Brett McKinnon wins the 2016 MCT Men's Amateur

Brett McKinnon wins the 2016 MCT Men’s Amateur Championship

It was a special day for Brett McKinnon from the Lingan Golf Club. The Glace Bay native captured his first MCT Men’s Amateur at Clare Golf and Country Club in a convincing fashion.

McKinnon started the final round tied for 4th place and posted a six under par 65 to win the tournament by two strokes. McKinnon’s solid round included 7 birdies and one bogey. McKinnon shared the win with his father/caddy, Ian. Ian was on the bag for the weekend, and Brett’s appreciation for his father came through in his champion’s speech. Brett heads back to Jacksonville, Florida this week to finish his masters in Business Administration. With this victory McKinnon also receives an exemption into the Cape Breton Open at Bell Bay, which will take place in early September.

Jordan Ells, Ashburn, finished second after his final day, 69. Ells went on a twenty four-hole stretch in rounds two through four without a bogey. He had four birdies in the final round and finished 69-74-69-69- 281, two strokes back of McKinnon. Ells had three rounds under par, more than anybody else in the field.

Rob Collins was leading the tournament heading into the final. Collins got off to an early lead on day one, and finished one over on the final day with four birdies. The home course favorite finished one under par for the weekend with 67-75-69-72-283. Collins finished T3 with Jody Swim.

Jody Swim, River Hills, was two under in the final round. The lefty played very strong through four rounds, and finished one under at 283.

Andrew MacPherson, Oakfield had a career day in the final round at the MCT Men’s Amateur. MacPherson fired a seven under, 64. He had seven birdies and eleven pars. You can take a look at his scorecard. MacPherson finished T10.

The NSGA selected Brett McKinnon, Jordan Ells and Rob Collins to represent Nova Scotia at the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship on August 8-11, at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club and the Eagle Creek Golf Club in Gatineau, PQ. Alternate Ian Lewis finished 5th with a four round total 286.

The Cape Breton Open will be held at the Bell Bay Golf Club in Baddeck, NS on September 1-4, 2016. The Cape Breton Open is the only stop in Atlantic Canada for the MacKenzie Tour.