The country’s best amateur golfers have descended upon the nation’s capital for the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship — but it’s an Australian who leads the tournament after three rounds.
Sydney’s Declan O’Donovan holds a two-shot lead after a third-round 64 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club vaulted him up the leaderboard on Wednesday.
Sitting at eight-under, O’Donovan leads a host of chasers, including Andre Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Isaiah Ibit (Orleans, Ont.), both of whom are within three shots of the lead.
American Calen Sanderson, France’s Noa Auch-Roy, as well as Jager Pain (Woodbridge, Ont.), are also within striking distance entering Thursday, which is the final day of play.
The tournament’s first two days were split between the Royal Ottawa and Rivermead Golf Club, both of which are across the Ottawa River, with the final two rounds taking place at the Royal.
Golfers from all 10 Canadian provinces and the Northwest Territories participated in this week’s event, with the top 70 players from the 264-player field surviving the 36-hole cut.
In addition, 13 different countries are represented in the event, with top players from Ireland, Japan, and South Africa all making the trip to Ottawa.
Several local talents are in the field, including Ottawa golfers Chase Jerome, who is currently tied for 29th place, Jonathan Kaminski and James Newton, both of whom are tied for 69th place, as well as Michael Vivone, who sits in a tie for 71st.
Romi Dilawri (Rockliffe, Ont,) enters the final round tied for 76th place, while Ottawa’s Jayson Ross, David Lafreniere, and Lewis Miller, along with Kanata’s Hunter McGee, all missed the two-day cut.
It’s the tenth time the Royal Ottawa has hosted Canada’s most prestigious amateur championship, with the course last holding the event in 2016.
Previous winners of the event include past and current PGA Tour players, like Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes and Richard Zokol, all of whom went on to win PGA Tour events.
The tournament’s winner is also customarily granted a spot in the following year’s Canadian Open, where they will have the opportunity to compete against top-tier PGA Tour players, like Rory McIlroy.
Next year’s Canadian Open is set to be played at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ont.
