Winner Greg Doherty with Tour Directors John and David Brisson
Sebastian Szmirmak, Jon Mills, Reggie Millage
Jon Mills and his hole-in-one!
Brad Revell, David Crawford, Dan Bowling
Ian Doig, Brad Young
Richard Jung
Zack Schnurr, Lee French, Nate Lockey
Jon Rondeau
Mike Woodcock, Michael Gonko, Joey Hetherman
Dave Brisson with Greg Doherty, Sang Lee & Kyler Murphy
Kyler Murphy and his albatross!
Greg Doherty and his day 2 score
Eric Hawerchuk of Barrie took his first Professional win from Shawn LaFontaine of Cobourg in a shootout at Uxbridge’s Wyndance Golf Club. The pair shot 70, 2 under on the windy day; both 1 shot ahead of 3rd place finish from Jon Rondeau of Maple, Ontario. Hawerchuk has been in six playoffs and he hasn’t lost one. “I just try to make pars and I’m aware that everyone is nervous in the setting.” His playoff strategy is sticking to routine and trusting his golf game under pressure.
Hawerchuk was back playing the Great Lakes Tour after playing in Western Canada on the PGA Tour Canada. His trip, among many others, was cut short when the city of Calgary flooded leaving it in a state of emergency. He is back on the PGA Tour Canada in Winnipeg making everyone in Ontario proud.
Eric’s started playing golf seriously at the age of 12. He practiced under Sam Young at Shelburne Golf Club – one of the best junior schools in Canada. He was taught young what it means to practice seriously and how to play the game while keeping it fun.
Hawerchuk earned his PGA Tour Canada card last year at Q-School and his goal it to earn his Web.com tour card in the next couple years. His long term goal it to be a top player in the world. The team at the Great Lakes Tour believe this can be a reality as Hawerchuk is a consistently good player with a great work ethic. He is also a great team player, motivating Pros and Ams, old and new. Best of luck in your golf career Eric.
We asked Colin MacGregor of Freelton, “What’s In The Bag?”
Driver: Titleist 910 9.5 degrees with a Diamana ‘Ahini 72g X-stiff
3 wood: Ping i20 15 degrees with a UST Mamiya Axiv Core 79g X-stiff
3 Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro A12 with UST Mamiya Axiv Core 85g Stiff
Irons: Hakusa black Japanese forged blade PW-4 with chrome KBS stiff+
Wedges: Callaway raw forged wedge with KBS black nickel stiff
Putter: 2010 Scotty Cameron Fastback 1.5 34” with 20g weights
Ball: Taylormade Lethal
Jesse Gavey of Cayuga was our best dressed player at the June 18th Heron Point event. He is sponsored by Puma and Cobra.
Nick Kenney of Toronto took his 5th Great Lakes Tour win at the Heron Point 1-day event shooting 67. This win came just 2 months after leaving a career in the corporate world when Kenney decided he wanted to continue competing as a professional athlete. Nick Kenney, who plays out of The National Golf Club of Canada, was 2 shots ahead of Mississauga’s Greg Doherty. Victory Ciesielski, Steve Rodriguez, Johnny Choi and Peter Laws tied for 3rd at 1 under.
Nick Kenney, Toronto
Johnny Choi, Toronto
Jakob Montemurro, Grimsby
Simon Reyers, Kingston
Peter Laws, Milton
Greg Doherty, Mississauga
Adrian Cord, Toronto
Steve Rodriguez, Ajax
Ryan Kennedy, Kingston
We liked Andrew Jensen’s brights at out Hunters Pointe event. Andrew is sponsored by Adidas and is wearing Adidas Performance.
We would like to dedicate this post to all the Father’s who come out and support their sons on their endless pursuit to the PGA Tour.
David & John Brisson
Josh Bamberger & Father, Bruce Bamberger
Jeremy Greville & Father, Don Greville
Anthony Rossi & Father, Carl Rossi
Michael Gonko & Father, Bob Gonko
Elliot Whitley & Father, Brett Whitley
Joey Hetherman & Mark Hetherman
Kevin Liang & Father
In 2010, Matt Kang was playing for the New Jersey Devils farm team and was on track to a career in the NHL. A career that he worked towards since the age of 9. A career that would generate a six to seven figure income like those of his friends PK Subban, Chris Stewart, Cody Hodgson and Wayne Simmonds. A career that would make him an instant role model to millions of Korean children who love hockey in North America and around the world. However, a series of concussions forced Kang to leave the only game he knew and start fresh back in his hometown of Toronto.
It was shortly afterwards that Kang, now 24, picked up golf at the suggestion of his father, an avid golfer. It was a game often overlooked by Kang – hockey was always on his mind and he didn’t have the patience for the game. But with the dream of being a professional athlete still deeply embedded in Kang’s heart, he hit the greens hard and has come further in the last 3 years then the average man would in a lifetime. A feat he attributes to hard work and the grace of God.
Only playing a “handful of times” throughout his hockey career, Kang’s father bought him his first set of clubs and a Club Link membership in 2010 with the instructions to “get out there, don’t stress and enjoy life a little”. He admits at first, golf caused more anger and frustration as a result of some terrible rounds but he was having fun and it got his mind off hockey. Now, three years later, Kang is a full-time professional golfer with the Great Lakes Tour and is sitting on their Order of Merit list. Kang is sponsored by Assure Franchise Consulting and Evans Electrical, whom which he is very thankful for their support.
Wyndance in Uxbridge is Kang’s home course where he practices everyday when he isn’t playing events. It is a 1 hour, 15 minute drive out of Toronto but he loves the practice facility and grass range. “The putting green is massive with and the range of undulation is challenging”. Kang feels that compared to the other pros, he has a lot of catching up to do which is why he puts in hours of reps every single day. After spending 6 months in Florida last winter, he only took 2 days off. “I am pretty new to this golf world and I am still learning the rules and the game with each day so, the more work I put in, the sooner I can compete at a higher level and make it to the PGA Tour.”
His training also takes him into the gym 6 days a week. He works out at Grind Fitness in Toronto through one-on-one sessions with trainer Damian Porter. His goal in the gym is to get stronger and stay injury free. “I have trained with some of the best trainers over my hockey career hockey but this has by far been the best experience I have had in the gym. I am in better shape now then when I was playing hockey”, says Kang.
Kang has only skated once since he stopped playing hockey. He fills what free time he has in Toronto. Living at Ossington and Harbord, T.O.’s trendiest neighborhood amongst the 20-something crowd, Kang takes in the culture, food, fashion and nightlife with friends. With his goals set on the PGA of Canada Q School this fall followed by Korean Tour or the Asian Tour Q School Kang says Toronto will always be his home.
Written by Christine MacDonald
Greg Doherty and his group were the last to come in for the June 3rd tournament at National Pines. Players battled the whirling wind on the cool, “spring” day, with four finishing under par. Greg Doherty of Mississauga and Will Mitchell of Bowmanville tied for first shooting 3 under and went into a playoff from the first tee. Mitchell made par but Greg came and birdied the hole. Nick Kenney of Toronto and Colin MacGregor of Freelton Tied for third shooting 1 under. To view the National Pines event leaderboard, click here.
Post Game Interview
How did you feel about your round?
1. I was very pleased with how I hit the ball off the tee, my putting and up and down game. It was a tough day so I knew I would just have to be patient out there. I was able to get off the tee really well and made a lot of crucial putts both to save pars and for birdie and that got me through the windy conditions.
Have you had to adjust your game as a result of all the wind and rain this season?
2. I haven’t had to do too much adjusting. Just from working with my swing coach, Shane LeBaron, I have got my swing where I want it right now and I’ve got a simple wind shot to flight it lower. That just makes it a little easier to play my game even in tough weather I guess.
Have you been in a Playoff before? Do you handle playoffs any different than your regular round?
3. I’ve played in a few playoffs over the years, the last one was last year at the Victoria Park East, Great Lakes Tour event. It was a 5 hole playoff which I lost to David Sheman. For playoffs I just think of them more like match play, I just have to beat the other guy on that hole. Sometimes you’re able to do that sometimes it goes the other way.
You played in the Canadian Open last year. What experience did you gain?
4. The Canadian Open was a lot of fun and I just tried to soak in as much as possible. Probably the best thing I got out of it was the confidence and belief that I can play out there with those guys. The first round out there I was battling nerves all day and it was tough to preform my best but the second day I felt really comfortable and played very solid and beat both the PGA tour players I was playing with. So now I just can’t wait to get another shot out there!
What are your 2013 plans playing professional golf?
5. I’m sort of just going to play all over the place this season. Ill play the Great Lakes tour for the next couple of months, try and qualify for the Canadian open again, some time in August I think I’m going to head down south to play a few eGolf tour events, which I was playing this spring, and then in the fall prepare for either PGA Tour Canada or Web.com q-school.
Tell us about your career at DePaul. Were you successful at the collegiate level?
6. I played 4 years at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. A lot of fun and a lot of hard work. We were sort of a smaller, middle of the pack division 1 program but we improved each year I was there. I had a bit of success in college, one win, 4-5 runner up finishes, I made the all-conference team. Probably one of the things I’m most proud of though is being a two time academic all-American because for me it wasn’t just important to be successful on the course but I also wanted to get a good education. I mean my success in college and in amateur golf in the summers was why I am pursuing my dream, to be a PGA Tour player.
We aksed Andrew Jensen of Ottawa, “What’s In Your Bag?”
Driver – R1, Accra Tour Z shaft
3W – RBZ stage 2, Accra Tour Z shaft
Rescue – RBZ stage 2, Fujikura Fuel shaft
3-4 irons – rocketbladez tour
5-PW – tour MB
Wedges – ATV 54 and 60 degree.
All KBS tour shafts
Putter – TM Raylor Ghost Daytona
Ball – Lethal
Always use an argentine peso to mark my ball. Got it in 2008 Argentine Masters…biggest tournament I played in my rookie year on tour.
Banana, granola bars, trail mix and electrolyte mix. Always carry an extra pair of contact lenses and sunscreen!
Great Lakes Tour 