Canadian Amateur Championship

The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by Golf Canada. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995.[1] It then returned to stroke play in 2008.

Founding and early years

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The Royal Canadian Golf Association was founded in June 1895, at a meeting held in Ottawa by ten charter member clubs, hosted by the Ottawa Golf Club (later the Royal Ottawa Golf Club), and the new organization was granted the prefix 'Royal' in 1896. In conjunction with the meeting, the first men's amateur championship was staged, at match play, with the Governor General of Canada, Lord Aberdeen, donating a trophy, the Aberdeen Cup, to the champion. Thomas Harley of Kingston, Ontario won the first championship.[1]

This makes the Canadian Amateur slightly older than the U.S. Amateur, which was first staged later in 1895, and hence the third oldest national amateur championship in the world, after the British Amateur Championship, which began in 1885, and the Australian Amateur in 1894.

The Aberdeen Cup was granted in perpetuity to George Lyon, after he won three straight titles from 1905 to 1907. The original cup was retained by Lyon, but was eventually lost. A new trophy was then provided, the Earl Grey Cup. Lyon would win a total of eight Canadian titles, which is still a record,[1] and he also won the gold medal at golf in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.

The tournament was held annually until 1914 inclusive, but then was cancelled from 1915 to 1918 because of World War I. It resumed in 1919, and then was staged annually until 1939 inclusive, being cancelled again from 1940 to 1945 because of World War II. It has been held annually since 1946.[1]

Willingdon Cup

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In 1927, the interprovincial team matches, which had begun in 1882, and held 27 times until 1921, between teams from Ontario and Quebec, but then dropped,[2] were resumed with the start of the Willingdon Cup competition, playing for a cup donated by the Governor General, Lord Willingdon. The Willingdon Cup features teams of four top players from each province, and is held on the first two days of the Canadian Amateur, which are also the qualifying days for the balance of the tournament. The Willingdon Cup was also not played from 1940-45.[1]

Rotation around country

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The Canadian Amateur stayed in Ontario and Quebec until 1921, when it went to Manitoba. It went to Alberta for the first time in 1929, to British Columbia for the first time in 1932, to Atlantic Canada for the first time in 1949, and to Saskatchewan for the first time in 1950.[3] Since then, it has rotated around the country's top courses, with the current format allowing each of the six major golf regions (Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia) to have its turn on approximately a six-year cycle. Among Canada's ten provinces, only Newfoundland and Labrador has yet to host it.

Dominant players

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The Canadian Amateur was dominated in the 1920s and 1930s by Ross Somerville, who won six titles, finished runner-up four times, and had several more near-misses. Moe Norman won back-to-back titles in 1955 and 1956. Nick Weslock waited until age 40 to win the first of his four titles in 1957. Although Gary Cowan was consistently the best Canadian amateur from the late 1950s into the mid-1970s, he managed to win only one Canadian title, in 1961, but lost in the finals four more times, as well as finishing runner-up twice in stroke play. Doug Roxburgh won his first of four crowns in 1972. Jim Nelford won two in a row from 1975–1976, then narrowly missed a third in 1977, when he lost to Rod Spittle, who won two in a row. Brent Franklin won three in a row from 1985–1987, a feat not seen since Lyon did it some eighty years earlier.[1] Richard Scott won the Canadian title in three years out of four from 2003 to 2006. Cam Burke won two straight from 2008 to 2009.[4]

From the late 1920s into the 1970s, the Canadian Amateur often attracted many of the top American amateurs, several of whom carried the trophy south, including Dick Chapman, Frank Stranahan, Don Cherry, Harvie Ward, Allen Miller, Dick Siderowf, and George Burns. Other leading Americans who competed but fell short include William C. Campbell, Jay Sigel, and Nathaniel Crosby. The Canadian title has also been won by South African Reg Taylor (1962), New Zealanders Stuart Jones (1967) and Gareth Paddison (2001), Mexican Rafael Alarcón (1979), and Australian Gary Simpson (1993).

To date, four players have won both the U.S. Amateur and Canadian Amateur titles: Ross Somerville, Dick Chapman, Harvie Ward, and Gary Cowan. Chapman and Ward also won The Amateur Championship of Great Britain, a title which no Canadian has yet taken.

Winners who won PGA Tour events

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To date, eleven players who won the Canadian Amateur have also won events on the PGA Tour. These eleven (in chronological order of their Canadian Amateur wins) are: Fred Haas, Ken Black, Frank Stranahan, Bunky Henry, Allen Miller, George Burns (golfer), Richard Zokol, Garrett Willis, Dillard Pruitt, Nick Taylor, and Mackenzie Hughes.

Rod Spittle, Canadian Amateur champion in 1977 and 1978, later won an event on the Champions Tour, the 2010 AT&T Championship in San Antonio.

Most championships hosted

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The Toronto Golf Club (1898, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1909, 1913, 1926, 1995, and 2017) and the Royal Ottawa Golf Club (1895, 1899, 1906, 1911, 1914, 1925, 1951, 1991, and 2016) have each hosted nine. Next are Royal Montreal Golf Club with seven (1897, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1931) and Hamilton Golf and Country Club with six (1922, 1927, 1935, 1948, 1977, and 1994).

Winners

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Year Venue Winner Country Score Runner-up
2025 Royal Ottawa Golf Club, QUE
2024 Riverside Country Club, SASK Tyler Mawhinney   United States 273   Ashton McCulloch 274
2023 The Pulpit Club, ONT Ashton McCulloch   Canada 277   Phil Arci 282
2022 Point Grey Golf & Country Club, BC Luis Carrera   Mexico 274   Robbie Latter 276
2021 Ambassador Golf Club, ONT Max Sekulic   Canada 267   A.J. Ewart 269
2020 Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic[5]
2019 Glen Arbour Golf Club, NS William Buhl   Norway 273   Calvin McCoy 281
2018 Duncan Meadows, BC Zach Bauchou   United States 266   Philip Knowles 269
2017 Toronto Golf Club & Islington Golf Club, ONT Zach Bauchou   United States 272   Shintaro Ban 273
2016 Royal Ottawa Golf Club, QUE Hugo Bernard   Canada 271   Andy Zhang 273
2015 Weston Golf and Country Club, ONT Billy Kennerly   United States 275   Hugo Bernard 281
  Garrett Rank 281
  Jake Shuman 281
2014 Elmhurst Golf Club, MAN James Beale   New Zealand 276   Jonathan Garrick 276
  Taylor Pendrith 276
2013 Royal Colwood Golf Club, BC Eli Cole   United States 276   Corey Conners 277
  Taylor Pendrith 277
2012 Camelot Golf Club, ONT Mackenzie Hughes   Canada 276   Brian Churchill-Smith 277
  Chris Hemmerich 277
2011 Niakwa Country Club, MAN Mackenzie Hughes   Canada 274   Albin Choi 276
2010 London Hunt Club & Redtail G&CC, ONT Albin Choi   Canada 271   Eugene Wong 274
2009 Club de golf Le Blainvillier, QUE Cam Burke   Canada 275   Mitch Sutton 276
2008 Paradise Canyon Golf & Country Club, ALTA Cam Burke   Canada 274   Scott Stiles 278
  Eugene Wong 278
2007 Riverside, SASK Nick Taylor   Canada 38 holes   Michael Knight
2006 Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, ONT Richard Scott   Canada 2 & 1   Todd Halpen
2005 Bell Bay Golf Club, Baddeck, NS Richard Scott   Canada 10 & 8   Jay Snyder
2004 Beaconsfield GC, QUE Darren Wallace   Canada 5 & 3   Marc Bourgeois
2003 Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, BC Richard Scott   Canada 4 & 3   Chris Baryla
2002 Fraser Edmundston Golf Club, NB Dillard Pruitt   United States 6 & 5   Michael Mezei
2001 Credit Valley G&CC, ONT Gareth Paddison   New Zealand 8 & 7   Graham Cooke
2000 Glendale G&CC, ALTA Han Lee   United States 5 & 3   Blair Buttar
1999 Rivershore Estates & Golf Links, BC Han Lee   United States 1 up   Wes Heffernan
1998 Hillsdale G&CC, QUE Craig Matthew   Canada 2 & 1   Steven Davies
1997 The Links at Crowbush Cove, PEI Dale Goehring   Canada 1 up   David Anthony
1996 Glendale G&CC, MAN Rob McMillan   Canada 4 & 3   Craig Matthew
1995 Toronto Golf Club, ONT Garrett Willis   United States 3 & 2   Stu Hamilton
1994 Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ONT Warren Sye   Canada 280(P)   Bryan DeCorso 280
1993 Victoria Golf Club, BC Gary Simpson   Australia 281   Stu Hamilton 282
1992 Riverside Country Club, NB Darren Ritchie   Canada 282   Mike Weir 284
1991 Royal Ottawa Golf Club, QUE Jeff Kraemer   Canada 283   Rob Anderson 285
  Steven Davies 285
  Mike Weir 285
1990 Weston Golf and Country Club, ONT Warren Sye   Canada 281   Jeff Cannon 283
  Arden Knoll 283
1989 Oakfield G&CC, NS Peter Major   Canada 279   Harvey Ellsworth 285
1988 Gallaghers Canyon, BC Doug Roxburgh   Canada 285   Orrin Vincent 288
1987 Derrick, AB Brent Franklin   Canada 283   David Ecob 285
1986 Mactaquac, NB Brent Franklin   Canada 286   Jack Kay, Jr. 287
1985 Riverside, SASK Brent Franklin   Canada 283(P)   Stu Hamilton 283
1984 Sunningdale CC, ONT Bill Swartz   Canada 285   Danny Mijovic 287
1983 Capilano, BC Danny Mijovic   Canada 277   Jay Sigel 284
1982 Kanawaki, QUE Doug Roxburgh   Canada 287(P)   Brian Christie, Jr. 287
  Stu Hamilton 287
1981 Calgary G&CC, ALTA Richard Zokol   Canada 271(P)   Blaine McCallister 271
1980 Halifax GC (New), NS Greg Olson   Canada 290   Stu Hamilton 293
  Steve Hayles 293
1979 Brantford GC, ONT Rafael Alarcón   Mexico 282   Graham Cooke 286
1978 Laval-sur-le-Lac Club, QUE Rod Spittle   Canada 276   Gary Cowan 286
  Bob Mase 286
1977 Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ONT Rod Spittle   Canada 279   Jim Nelford 281
1976 Royal Colwood G&CC, BC Jim Nelford   Canada 287(P)   Rafael Alarcón 287
1975 Riverside Country Club, NB Jim Nelford   Canada 280   Doug Roxburgh 284
1974 Niakwa Country Club, MAN Doug Roxburgh   Canada 280   Gary Cowan 284
1973 Summit, ONT George Burns   United States 284   Richard Ehrmanntraut 285
  Daniel O'Neill 285
1972 Earl Grey, ALTA Doug Roxburgh   Canada 276   Dave Barr 280
1971 Oakfield G&CC, NS Dick Siderowf   United States 293(P)   Doug Roxburgh 293
1970 Ottawa Hunt, ONT Allen Miller   United States 274   Stu Hamilton 284
  Billy Kratzert 284
  Dick Siderowf 284
  Jim Simons 284
1969 Westmount, ONT Wayne McDonald   Canada 284   Dick Siderowf 285
  Leonard Thompson 285
1968 Mayfair, ALTA Jim Doyle   Canada 4 & 3   Gary Cowan
1967 Royal Colwood, BC Stuart Jones   New Zealand 3 & 2   Ross Murray
1966 Summerlea, QUE Nick Weslock   Canada 1 up   William Brew
1965 Pine Ridge, MAN Bunky Henry   United States 1 up   William C. Campbell
1964 Riverside, SASK Nick Weslock   Canada 1 up   Gary Cowan
1963 Riverside Country Club, NB Nick Weslock   Canada 7 & 6   Bert Ticehurst
1962 Sunningdale CC, ONT Reg Taylor   South Africa 4 & 2   Tom Draper
1961 Edmonton CC, ALTA Gary Cowan   Canada 1 up   Ted Homenuik
1960 Ottawa Hunt, ONT Keith Alexander   Canada 4 & 3   Gary Cowan
1959 Marine Drive, BC John Johnston   Canada 1 up   Gary Cowan
1958 Scarboro, ONT Bruce Castator   Canada 1 up   Eric Hanson
1957 St. Charles Country Club, MAN Nick Weslock   Canada 9 & 8   Ted Homenuik
1956 Fraser Edmundston Golf Club, NB Moe Norman   Canada 5 & 4   Jerry Magee
1955 Calgary G&CC, ALTA Moe Norman   Canada 39 holes   Lyle Crawford
1954 London Hunt, ONT Harvie Ward   United States 5 & 4   William C. Campbell
1953 Kanawaki, QUE Don Cherry   United States 1 up   Don Doe
1952 Capilano, BC Larry Bouchery   United States 37 holes   William C. Campbell
1951 Royal Ottawa Golf Club, QUE Walter McElroy   Canada 2 & 1   Phil Farley
1950 Saskatoon GC, SASK Bill Mawhinney   Canada 6 & 4   Nick Weslock
1949 Riverside Country Club, NB Dick Chapman   United States 38 holes   Phil Farley
1948 Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ONT Frank Stranahan   United States 9 & 7   C.J. Stoddard
1947 Royal-Quebec Golf Club, QUE Frank Stranahan   United States 6 & 5   Bill Ezinicki
1946 Mayfair, ALTA Henry Martell   Canada 6 & 5   Ken Black
1940-45: No Championships due to World War II
1939 Mount Bruno, QUE Ken Black   Canada 8 & 6   Henry Martell
1938 London Hunt Club, ONT Ted Adams   United States 37 holes   Ross Somerville
1937 Ottawa Hunt, ONT Ross Somerville   Canada 2 & 1   Phil Farley
1936 St. Charles Country Club, MAN Fred Haas   United States 8 & 7   Bobby Reith
1935 Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ONT Ross Somerville   Canada 7 & 6   Gordon Taylor, Jr.
1934 Laval-sur-le-Lac Club, QUE Albert Campbell   United States 1 up   Ross Somerville
1933 Shaughnessy Heights, BC Albert Campbell   United States 3 & 2   Ken Black
1932 Lambton Golf Club, ONT Gordon B. Taylor   Canada 5 & 3   Jack A. Cameron
1931 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE Ross Somerville   Canada 3 & 2   Arthur Yates
1930 London Hunt Club, ONT Ross Somerville   Canada 11 & 10   J. Wood Platt
1929 Jasper Park Golf Club, ALTA Eddie Held   United States 3 & 2   Gardiner White
1928 Summerlea, QUE Ross Somerville   Canada 3 & 2   William K. Lanman, Jr.
1927 Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ONT Donald Carrick   Canada 9 & 8   Frank Thompson
1926 Toronto Golf Club, ONT Ross Somerville   Canada 4 & 3   C.C. Fraser
1925 Royal Ottawa Golf Club, QUE Donald Carrick   Canada 5 & 4   Ross Somerville
1924 Rosedale Golf Club, ONT Frank Thompson   Canada 3 & 1   Ross Somerville
1923 Kanawaki Golf Club, QUE W.J. Thompson   Canada 3 & 2   Redvers Mackenzie
1922 Hamilton Golf and Country Club, ONT C.C. Fraser   Canada 37 holes   Norman Scott
1921 Winnipeg GC, MAN Frank Thompson   Canada 38 holes   C.W. Hague
1920 Beaconsfield GC, QUE C.B. Grier   Canada 5 & 4   Tom Gillespie
1919 Lambton Golf Club, ONT William McLuckie   Canada 6 & 4   G.H. Turpin
1915-18: No Championships due to World War I
1914 Royal Ottawa Golf Club George Lyon   Canada 8 & 7   Brice Evans
1913 Toronto Golf Club, ONT G.H. Turpin   Canada 1 up   Gerald Lees
1912 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE George Lyon   Canada 6 & 5   A. Hutcheson
1911 Royal Ottawa Golf Club G.H. Hutton   Canada 39 holes   A.E. Austin
1910 Lambton Golf Club, ONT Fritz Martin   Canada 37 holes   George Lyon
1909 Toronto Golf Club, ONT E. Legge   Canada 1 up   G.F. Moss
1908 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE A. Wilson, Jr.   Canada 1 up   Fritz Martin
1907 Lambton Golf Club, ONT George Lyon   Canada 3 & 2   Fritz Martin
1906 Royal Ottawa Golf Club George Lyon   Canada 5 & 4   Douglas Laird
1905 Toronto Golf Club, ONT George Lyon   Canada 12 & 11   R.S. Strath
1904 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE J. Percy Taylor   Canada 5 & 3   George Lyon
1903 Toronto Golf Club, ONT George Lyon   Canada 10 & 8   M.C. Cameron
1902 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE Fritz Martin   Canada 1 up   R.C.H Cassells
1901 Toronto Golf Club, ONT W.A.H. Kerr   Canada 38 holes   J. Percy Taylor
1900 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE George Lyon   Canada 38 holes   Gordon W. McDougall
1899 Royal Ottawa Golf Club Vere C. Brown   Canada 5 & 3   Stewart Gillespie
1898 Toronto Golf Club, ONT George Lyon   Canada 12 & 11   G.H.F. Pattison
1897 Royal Montreal Golf Club, QUE W.A.H. Kerr   Canada 5 & 4   R.T. Henderson
1896 Royal-Quebec Golf Club, QUE Stewart Gillespie   Canada 4 & 3   W.A. Griffith
1895 Royal Ottawa Golf Club Thomas Harley   Canada 7 & 5   A. Simpson

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Golf in Canada: A History, by James A. Barclay, Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1992.
  2. ^ History of Golf In Canada, by Lawrence Vincent Kavanagh, Don Mills, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1973, p. 163.
  3. ^ History of Golf in Canada, by Lawrence Vincent Kavanagh, Toronto, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1973, pp.160-161.
  4. ^ http://www.rcga.org, the Canadian Amateur results archive.
  5. ^ "Golf Canada's 2020 National Amateur Championships cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic". Golf Canada. June 15, 2020.
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