Mary Ann Hayward claims Ontario Senior Women's Amateur Championship
Vineland, ON (August 2, 2012) -Aurora resident Mary Ann Hayward ran away with the Investors Group Ontario Senior Women's Amateur Championship title on Thursday, earning a three stroke victory over the field of Ontario's best female amateur golfers age 50 and over.
The Canadian and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member added another senior title to her impressive golf resume in her only her third year of contention in the senior ranks. The 52-year-old Club at North Halton member tackled the firm greens at Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club to top the leaderboard at the conclusion of the 54-hole competition.
After delivering a two-under par 71 in the first round and a three-over 76 in the second, Hayward teed up her final day with a two stroke lead over local favourite Chris Critelli of St Catharines. She manoeuvred her way around the Twenty Valley layout to post a final round 75 and three day total of three-over par (222).
Hayward believes her length off the tee was a factor in her victory this week.
“With the slope and the firmness of the greens my length allowed me to get closer and hit lofted irons in which made for some easier putts,” said Hayward.
Hayward will now prepare to defend her 2011 Canadian Senior Women's Amateur title when she takes to the course at Belvedere Golf & Country Club in Charlottetown, PEI from August 21-23.
“This win will be a big step towards my preparation for the Canadians,” stated Hayward. “Just being able to get back out there in competitive golf after not playing for nine months and know I have the game to win gives me a lot of confidence.”
“And maybe get my putter going a bit better before I head to PEI,” she joked.
Runner-up honours went to Gail Pimm of Uxbridge who finished with a cumulative 225 (76-74-75) +6. The Whitevale Golf Club member put together a very solid final round of two-over 75 in an attempt to catch Hayward but in the end fell a couple of strokes short.
The 2011 Champion Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke rounded out the top three by closing out the event with a total score of 226, (72-79-75) +7. Critelli, a member of St. Catharines Golf and Country Club finished in fourth place at ten-over par 229 (70-79-80).
World Golf Hall of Famer and Canadian golf legend Marlene Streit of Unionville shot 78 (+6) on day three to claim both the Over 60 and Over 70 titles with a total score of 234 (77-79-78). The 78-year old is a six-time winner of Ontario Senior Women’s, her last title coming in 2003. She has also claimed the Canadian Ladies’ Senior four times and the US Senior Women’s Championship three times (1985, 1994, 2003).
In the District Team competition, the Scarboro District captured the Gross division and Niagara District captured the Net honours. Representing Scarboro District were Pimm, Steinberg, Angela Colm of Ajax and Kelly Koselek of Toronto. The Net winners from Niagara were Critelli, Karen Vamplew of Smithville, Jeanne Glavac of Welland, and Betty Divok of St. Catharines.
The event also serves as a qualifier for the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, set to take place at Belvedere G&CC in PEI later this month. Representing Ontario in the inter-provincial team component of the competition will be Hayward, Pimm and Critelli.
The Investors Group Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship features Ontario’s best female amateurs age 50 and over, and was played for the 35th time this year.
