Hill runs away with Ontario Amateur Championship

WOODSTOCK, ON (July 17 2009) - Forest, Ontario’s Matt Hill left the rest of the field in his wake Friday by firing an overall 14-under par 270 (69-67-69-65) to claim the 2009 Investors Group Ontario Amateur crown. The 20-year old added yet another title to his impressive record, finishing seven strokes ahead of his nearest competitor at Oxford Golf and Country Club at Craigowan.

Hill, who is currently the world’s number two ranked amateur golfer, teed up his final round with a two-stroke lead. By the time Hill made it through the turn, it was evident that the title was his for the taking as he ran away from the rest of the field. Carding seven birdies and a bogey, the former Ontario Junior Boys’ champion delivered a final round 65 on the par 71, 6728-yard course to capture his first Ontario Amateur win.

The North Carolina State University sophomore is coming off an unmatched collegiate season that saw him capture eight separate NCAA events, including the NCAA championship. His performance this year earned him an invitation to play at Tiger Woods’ AT&T National tournament earlier this month, where he delivered a strong performance in his first PGA Tour event.

Despite his impressive list of accomplishments, Hill considers his victory this week at Oxford to be his biggest win to date.

“Looking at names on the trophy, this win is really special,” he said of the list of former champions that includes his mentor, Mike Weir, and his older brother Graham. “I’ve been looking forward to playing this event for a long time, and winning four years after my brother did really feels amazing.”

Hill’s next stop will be the RBC Canadian Open, followed by the Canadian Amateur, Four Nations Cup, and the U.S. Amateur, as well as an appearance at a Nationwide Tour event.

Second place went to Simon McInnis of Toronto, who carded a final-round 65 of his own to finish with a total score of 277 (71-74-67-65). The GAO Public Player made an impressive charge in the final two rounds, finishing second in one of the strongest Ontario Amateur fields in history.

Defending Canadian Amateur champion Cam Burke of New Hamburg finished in a tie for third place alongside Courtland’s Brett Cairns. Both golfers carded identical scores of 278, six-under par.

Hill, McInnis, Burke and Cairns will represent Ontario as the interprovincial team at next month’s Canadian Amateur Championship to be held in Quebec.

The Ontario Amateur Championship is restricted to GAO members carrying an 8.4 handicap factor or less. Past winners of the event include 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Jon Mills (2001), and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (’64, ’68, ’71, ’74, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’81 & ’84).