
Waterdown ON - The 2013 Golden Horseshoe Area Golf Tour (GHT) has been dominated by one individual. However, this can all change in the new playoff format for the Race to the John H. Davis Cup.
Ed Maunder (Deerfield Golf Club) is on a record setting pace this season in both scoring average and prize money earned. Not to mention he lead the Caddy Pro Order of Merit by 36 points at the end of the regular season that concluded on August 15. His 119 points were almost equal to the total points Yong Woo Kim accumulated after 8 events last season to capture the title.
The 2013 edition of the GHT Playoffs for the John H. Davis Cup sees a change in format. This year the top 16 players from the Caddy Pro Order of Merit will duel it out in two rounds of stoke play with a twist. The twist is as follows, in the first round of the playoffs on September 16th at Beverly Golf & Country Club, spots 2 through 16 on the Order of Merit (Ed Maunder gets a bye into the finals as the Regular Season point leader) will play in a one round stroke play event with the low 7 players qualifying for the finals on October 7th. In the finals, the 8 qualified players will then compete in another single round stroke play event with the lowest gross of the 8 players taking home the John H. Davis Cup....
Ed Maunder (Deerfield Golf Club) is on a record setting pace this season in both scoring average and prize money earned. Not to mention he lead the Caddy Pro Order of Merit by 36 points at the end of the regular season that concluded on August 15. His 119 points were almost equal to the total points Yong Woo Kim accumulated after 8 events last season to capture the title.
The 2013 edition of the GHT Playoffs for the John H. Davis Cup sees a change in format. This year the top 16 players from the Caddy Pro Order of Merit will duel it out in two rounds of stoke play with a twist. The twist is as follows, in the first round of the playoffs on September 16th at Beverly Golf & Country Club, spots 2 through 16 on the Order of Merit (Ed Maunder gets a bye into the finals as the Regular Season point leader) will play in a one round stroke play event with the low 7 players qualifying for the finals on October 7th. In the finals, the 8 qualified players will then compete in another single round stroke play event with the lowest gross of the 8 players taking home the John H. Davis Cup....
"The Change in format was put in place to create a little more excitement and incentive for a player to get in the playoffs." Says GHT President Jim Kenesky. "Last year only 4 competitors were in line to win the John H. Davis Cup at the start of the playoffs. So this year we decided that if a player makes it to September 16th, you should still have a chance to win it all."
If this change was implemented last year, Ciaran McAleavey (Glen Abbey) would have qualified as the 14th player. He then went on to win the final two events of the season and under the new format would have been crowned the John H. Davis Cup Champion. However, he ended 5th which was the highest finish possible based on his points earned.
"Once the players see how this plays out, I think their feedback will be extremely positive." Kenesky says. "It may result in a benign finish with those we expect taking home the Cup. But, I'm confident there will be some surprises as we come down the stretch at Glencairn. Also, with the addition of live scoring from Golf Genius Software the results will be available minutes after play is complete."
The TOP 16
Beverly Golf & Country Club is a solid golf course that will bring all the players onto an even playing field. With it's shortish length and tight landing areas, it will see most of the Top 16 playing from similar positions and does not favour the long hitter.
The GHT Playoffs for the John H. Davis Cup will be exciting and fun to watch unfold. Check in often on Monday Spetember 16 for up to the minute scoring and results from the day. View scores by visiting Event Scoring.
If this change was implemented last year, Ciaran McAleavey (Glen Abbey) would have qualified as the 14th player. He then went on to win the final two events of the season and under the new format would have been crowned the John H. Davis Cup Champion. However, he ended 5th which was the highest finish possible based on his points earned.
"Once the players see how this plays out, I think their feedback will be extremely positive." Kenesky says. "It may result in a benign finish with those we expect taking home the Cup. But, I'm confident there will be some surprises as we come down the stretch at Glencairn. Also, with the addition of live scoring from Golf Genius Software the results will be available minutes after play is complete."
The TOP 16
- Ed Maunder (Deerfield GC)
- Alf Callowhill (Glen Abbey Academy)
- Jim Kenesky (Golf Genius Software)
- Brian Hutton (Trafalgar G&CC)
- Brett Walker (Hidden Lake GC)
- Conor O'Shea (Piper's Heath)
- Jim Zwolak (Glen Abbey Academy)
- Mark MacDonald (Blue Springs)
- Bradlee Ryall (Braeben Academy)
- Reg Millage (The Golf Lab)
- Mark Napier (Glen Abbey)
- Jeff Lunn (Glendale)
- Kyle Gibson (King's Forest)
- John C. Davis (Joshua Creek)
- Ciaran McAleavey (Glen Abbey)
- Stephen Marshall (Golf Town Hamilton)
Beverly Golf & Country Club is a solid golf course that will bring all the players onto an even playing field. With it's shortish length and tight landing areas, it will see most of the Top 16 playing from similar positions and does not favour the long hitter.
The GHT Playoffs for the John H. Davis Cup will be exciting and fun to watch unfold. Check in often on Monday Spetember 16 for up to the minute scoring and results from the day. View scores by visiting Event Scoring.