AMHERST, N.S. — After coming close in other years, Tom Burge finally made it to the top winning the Amherst Golf Club men’s championship on July 28.
Burge, who had rounds of 71 and 78, finished with a score of 149 to defeat former champion Matt Cormier, who finished at 152 after rounds of 77 and 75.
“It feels great. After coming second a couple of times it feels great to finally pull it off,” said Burge. “The first day I played very well and putted very good. Today I kept it together down the stretch.
“Compared to other years, the better player won. It was nice to be in the mix and to be in that final group, but it sure feels good to finally get there.”
Two years ago, Burge held a big lead going into the final round but Mark Gould caught him and then nipped him in a five-hole playoff.
Heading into the final two or three holes Burge didn’t know where he stood. He said he focused his concentration on his own game to nip Cormier by two strokes on the day and three overall.
“There’s always pressure,” he said. “There were a lot of people around and I knew Matt was close. All I could control was how I was playing.”
Next up for Burge is the Amherst Open.
Cormier had nothing but praise for Burge.
“It was good weekend overall, but I just didn’t get the shots I needed,” Cormier said. “Tom put together two solid rounds and I’m so happy for him. He deserved to win. It was a pleasure playing on the course, it’s in great shape.”
Cormier won low gross of the first division while Corey Helm was second gross by retrogression (he and Cormier were tied at 152) and Ryan Handley, another former champion, was third gross.
Low net in the first division was Brad Black while Joel Stronge had second low net and Jeff Aucoin was third low net.
Cliff Lowrey Jr. won the low gross title in the second division with a 154 while Jim Coates was second and Brian Creighton was third. Low net honours in the division went to Joe Bourgeois while Robert Beardlsey had second low net and Glenn Hussey was third.
Cayne Amos, at 171, had the top low gross score in the third division with Ryan Arbing earning second low gross and Wayne Hurley taking third low gross. Low net honours in the division went to Eric Richards, second low net was won by Allison Brown and third low net was Tony Morley.
