations.... yet again...!!!

 

In the Championship Flight, The Tour would see the best round of the year posted, and it was by last week's second place finisher Robert Genno (Washago, ON). He would turn in an even par round of 72 and consisted of 14 pars, 2 birdies and 2 bogies, for a five stroke victory. Alone in second, and marking his third straight second place finish, was Stephen Wright who would card a 77. Rounding out the top three was Jay Skukowski (Toronto, ON) who would finish the tournament with a round of 78. The Championship Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Merit is setting up nicely for an exciting race. After six events Stephen Wright sits on top with 325 points. Alone in second, 15 points back is Peter Willis (Aurora, ON) (310 points), and in third is John Harrington (250 points).

 

The A Flight, with a field of 27 competitors, saw Shavi Kahlon (Brooklin, ON) find his groove and turn in a round of 79 which gave him a 3 shot victory. His round consisted of 9 pars, 1 birdie, and 8 bogies. Shavi was able to capture his first win of the 2014 Tour season and his third top three finish in his three starts. To determine second and third place, card matching was required as two (Larry Withyman (Hamilton, ON) and Justin Agostinho (Mississauga, ON) were tied at 82.  It would be Larry capturing the second place prizing and Myrtle Beach Order of Merit points, carding a 40 on the inward nine, over Justin's 42.The A Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, currently has a two way tie at the top with Matt Ward and Shavi Kahlon (250 points). Alone in third place is Danny MacDonald with 185 points.

 

In the B Flight today we would see local boys finish strong as Brian LaForge (Barrie, ON) would claim his first ever Tour win with a round of 80. It would be Brian's day as he would never really get into trouble keeping it down the middle and finishing with 8 pars, 9, bogies and 1 birdie. Alone in second was another hometown boy, Kevin Morris (Barrie, ON) who turned in a round of 85, which gave him his first top three finish on the season. To determine third place, card matching was required as two players entered the clubhouse with matching rounds of 86: Bob Fisher (Burlington, ON), and Tabu Van Rooyen (Midland, ON). The result of matching the inward nine scores would see Bob capture third place with a 41 back nine over Tabu's 44.The B Flight Myrtle Beach Order of Merit sees no change week over week. Mark Armatage (yet another Barrie boy!) remains in top spot with a 10 point lead and 270 points. Brett Parry sits in second with 260 points and rounding out the top three is Michael Cann with 220 points.

 

In the C Flight, after spending the winter working out at The Golf Lab (today's Sponsor) was Captain Travis Sherriff (Toronto, ON) of the Canadian Armed Forces. Travis would put his hard off-season work to the test and would turn in the C-Flight winning round of 88 to capture The Golf Lab Open. To determine second and third place, card matching was required as two players were tied with scores of 91. Tour veteran Bob Sikorski (Toronto, ON) captured second over Robert Perri (Toronto, ON). The C-Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Merit saw a big shake up this week as Mark Matusiak, who had just won three straight tournaments, two of which were by a differential lower than 15.0, received a battlefield promotion to the B Flight. This resulted in Krish Nair vaulting to top spot in the C Flight Myrtle Beach Order of Merit with 330 points. Alone in second, 80 points back of Krish, is Clayton MacKay with 250 points. With Robert Perri's finish today, he moves up into third spot with 210 points.

  

The winner of the closest-to-the-pin was Tabu Van Rooyen, winning a dozen TaylorMade Project a golf balls. Also, at every event, there will be on hole marked the Mazda Hole in One hole, where all players will have a chance to win a $2,500 sponsor product shopping spree. The winner of the Hole in One prize of a $2,500 Sponsor shopping spree, with his hole-in-one, was Aldo Bartolini. 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; today's winner of the Mill Street Brewery Certificate was Steve Curtis.

 

Another addition to the 2014 Tour prizing is an opportunity to win a $20 Ultra 94 Preferred Pricing gas card. A per-event draw will take place from all players who fire a score of 94. The winner of the Golf Lab Open, Ultra 94 $20 gas card this week was Sunil Gunness of the B-Flight.

 

Click here to view THE RESULTS from today's event The Golf Lab Open played at Barrie Country Club. Also, to see all the actions from today's event check out these great PICTURES, and the latest Tour VIDEOS provided by Tour Sponsor Capture Scratch. We hope you have a chance to check them out and download them for FREE!!

 

Next week's the GTA AM Tour heads east to the Kawarthas for The Capture Scratch Classic that will be hosted at Wildfire Golf Club, which will take place on Monday June 9th. A private family-focused club featuring a spectacular 18-hole layout designed by noted Canadian architect Tom McBroom.; space is still available, sign up today and don't forget to wear PINK or PURPLE

   

ABOUT THE GTA AM TOUR:  The GTA AM Tour is owned and operated by Canadian Golf Tours Inc. and is sponsored by: BMO World Elite MasterCardTaylorMade Golf Canada, Mazda Canada, Mill Street BreweryUltra 94Nature Valley, Myrtle Beach Golf HolidayECCO Shoes, P.J. Dermody Insurance Brokers, Joshua Kingsmill, Prodigy Headwear, LG Electronics Canada Inc., Cellworks, Sundog Eyewear, Golf Away Tours, Paradym Tech  Privileged PlayThe Golf Lab, Pixelcarve, Pacific Links, Bright Blue Wave, Dyma, Honsberger Physiotherapy and Biomechanics Clinic, Capture Scratch and Fame International Salon and Spa. Tournament rules officials are organized through the Royal Canadian Golf Association.

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