For Immediate Release

July 21, 2016

NEWS RELEASE

Evan Holmes comes from two shots back to steal the lead after a five under par 67

Matt Williams and Scott Secord sit three shots back in a tie for second

 

INNISFAIL, Alta. (Alberta Golf) – On a moving day that featured the top 64 players in the province playing in perfect conditions, the competitive course record at Innisfail Golf Club appeared to be in jeopardy. Evan Holmes posted a spectacular front nine score of 30 and had the gallery buzzing about what could be. The Earl Grey Golf Club member and UBC Thunderbird was flawless on the Aspen nine, making six birdies (including four in a row on holes six to nine). He cooled off on the back nine, eventually shooting a 67 and finishing at eleven under par overall. Holmes holds a three shot advantage over Matt Williams and Scott Secord, who sit three shots back at eight under par.

When asked about his hot start, Holmes said, “Scott (Secord) and I were kind of feeding off of each other on the front. We were trading birdies back and forth and got into a nice little rhythm. It was fun.”

Holmes has finished in the top five at the previous three Alberta Men’s Amateur Championships, including a second place finish in 2013. That year he held the third round lead overnight and eventually lost by a single stroke to Riley Fleming. Holmes will look to draw on that experience heading into tomorrow’s final round. Holmes commented, “this is a little bit less of lead so I can’t be so complacent as last time. It should be good. We play in the same group again tomorrow so it should be fun.”

TOP 10 – AMATEUR LEADER BOARD

The top three competitors will make up the Team Alberta Interprovincial Squad at the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship on August 8-11 at the Royal Ottawa G&CC & Eagle Creek GC. The Champion will also earn a spot on the 2017 Pacific Coast Amateur Team to be played at Chambers Bay in University Place, WA on July 25-28, 2017. 

 The 2016 Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship is being played at the Innisfail Golf Club. The event is 72 holes of stroke play competition conducted on the 6,605 yard, par 72 Aspen & Spruce courses. The Men’s Amateur was last hosted at Innisfail in 2002. For more information on the Innisfail Golf Club, please visit their website here. 

 The championship concludes tomorrow, with a morning crossover starting at 7:00 a.m. The final group will tee off of hole #1 at 8:50 a.m. For final round pairings, click here. For photographs from the championship, click here. Follow the action all week long on Twitter using the official hashtag #ABMensAm.  

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