The Algonquin Golf Course continued to test some of the best Mid-Amateur golfers for the fourth consecutive day, but nothing could stop Joseph Deraney as he rose to the challenge and finished at 10-under to capture the 2023 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title on Friday, presented by BDO.
Starting his day tied for first, Deraney of Belden, Miss., got off to a hot start by making a birdie on the par-4 first hole. From there the 40-year-old never looked back, recording a total of six birdies for the day, shooting a final round 4-under 68.
“It’s so hard to win, it’s nice to be able to fall back on your experiences a couple times but its just always difficult to win. Getting out there today I hit a great first shot on the first hole to about two feet and got off to a quick start by making a birdie. I steadied the ship and made a solid 15-footer on four for birdie, then really just had a lot of good quality golf shots. I got another birdie on nine, about a five-footer and so I was able to just grab a lead, there were some struggles on six and seven for some of the other guys, so I knew I was able to grab a two-shot lead. I played really solid on the back, three par fives and I thought with that I’d be able to hoist the trophy. I made a really solid birdie on 13, I three putted eleven, but I made a great par on ten which is by far the hardest hole out here. I didn’t look at too many of the leaderboards, but I felt like some of the guys were creeping back up on me, so I got a little fire under me and hit a couple more really good golf shots, then looked back and saw I had a four-shot lead, so I cruised on in,” said Deraney.
Deraney won by three strokes over Ryan Terry who also shot a final round 4-under 68 to place second. This is Deraney’s third time winning the Men’s Mid-Am with having captured the title in 2018 and 2019.
Drew Jones (Shilo Country Club) finished as Manitoba’s top player, 43rd on the leaderboard, carding a final round 75.
Adam Guenther (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) had the low of the day shooting a 1-over par 73.
Curtis Markusson (St. Charles Country Club) was the lone Manitoban to make the cut in the Mid-Masters Championship finishing 12th on the leaderboard.
In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, Deraney has received an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2024 Men’s Amateur Championship.
Derek Meinhart of Mattoon, Ill., came into the final round tied for first and finished with an even par- 72 to place third overall. Meinhart got off to a tough start with a bogey on the par-4 sixth hole and a double bogey on the par-4 seventh hole. He didn’t let that stop him though, as he pushed through and carded a total of four birdies to finish 6-under for the championship.
Canadians Mike Landry of Fredericton N.B., and Derek Dalziel of London, Ont., finished tied for fourth at 5-under.
Deraney also won the Mid-Master division with Meinhart placing second. Rob Couture of Celina, Tex., placed third in the Mid-Master after shooting a final round 1-under 71, finishing 4-under for the championship.
For the final leaderboard, click here.
- some copy courtesy Golf Canada