Ballantyne wins senior golf title (new)

From the Goal Association of Ontario web site:


The straight and steady approach worked for Ross Ballantyne of Midland, Ontario as he captured his first Investors Group Ontario Senior Men's Amateur Championship at the North Bay Golf & Country Club by five strokes.

Ballantyne fired a final round of one-over par 73 (after matching par on the first two days) to finish the 54-hole provincial championship at one-over par 217.  He started slowly with bogeys on the second and seventh holes, but birdied the ninth to make the turn at one over.

Ballantyne got off to a quick start on the back nine with birdies on 10 and 11 before slipping back with bogeys on 15 and 16. 

Martin Hay of Stoney Creek closed the tournament in strong fashion with a three-under par 69 to finish in second at 222.  His 69 was the low round of the event and featured five birdies and a 33 on the back nine.

Paul Brace of Oakville had a closing day 74 to take third spot at 225.  Tying for fourth (and the final position on the Ontario Senior Inter-provincial team)at 226 were the 60 & older division winner Patrick Suraj of Etobicoke and Chris Ingram of Brampton.  Ingram won the playoff for the team spot on the third hole.

George Stokes of Kitchener was sixth in the overall championship and second in the 60 & older division at 227.

The Super Seniors' Championship (70 & older) was won by Jack Northey of Southampton with 232.  He was one shot better than Larry Wagner of Pickering.

Please go to http://www.gao.ca for complete tournament coverage.