AMHERST, N.S. — Atlantic Canada’s top amateur men golfers are in Amherst, N.S., this weekend looking to win a prestigious tournament.
The Mel Murray Atlantic golf championship will see 12-member teams from each of the four provinces compete in a three-round competition. Saturday morning is a best-ball competition while alternate shot will be played during the afternoon round and a singles tournament concludes the championship on Sunday.
“The field is incredible,” said Tim Yorke, P.E.I.’s captain and tournament co-ordinator. “I’ve never seen it this strong. It’s phenomenal.”
Team P.E.I.
Here's the team representing Prince Edward Island at the Mel Murray Atlantic golf championship this weekend at the Amherst Golf Club in Nova Scotia’s border town.
Stephen Anderson
Brodie Ward
Jeff Hughes
Mark Carragher
Jason Campbell
Curtis Hall
Jason Poley
Mackenzie Clow
Tyler Hashmi
Steven Gamester
Martin O’Brien
Tim Yorke
The field has been boosted this year by some of the region’s top collegiate players remaining home as opposed to going south of the border for the first semester.
With no national championships this year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic, the tournament is taking on even more significance.
“The thought of not seeing these guys this year … and not having the camaraderie or this event was disheartening,” Yorke said.
He said while everyone is hoping to win the championship, the weekend is also about renewing friendships.
“We’re not just promoting golf, we’re promoting these guys as role models and as people. … I want kids to look at those guys when they’re playing and watch them and realize, ‘Jeez, I’d like to be like that guy’.”
New Brunswick is the defending champs after winning last year’s competition at the Countryview Golf Club. P.E.I. last won the event in 2017 in St. John’s, N.L.
The tournament dates back about 20 years and was initially a competition between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Yorke compared it to the Ryder Cup with players thinking about it for months before the team is selected.
“Guys are lobbying me in February. Now their sole purpose for playing events is to make the (Atlantic) Cup team,” he said.
The top eight golfers in P.E.I.’s player of the year series earn spots on the Island squad with the remaining four spots are captain picks, selected by Yorke.
Today is a practice round, which is also used to host an singles tournament for the 48-player field.
