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Sunday, June 16, 2013

Derek Johnson Claims 3rd Victory

Cool, wet, and winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour added to the challenge presented by the picturesque Grand niagara Golf Course in Port Robinson, Ontario.  25 AmTour players from various regions of Canada and the United States teed it up on Sunday, June 2nd in their quest to gain entry into the 2013 National Championships.  The weather conditions only added to the challenge facing them.


Derek Johnson of Cambridge, Ontario and Chris Dopp of Collingwood, Ontario went to an extra hole in a playoff that saw Johnson gain claim his 3rd victory of the 2013 season.  With his victory, the Sarazen Flight competitor gained an exemption into the National Championships which will be staged on the LaQuinta Resort courses, a regular stop on the PGA Tour, in late September. Congratulations go out to Derek, a first year player on the tour, for his accomplishment.





It's been a rather up and down season for Jonathon Gingrich of Williamsville, New York but his ability to manage the difficult conditions presented to him by the high winds and wet conditions, allowed him to enter the winner's circle for the first time this season.  Gingrich, a tour rookie, took home the hardware by a 2 stroke margin in the Championship Flight (for golfers with 0 to 3.9 handicaps) over a hard charging Abraham Botha of Stoney Creek, Ontario.






Five victories on the 2012 season and a promotion to the Hogan Flight (8 to 11.9 hdcp) initially prompted Tom Pettinella of Batavia, NY to wonder just how competitive he would be in the lower handicap flight. If his closing nine holes Sunday are any indication, his fears are alleviated. His 2 stroke margin of victory over Tim Kozlow of Buffalo, his nearest competitor, and his trophy shelf show that he is someone to pay attention to.






Pekka Ojapalo, a resident of Oakville, Ontario and a native of Finland, won the 2009 Senior Snead National Championship on the same courses that this years championships will be staged, to become the first National Champion from the local chapter of the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. Now playing in the Jones Flight (16 to 19.9 hdcp), the competition has been much stiffer.  sunday his game was nearly unbeatable as he cruised to victory by a 10 stroke margin.
Next up will be the Battle at Mill Creek on June 9th at the always popular Mill Creek Golf Course in Churchville, NY just outside of Rochester.

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