The first round of the 2008 Nike Golf Men’s NB Mid-Amateur Championship at the Sussex Golf & Curling Club has been completed with Drew McCafferty leading the field. Round one began Wednesday morning where the tournament saw McCafferty finish his round with a three shot lead over his fellow competitors.
McCafferty, from the Moncton Golf and Country Club, began his round with four birdies on the first six holes and finished the front 9 at 3 under par. He played an up-and-down back nine scoring 37 with an eagle and double-bogey for a final score of 70. McCafferty will be celebrating his 25th birthday on Saturday, which makes him eligible to play in this 25+ championship. August 18th, 2008 is the deadline by which the competitors must reach the age of 25 as this is the date of the first round of the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship.
Not far behind McCafferty is a group of five players, all sitting at 1 over par 73. The Fredericton Golf Club had a strong showing with Jamie Arbeau, Adam Atkinson, Tony MacKinnon, and Bob Brown all shooting a respectable 73. Jason Snow from the Hampton Golf Club is the other player who is also tied for 2nd place with his 73. Defending champion Gary Melanson from the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club is in a three-way tie for 7th place after firing a 2 over par 74. Tied with Melanson are Jason Doyle from the Riverside Country Club and Darren MacPherson from the Restigouche Golf & Country Club.
Leading the Mid-Masters (40+ age division) is the Fredericton Golf Club duo of Tony MacKinnon and Bob Brown with their 73s. Melanson is not far behind, sitting alone in 3rd spot with his 74. Leading the net division in both the Mid-Amateur Overall Net Division and the Mid-Masters Net Division is Paul Stackhouse from the Hampton Golf Club with a net score of 67.
In the 2nd division, Darren Church from the Moncton Golf and Country Club is tied with Michael Graham from the NBGA Public Players Club after they both shot a 3 over par 75. In the 3rd division, Paul Stackhouse is leading by 3 strokes after firing a 5 over par 77.
Thursday’s action is set to begin at 7:30am and the overall gross score leaders will be teeing off first. For a complete list of results and Thursday tee times, please visit: www.nbga.nb.ca.
The 54-hole Nike Golf NB Mid-Amateur Championship took on a new look in 2006 with the age requirement having been lowered from 40 to 25 years of age. This means to be eligible to participate in the 2008 Nike Golf NB Mid-Amateur Championship, a player need only to have reached his 25th birthday by August 18th, 2008 (1st Round of the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship). As part of the age change, the NBGA will continue to recognize the top finisher in the 40 and over category. A Mid-Masters Division was created and, as part of the NB Mid-Amateur Championship, the top finisher after 54 holes aged 40 or over, will be crowned the NB Mid-Masters Champion.
As part of the move to the new age categories, the RCGA has introduced a quota system for the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship, similar to the ones currently employed for the Canadian Junior & Canadian Amateur Championships. Essentially, a province’s performance at the Canadian Mid-Amateur over the past 5 years will determine how many spots a province is allocated for the current year’s championship. In 2008, New Brunswick will receive 9 of the 140 spots available through the Mid-Amateur quota system. The 2008 Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship will take place August 18th-22nd at the Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, Qualicum, BC.
In 2007, Nike Golf was introduced as the title sponsor of the Nike Golf NB Mid-Amateur Championship. “We’re thrilled to welcome Nike Golf as an NBGA sponsor,” offered NBGA Executive Director, Pierre Arsenault. “Nike is known around the world as a sports leader and, more recently as a leader in the golf industry. As such, we see this partnership as a great positive for amateur golf in New Brunswick. Nike is synonymous with excellence and accomplishment, both of which we celebrate through our provincial championships.” As part of the sponsorship, all New Brunswick provincial golf teams will be outfitted with Nike golf bags for the 2008 Canadian Championships. This includes New Brunswick’s 4 men’s teams – Amateur, Senior, Mid-Amateur, Junior and 3 women’s teams – Amateur, Senior, Junior.
Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honouring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game. In 2007, Nike Golf staff players have five victories and 26 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, as well as one international victory and two Nationwide wins. In 2006, Nike Golf accumulated 16 PGA Tour victories and 67 top-10 finishes, as well as one victory on the Nationwide Tour and 11 additional international wins.
The New Brunswick Golf Association, a non-profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the NBGA officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by the NBGA to its 14,000 members include: 18 provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.
For more information contact:
Pierre Arsenault, NBGA
Phone: (506) 461-4534
