Day three, the final round of the 2012 Mid-Amateur Mens Championship, was not good for Penticton’s Cory Hilditch.
Hilditch and the other golfers were forced to deal with poor weather in the morning, with sunny and windy conditions in the afternoon. One stroke back of first after the second round, Hilditch shot an 80 to finish plus-eight on the day and six over for the tournament.
“Yesterday didn’t go very well. Just couldn’t get anything going,” said Hilditch, who was unsure if he would compete as he was battling a cold last week. “The wind was really high for the first probably six holes and that kind of took me out of it.”
Hilditch’s day at the Summerland Golf and Country Club started with a double bogey on a par-four first hole. Then he birdied the second hole, then had a bogey and double bogey on three and four. That was followed by pars on holes five and six. He finished with three birdies, five bogeys and three double bogeys for a plus-eight. Hilditch, who finished ninth overall, said he made some bad shots, but also wasn’t sure if a lack of energy played a factor or if he just let his poor play get to him.
“Everybody was kind of having a tough start,” he said. “It was just an up and down first five holes.”
The championship was won by Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan, who shot one-under to finish four under par. Following him were Victoria’s Bryan Toth and Bryan Scott, who were two under and plus-one respectively. Scott and Carrigan both represent Royal Colwood Golf Club.
Leading by one on the 10th hole, Carrigan made an eagle sinking an eight-footer.
“I had been giving shots back on the front that I really shouldn’t have and I didn’t really hit a great tee shot to be honest,” said Carrigan in an interview with B.C. Golf. “I was lucky enough to find my ball in the middle of the fairway, hit a great shot in and sink the easy putt.”
Coming up the closing par-five, 522-yard 18th, all Carrigan needed to do was make a par. He got a birdie to finish at 212 total (72-69-71).
“I am really happy with this win,” said Carrigan, with a smile.
“I have played with the guy (Carrigan) that won before,” said Hilditch. “It was fun. I was there and had a chance to win it and it just wasn’t my day.
“I was happy with the way I played for the first two days,” he added. “My boys were still happy to see me when I got home.”
And Hilditch’s results were still good enough to qualify him for the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship being played at Point Grey Golf and Country Club Sept. 4 to 7 in Vancouver. Hilditch also intends to play in a B.C. Amateur qualifier this weekend and hopefully go to the Canadian Amateurs.
Other locals playing was Summerland’s Ryan Eden, who finished tied for 14th after shooting five over par. Penticton’s Jim Ryan placed 36th, Summerland’s Len Filek was 37th and Penticton’s Chris Ward missed the cut after round two.