THE MAD RIVER GOLF CLUB EXCITES AND

WOWS GTA AM TOUR PLAYERS

 

CREEMORE, ON (September 17th, 2014) - The second event of an exciting week on Tour was played today at one of Ontario's most remarkable, private golf clubs. The Mad River Golf Club was today's host of The Apexx Global Challenge, the 23rd GTA Am Tour event of the 2014 season. A world-class golf course, designed by Bob Cupp, a course architect who deserves far more recognition for his work than he receives, Mad River is dedicated entirely to the game of golf. The course possesses a great mix of long and short holes, dramatic elevation changes and quick, true greens. In late 2012, with the game of golf evolving, the members of Mad River Golf Club made a decision to undertake a major course renovation including the resurfacing of the greens, significant changes to five holes and a reconfiguring of tee boxes. These enhancements have ensured that Mad River continues to 'test the best' while offering more opportunity to enjoy the course for those with more modest golf skills. With Tour players set to take on this unique layout, it was anyone's to win. The course would offer a variety of strategic choices and shot variations that would demand finesse, patience, attack and composure; the players that came prepared to use every shot and club in their arsenal would take home the hardware. 

Mad River Golf Club - September 17, 2014

In the Championship Flight, Tour sponsor Matthew Mackay (Etobicoke, ON), playing only in his second event of the 2014 season due to the success of his Golf Away Tours business, made it a great day and would score his first win. Matthew turned in a fantastic round of 75, complete with 11 pars, 2 birdies, and 5 bogies to capture 100 Myrtle Beach Order of Merit points, along with 100 BMO World Elite Fall Swing points. Coming in second, making it the perfect ending to a two tournament week, Monday's winner Anu Sandhu (Brampton, ON), kept the ball rolling and would have another fantastic day turning in a round with one birdie, ten pars, five bogies and a double to finish with a round of 78. Finishing in third, playing in only his second Tour event of the season, Eric Cianciusi (Toronto, ON) turned in a round of 80, to give him his first top three finish. The Championship Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, remains unchanged as John Harrington continues to lead by 232.5 points and currently sits with 960 points. Stephen Wright remains in second, with 727.5 points and, in third spot, Peter Willis sits with 710 points.

 

In the A-Flight, Shavi Kahlon (Brooklin ON) was back in fine form today earning his second win of the season and his sixth top three finish. Shavi would set out on the front nine on fire, parring the first six holes. He would add another five pars to the round, a couple of birdies, four bogies and a double to finish his day with a round of 76; good enough to win by two. Capturing second place, and finding success in his new Flight, having started the year playing in the B-Flight, John Farrugia (Brampton ON) would score his fifth top three finish of the season, carding a round of 78. Finishing in third place, and scoring his fourth top three finish of the season, and second this week, Mike Hubbs (Toronto, ON)would close out his day with a round of 80. The A Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Meritsees no change after this event and still sees Darryl Scott in top spot by the slimmest of margins: 12.5 points. Darryl has 775 points and, in second place, Shavi Kahlon has 762.5 points. Remaining in third spot is Matt Ward, with 610 points.

 

In the B-Flight, making it two wins on the season and playing in only his fourth Tour event, Brian LaForge (Barrie ON) would play a round that would see very few struggles throughout. His only blip on the scorecard would come on the second hole with a double bogie. Brian would then finish his round with seven pars and eleven bogies for a score of 84 that was enough to put him atop of the podium.. To determine second and third place, card matching was required as two players would enter the clubhouse with matching rounds of 85: Jeff Lundy (Toronto ON) and Fred Snel (Brampton ON). The result of matching the back nine scores would see Jeff, who rejoins the Tour after a three month layoff, scoring his first top three finish of the season as he carded a 41 on the back, over Fred's score of 43, and would take home the TaylorMade Tour Preferred golf balls and case of Mill Street Beer for his efforts. In the B-Flight the Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, stands pat, with Brett Parry continuing to lead by 100 points with 555 points. In second, Michael Vettese has 455 points and, in third, Mark Armatage sits with 442.5 points.

 

The C-Flight would see the return of a champion. Jon Chu (Thornhill ON), who last won the 2013 season finale, Tour Championship, would have a another great day today that would see him make good when he found trouble, only struggling on three holes to score par, bogie and even a birdie to conclude his day, finishing with an 86. To determine second and third place, card matching was required, as two players would finish their day with matching rounds of 86: Evan Kilimnik (Barrie, ON), who returned to fine form having been away for the last month, and Christian Anderson (Collingwood ON) who would be looking for another second place finish on the season. The result of matching the back nine scores would see Evan take home the second place prizing, by carding a 42, leaving Christian to take home third with a score of 46. The C-Flight's Myrtle Beach Order of Meritcontinues to see Bob Sikorski lead with 767.5 total points, Ian Lederer in second place with 577.5 and, in third place, sits Krish Nair with 552.5 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 Stephen Curtis, with a net 67 and John Harris, with a net 71. In addition to the season-long Gross Score, Myrtle Beach Order of Merit, players will compete for a parallel, season-longNet Score Order of Merit. After 23 events, Shavi Kahlon holds down top spot with 650.5 points while Rob Olivier is in second with 639.5 but of the slimmest of margins ONE over Michael Cann who has 637.5 points who remains in third, for complete standings click on the link.

 

The winner of the closest-to-the-pin from today's event the Apexx Global Challenge was Michael Smith 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 Arthur Vaneck. 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 Andrew Reid.

Another new 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 Mill Street Brewery Challenge, Ultra 94 $20 gas card was David MacLachlan of the A-Flight.

 

Click here to view THE RESULTSfrom today's event Apexx Global Challenge played today at Mad River Golf Club. Also, to see all the action from today's event, check out theseGREAT PICTURES! We are certain you will also enjoy watching today's VIDEOcourtesy of Tour Sponsor Capture Scratch. We hope you have a chance to check them out and download them for FREE!!

 

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 MasterCard, TaylorMade Golf Canada, Mazda Canada, Mill Street Brewery, Ultra 94, Nature Valley, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, ECCO Shoes, P.J. Dermody Insurance Brokers, Joshua Kingsmill, Prodigy Headwear, LG Electronics Canada Inc., Cellworks, Sundog Eyewear, Golf Away Tours, Paradym Tech, Privileged Play, The 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.