Golf Canada – Charles Fitzsimmons one back after 54 holes
Mike Dinner paces Mid-Master division
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – It’s tight atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of the 33rd Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship held at Summit Golf Club, with Joseph Deraney of Belden, Miss., and Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., sharing the lead.
Deraney, the defending champion, ascended the leaderboard by carding a 3-under-par 68, the lowest score in round three.
“It was windy and it’s very blustery,” said Deraney. “It blows in between the trees. The pins were in some really good locations, so it’s a tough golf course. We knew anything under-par was going to be a good score.”
Deraney made consecutive birdies on holes No. 7 and 8 and on holes No. 14 and 15, moving to 6 under for the tournament. The defending champion, Deraney came from behind to win the competition in 2018.
“Last year I wasn’t that far out,” said Deraney. “I was in the second-to-last group and clearly visible to the guys behind me. Again, this golf course is set-up pretty difficult. You have to keep hitting shots. If you need to start pressing towards the end, you can do that, but the first 14 to 15 holes you just have to play good golf.”
A double-bogey on the par-4 1st erased the two-stroke lead Rank carried into the third round. The three-time champion recovered with three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th.
Both Deraney and Rank bogeyed the 18th hole, giving them a one-stroke lead over Charles Fitzsimmons of London, Ont.
Fitzsimmons, who carded the low score in the second round, is alone in third at 5 under. The reigning Canadian University/College men’s individual champion briefly led on Thursday, ultimately carding a round of 1 under.
Mike Aizawa of Richmond, B.C., is alone in fourth place at 1 under for the tournament, shooting a 2-under-par 69 in the third round.
Philip Arci (Vaughan, Ont.) rounds out the top-five at even-par.
In the 40-and-over Mid-Master division, Mike Dinner of Burlington, Ont., has opened a three-stroke lead. Dinner carded a round of 2 under on Thursday and now sits at 3 over for the tournament. He is in eighth place in the Mid-Amateur division.
Derek Meinhart (Mattoon, Ill.) and Ashley Chinner (Brooklin, Ont.) are tied for second at 6-over-par.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2019 champion will receive an exemption into the 2020 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Photos from Thursday’s third round are available here. (Photo credit: Golf Canada)
2019 CANADIAN MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP THIRD ROUND LEADERS – MID-AMATEUR DIVISION
1. Joseph Deraney, Belden, MS, *70-69-68-207 -6
1. Garrett Rank, Elmira, ON, *66-70-71-207 -6
3. Charles Fitzsimmons, London, ON, *71-67-70-208 -5
4. Mike Aizawa, Richmond, BC, *71-72-69-212 -1
5. Philip Arci, Vaughan, ON, *72-71-70-213 E
6. David Lang, Toronto, ON, *70-75-69-214 +1
7. Ryan Sevigny, Ottawa, ON, *67-74-74-215 +2
8. Mike Dinner, Burlington, ON, *71-76-69-216 +3
9. Mark Schurer, Calgary, AB, *73-73-71-217 +4
9. Dustin Yeager, Calgary, AB, *76-70-71-217 +4
2019 CANADIAN MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP THIRD ROUND LEADERS – MID-MASTER DIVISION
1. Mike Dinner, Burlington, ON, *71-76-69-216 +3
2. Ashley Chinner, Brooklin, ON, *72-73-74-219 +6
2. Derek Meinhart, Mattoon, IL, *71-74-74-219 +6
4. Jaron Flynn, St. John’s, NL, *72-75-73-220 +7
5. Michael Brown, Maple Shade, NJ, *72-77-73-222 +9
5. Matthew Ion Young, Burlington, ON, *72-75-75-222 +9
5. Ryan Kings, Kitchener, ON, *73-72-77-222 +9
8. Rob Couture, Dallas, TX, *74-78-72-224 +11
8. Craig Doell, Victoria, BC, *75-75-74-224 +11
8. Dwight Reinhart, Ottawa, ON, *71-82-71-224 +11
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 20 championships nation-wide which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist and FootJoy. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions.
GOLF CANADA
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 319,000 golfers and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our vision is to be a world leader in golf. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.
For more information:
Graham Neysmith
Media & Public Relations
Golf Canada
(t) 514-435-4389
(e) gneysmith@golfcanada.ca