Dawson Lew (Coppinwood) wins 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
Jack Keller / Golf Canada | Photo: Todd Korol / Golf Canada
CALGARY, AB – Dawson Lew entered the final round tied for the lead with Tobias Buffam and ended it by becoming a two-time national champion at the 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. on Thursday.
Lew of Toronto, Ont. closed out the final round with a 3-under 69 finishing the tournament at 17-under to win by three. The Team Canada NextGen member wrapped up his second national championship with rounds of 70-65-67-69-271, carding one eagle and 20 birdies during the week. Buffam of Calgary, Alta. shot an even par 72 to finish at 14-under with rounds of 67-69-66-71-274.
“Its unreal,” said Lew after becoming a two-time national champion.
“I try not to worry about who I am playing with, my main goal is to come out and do what I had to do which is hit good targets off the tees and into the greens, and continue to commit to every shot, and I think I did a pretty good job of that today,” said Lew on whether he enjoys playing in the same group as the person he is competing against.
Lew said he is a leaderboard watcher but even with his hot start of three birdies through the first five holes, he did not let it affect his game on Thursday.
“On the last three or four holes I just laid up some putts, but other than that it didn’t really change how I played,” said Lew.
Lew and Buffam were neck and neck today; Lew took an early two shot lead after grabbing a birdie on the first hole while Buffam bogeyed. Lew held the lead through the first six holes then had a tough bogey on hole no. 7 where Buffam birdied to jump back into a tie for the lead.
Lew regained the lead shortly after on hole no. 9, the two stayed even through 11 holes until Buffam had a tough double bogey on no. 12 followed by a bogey on no. 13. Lew would also bogey no. 13 but now had a three-shot lead heading into the final five holes. Lew later missed a two-foot putt for birdie on hole no. 16 but did not let it change his mentality.
“I was just like what am I doing, but I mean I still had a three-shot lead, I knew if I had two good tee shots on 17 and 18 it would do the trick,” said Lew.
Heading into the final hole of the championship Lew played it safe to ensure the victory.
“I was just going to play it as a three-shot hole, driver kind of brings in the fescue on the right so I just decided to hit three wood off the tee, and then I laid up with a pitching wedge then I just hit a flip wedge on and two putted for par.”
With the win Lew’s name will be forever etched in the history books as he joins eight fellow Canadians who have won both the Canadian Junior Boys Championship and the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
“It’s an unreal feeling, I know Nick Taylor did it and anytime you’re in the same sentence as him its pretty cool, he is a Canadian Icon. So yeah, I mean it’s surreal, I don’t think its really set in yet.”
In 2024, Lew was in a golf cart accident and suffered a significant injury ending his season due to a broken tibia. After rehabbing it over the winter he proceeded to win five tournaments in 2025 highlighted by his first national championship at the, Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
“I mean I haven’t really thought of that moment in a while. Yeah, I don’t really let the past define me and I feel like if I keep my sight forward not thinking about the past,” said Lew on whether he thinks back to 2024 and everything he had to deal with.
Lew plans to celebrate with a flight home back to Toronto later this evening along with some sleep followed by celebrating with his friends and family tomorrow.
In addition to winning the Earl Grey Cup Lew will receive a direct exemption into the 2027 RBC Canadian Open, the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship, 2027 U.S. Open Final Qualifying, and 2027 U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying. Lew will also be exempt to defend his title at the 2027 Canadian Amateur Championship if he is eligible.
Buffam finished runner-up, while Brett Jones of Calgary, Alta. and Jean-Philippe Parr of St-Célestin, Que. finished tied for third at 12-under.
On Tuesday, Team Quebec reclaimed the Inter-Provincial Team Championship for the ninth time, beating Team British Columbia by one stroke. The last time Team Quebec won the Willingdon Cup was at the 2022 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. Team Quebec was represented by Jean-Philippe Parr (St-Célestin, Que.), Éloik Bertrand (Candiac, Que.), and Guillaume Paquette (La Minerve, Que.).
Team Quebec finished with a score of 12-under through two rounds, Team British Columbia finished second at 11-under and Team Alberta finished third at 8-under.
More than a century old, there is no amateur golf championship in Canada with a richer history than the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The Canadian Men’s Amateur is one of the oldest amateur golf events in the world some past champions include the Canadian golf heroes George S. Lyon, Moe Norman, Nick Weslock, Gary Cowan, Doug Roxburgh, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes, and many more.
