Woodstock, ON: Matt Hill continues to build on his successful season by posting a second round 67 to claim the lead at six under par (136) at the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship at Oxford Golf and Country Club at Craigowan.

 

Coming off his well documented impressive NCAA season and a recent PGA Tour appearance at the AT&T National, Hill has set his sights on the Ontario Amateur crown. One of the favourites coming into this week’s Championship, Hill put together a solid round of golf including an eagle at the first hole and birdies at four, eight and eighteen. He enters the third round with a one stroke lead with a number of competitors right on his heals.

 

Starting the day seven shots off the lead Matt Hoffman of Thornhill put together one of the most impressive rounds in recent Ontario Amateur history posting a nine under par 62 to move up in the leaderboard into a tie for second at 137. His bogey free round which featured nine birdies also sets the competitive course record at Craigowan and leaves him a stroke off the lead heading into Thursday’s round.

 

First round co-leader and 2009 Ontario Junior Champ Albin Choi of Toronto sits in the three way tie for second at five under par (137). The 17-year old National Development team member kept pace with the leaders after a two under par round of 69 today to follow up his 68 from round one.

 

Brett Cairns of Courtland also made a move today with a five under par round of 66 to sit tied with Hoffman and Choi in second place. Despite a bogey on the fourth hole Cairns put together a run of five birdies in a row on the back nine to finish five under par for the day and the Championship (137).

 

There are three golfers in a tie for fifth at four under par (138) including Garrett Rank of Elmira, John Hall of Langton and local favourite Drew Symons of Woodstock. All three golfers are only two shots back of Hill and remain in striking distance heading in to Thursday’s third round.

 

The field of 155 golfers was cut at the conclusion of the second round to the low 63 golfers at 149 or better, who will continue on to play the final two rounds. Action continues Thursday morning beginning at 7:30 am with the Champion to be crowned on Friday afternoon.

 

The Ontario Amateur Championship is restricted to GAO members carrying an 8.4 handicap factor or less. Past winners of the event include 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir (1990 & 1992), Nationwide Tour player Jon Mills (2001), and Gary Cowan, who holds the record for the most Ontario Amateur Championships with nine (’64, ’68, ’71, ’74, ’74, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’81 & ’84).