Ritchie leads the NB Senior Men's Championship heading into Wednesday's Final Round
For Immediate Release:
A pristine venue for a field full of New Brunswick’s top players aged 55 years and older, Miramichi plays host to the 2020 NB Senior Men’s Championships. 99 of the provinces most elite players converged at the T.F. Robinson design to test their skills on one of the provinces’ most challenging championship courses.
Tuesday saw the conclusion of round two as players were treated to more calming temperatures with lower humidity levels in Miramichi. Leading the field on Tuesday morning were the overnight leaders- Bob Brown of West Hills Golf Course, Sonny Phillips of the Fredericton Golf Club, and Darren Ritchie of the Hampton Golf Club.
Hampton’s Darren Ritchie took full advantage of the scoring conditions he was presented in the morning. Miramichi’s tight fairways and complex green structures paired with the firm and fast conditions led to higher than average scores during Tuesday’s second round. Ritchie’s 1-Over Par 72 performance would go on to be one of the lower rounds on the day as the course presented obscure challenges for which it is known for. A tournament total of 143, 1-Over Par sees Ritchie hold the lead in the NB Senior Men’s Championship as the competition transitions into Wednesday’s final round. Sitting three strokes behind Ritchie is Covered Bridge’s Gary Melanson. Melanson’s second round 71, Even-Par was the low round of the day as the Woodstock Native was able to add to his first-round 4-Over Par 75 to carry a tournament total of 4-Over Par, 146 into the final round. Bob Brown of West Hills Golf Course rounds out the Senior Division top three and will join Ritchie and Melanson in Wednesday’s Final Pairing.
In the Super-Senior Division which is comprised of field players aged 65 and over, Gary Melanson of Covered Bridge leads the chase of the 2020 Championship title. At 4-Over Par, 146 through 2 rounds, Melanson holds a 3 stroke lead over the Fredericton Golf Club’s Sonny Phillips who’s trying second round saw him record an 8-Over Par 79. The 2019 Champion will be looking to complete a comeback against Melanson on Wednesday as the two players will provide no shortage of entertainment in their hunt for the 2020 crown. Melanson who is known for his unique style on the course and his use of replica hickory golf clubs is coming off a victory at the PEI Senior Men’s Provincial Amateur Championship on Sunday at Andersons Creek. Robert Smith of Restigouche finds himself in third place in the Super-Senior Division after rounds of 82 and 76 making him 16-Over Par for the event and 9 strokes off of Phillips.
Leading the Golf NB Dormie Workshop Par-3 Challenge is Fox Creek’s Mike Jeffery and Gary Melanson of Covered Bridge. After two rounds of play, the pair are both 2-Under Par on Miramichi’s Par-3’s. The player who performs the best on the Par-3’s during the course of the championship will receive a custom prize from Dormie Workshop.
The third and final round play of the 2020 NB Men’s Senior Championship begins at 7:30 AM on Wednesday. The final pairing will see the leaders take to the course in their quest for the 2020 NB Senior & Super-Senior Championship titles.
NB SENIOR MEN’S FINAL ROUND PAIRINGSNB SENIOR MEN’S LEADERBOARDGOLF NB DORMIE WORKSHOP PAR-3 CHALLENGE LEADERBOARD
Established in 1925, the Miramichi Golf & Country Club has proved to be one of New Brunswick’s many premier championship venues and most recently hosted the 2018 NB Ladies Provincial Championships. The Par-71 6,100-yard T.F Robinson design features tight fairways that will require immense accuracy off the tee. The 54-Hole Competition will provide the ultimate test for players as they look to prove their worth in the race for New Brunswick’s 2020 Senior Men’s Champion.
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 6,800 members include 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.
