Brett McKinnon’s stellar summer of golf carried over to Tuesday’s opening round of the Canadian men’s mid-amateur championship.
The Ashburn golfer originally from Glace Bay fired a 1-under 69 at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont. McKinnon, the reigning Nova Scotia amateur and mid-am champion, collected four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey during his round.
The 28-year-old sits one stroke back of first-round co-leaders Zachary Hallborg of Welland, Ont., and defending champion Charles Fitzsimmons of London, Ont., who each shot a 68.
Last month, McKinnon captured his second straight provincial amateur title – and third in seven years – by firing a final-round 1-under 71 to win by a stroke at Ashburn’s New Course.
A week later, he ran away with the Nova Scotia mid-am crown. He finished the three-round championship at an impressive 18-under to win by a whopping nine shots at Lingan Golf and Country Club.
Ten other Nova Scotians are in the field at the national championship for amateur golfers over the age of 25.
Grandview’s Craig Hollett and Dundee’s Leon Carter each carded a 3-over 73, Lincoln Bradley of Seaview fired a 74, Oakfield’s Glenn Robinson – the defending Canadian mid-master (over 40) champion – had a 75, Ashburn’s Trevor Chow and Jamie Sweet each shot a 76, Lingan’s Corson Roach and Jeff Hovell of Ashburn each had 78s and Chad Anderson of The Links at Brunello and Kenny Mountain of Granite Springs each scored an 82.
The four-round tournament will have a 36-hole cut to the low 70 players and ties.