For Immediate Release:
FREDERICTON, NB: A gloomy morning in the province’s capital greeted players for the opening round of the 45th NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships. 140 players converged at the Fredericton Golf Club for this year’s event as many looked to challenge for the Mid-Master, Senior & Super-Senior titles.
Monday’s opening round began at 7:00 AM with the Mid-Masters leading the field. Game #1 featured 2020 Champion, Stuart Musgrave of Country Meadows, Riverside’s Ed Reevey, and Tony MacKinnon of West Hills.
Reevey’s Riverside clubmate, David Russell stole the spotlight after an impressive opening round, 2-under, 68. A smooth 1-under front and 1-under back nine safely position the Quispamsis native on top of the Mid-Master leaderboard. Sitting 6-shots behind Russell is Restigouche’s Darren MacPherson who recorded a 4-over, 74 on Monday. Tied for third place after round 1 are West Hills’ Tony MacKinnon and Hampton’s Aaron Cole who both shot opening round 75’s.
A mid-day weather delay caused a momentary disturbance to play during round one. With the helping hands of the top-notch Fredericton Golf Club staff, players were able to return to the play once all standing water had been removed from the putting surfaces.
In the Senior Division, 2020 Senior & Super-Senior Champion, Gary Melanson accompanied by his trusty hickory golf clubs, led the championship flight off in Game #11. Joining him would be The Algonquin’s Mike Fernie and Hampton’s Darren Ritchie.
The early games in the Senior field would see their play come to a halt due to Monday’s weather delay. Unaffected however were Ashburn’s Paul Batchelor and Golf Canada Club Member, Richard York. The pair both lead the Senior Championship after opening rounds of 1-over, 71’s. One-shot behind the leaders are Grand Falls’ Denis Beaulieu, Gage’s Tom Cameron, Fredericton’s own, Sonny Phillips, and Fox Creek’s Mike Jeffrey who all signed for 2-over, 72’s.
Batchelor’s play sees him also take the top spot in the Super-Senior Championship, Fredericton’s Sonny Phillips sits close on his heels at 2-over par, one shot back. Rounding out the top-3 are Royal Oaks’ Mike Hosford, Herring Cove’s Kevin Farmer, and Moncton’s Brent Wilson who all fired opening rounds of 8-over, 78.
Round 2 begins on Tuesday, July 27th at 7:00 AM with the Senior field leading the way, followed by the Mid-Masters. To follow along with the action, use GGID: GOLFNBMID/SR.
For more information on the 2021 NB Men’s Senior & Mid-Master Championships, including results and tee times, please CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Fredericton Golf Club please visit: CLICK HERE
For more information on Adidas Canada, please visit: CLICK HERE
For Round 1 photos, please CLICK HERE
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (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 Golf NB to its 46 partner facilities and 6,600 individual members include provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, and junior golf development programs.