Michael Mercier of Florida captures Canadian Men’s Senior Championship

by Fairways Magazine September 10, 2016September 12, 2016

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – Brilliant sunshine and high temperatures welcomed Michael Mercier to the final round of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Grand Niagara Golf Club. The Juno Beach, Fla., native fought through the intense heat to claim Canada’s national senior title.

Mercier began the day with a share of first alongside Dave Schultz of Calgary, but a five-birdie, 2-under 70 propelled him to victory.

“Today, I didn’t quite strike the ball as well as I was striking it the first three days. The first three days, I hit the ball very well, only missed a few greens over a total of three days, but I struggled a little bit putting. Today, I didn’t hit it that well, but I kind of figured out my putter last night on the practice green. I got the stroke and it freed up a little today. I putted much better today and I hit it good enough to get by.”

The 58-year-old is the tournament’s 54th champion. With frequent visits to Canada and a number of ties to the country, Mercier spoke fondly of being its newest senior champion.

“It means a lot because Canada is somewhat dear to my heart since my great-grandfather came from here,” reflected the winner. “And apparently, I still have many cousins out there named Mercier up in the Montreal area that I’m related to. Because of that and the great spirit of the Canadian people, [my wife] Andrea and I, when we come up here every summer, it’s a real pleasure to come here. Because of that, Canada is more than just a stop for me to play golf in a great national championship, it’s like a second home to me.”

In addition to claiming the national senior title, Mercier has earned entry into the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested from September 17-22 at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo. Despite only learning of the exemption moments after his final putt, Mercier was buoyed by the victory and looks forward to the challenge ahead.

“When I’ve won in the past, I’ve gained some confidence,” explained Mercier. “I played okay earlier in the year, but in July and August, I hadn’t really played very well, so I started to lose some confidence. And then I could tell, my confidence started coming back during the second round because I started hitting some good shots and I was able to get up on some of the tougher holes and drive the ball a little more precise with confidence. I’m sure – I won’t know until next week when I go down to the U.S. Senior Amateur – but I know I’ll have more confidence than I came here with which will be a big help.”

Finishing in second-place was James Gallagher of Yorktown, Va. The 58-year-old collected four birdies, but fell shy of his goal by two strokes. Claiming shares of third at 2-under were Brady Exber of Las Vegas and Camrose, Alta., native Frank Van Dornick.

Van Dornick, Schultz and Brian Brown of Nanton, Alta., captured the inter-provincial team championship which was contested concurrently over the tournament’s two opening rounds. The trio claimed a nine-stroke victory over Team Manitoba.

Also played alongside the championship’s first 36-holes was the Super Senior division. John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C., posted back-to-back 72s to secure a six-stroke victory in the 65-and-over competition.

The 2017 edition of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will be hosted at Kanawaki Golf Club in Montréal from September 11-14.

2016 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

1. Michael Mercier, Juno Beach, FL, *68-74-71-70-283 -5
2. James Gallagher, Yorktown, VA, *74-69-73-69-285 -3
3. Frank Van Dornick, Camrose, AB, *74-68-73-71-286 -2
3. Brady Exber, Las Vegas, NV, *69-72-74-71-286 -2
5. Peter Wegmann, Fort Lauderdale, FL, *75-73-72-67-287 -1
6. John Gallacher, Burnaby, BC, *72-72-72-73-289 +1
7. Doug Roxburgh, Vancouver, BC, *74-72-73-72-291 +3
7. Jack Hall, Savannah, GA, *73-71-72-75-291 +3
9. Buzz Fly, Memphis, TN, *72-71-78-72-293 +5
10. Christopher Kertsos, Pickering, ON, *72-76-73-73-294 +6
10. Pat Thompson, Asheville, NC, *76-70-75-73-294 +6
12. Garth Collings, Matlock, MB, *70-72-81-72-295 +7
12. Larry Cooper, Oakville, ON, *76-72-75-72-295 +7
12. Doug Williams, Hong Kong, *74-70-73-78-295 +7
15. Norm Bradley, Kelowna, BC, *74-71-81-70-296 +8
15. Sandy Billyard, Ridgeville, ON, *74-75-75-72-296 +8
15. William Jackson, Oklahoma City, OK, *75-76-73-72-296 +8
18. Tim Southcott, Milton, ON, *75-77-76-69-297 +9
18. Ulrich Schulte, Germany, *72-78-74-73-297 +9
18. Brian Brown, Nanton, AB, *74-70-75-78-297 +9
18. Lars Melander, Oakville, ON, *72-74-73-78-297 +9
18. David Schultz, Calgary, AB, *72-71-70-84-297 +9
23. Duke Delcher, Bluffton, SC, *75-75-75-73-298 +10
23. Nick Digiandomenico, Wasaga Beach, ON, *75-71-77-75-298 +10
25. Allen Barber, Yorktown, VA, *73-77-78-71-299 +11
25. Rick Dodds-Hebron, Brampton, ON, *77-76-73-73-299 +11
27. Tom Hossfeld, Ottawa, ON, *72-76-80-72-300 +12
27. Joe Miszk, Niagara Falls, *73-74-78-75-300 +12
27. Tore Sviland, Norway, *71-78-76-75-300 +12
27. Ronald Kilby, McAllen, TX, *74-74-74-78-300 +12
31. Howard Broun, Calgary, AB, *75-75-78-73-301 +13
31. Alan Stewart, Grande Prairie, AB, *77-71-80-73-301 +13
31. Michael Jackson, Collingwood, ON, *74-73-80-74-301 +13
31. Doug Alexander, London, ON, *74-72-79-76-301 +13
31. Allan Ross, Calgary, AB, *70-75-76-80-301 +13
36. Harry Ferguson, Invermere, BC, *75-77-77-73-302 +14
36. Merv Dusyk, Sylvan Lake, AB, *78-72-75-77-302 +14
38. Jim Briggs, Fenwick, ON, *71-82-73-77-303 +15
38. Gary Robinson, Fayetteville, NC, *79-76-77-71-303 +15
40. Jean-Guy Garnier, Lévis, QC, *76-73-75-80-304 +16
41. Michael Walker, Winnipeg, MB, *74-77-77-77-305 +17
41. Gudmund Lindbjerg, Port Moody, BC, *75-77-76-77-305 +17
41. Floyd Kilgore, Grimshaw, AB, *77-75-75-78-305 +17
41. Ken Rodgers, Regina, SK, *81-73-76-75-305 +17
41. Peter King, Australia, *79-73-73-80-305 +17
46. Michael Mealia, Richmondhill, ON, *76-79-74-77-306 +18
46. Brian Coston, Calgary, AB, *77-78-76-75-306 +18
48. Luc Bergeron, St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC, *75-75-78-79-307 +19
48. Mike Sweett, Calgary, AB, *79-73-76-79-307 +19
48. Ernie Sheaves, Baddeck, NS, *80-74-77-76-307 +19
48. Randy Blondin, Nepean, ON, *77-77-79-74-307 +19
52. William King, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, *75-76-81-77-309 +21
52. John Hunt, Kanata, ON, *80-75-76-78-309 +21
52. Gary Smith, Kingston, NS, *77-74-81-77-309 +21
55. Dan Coulombe, Fredericton, NB, *74-78-79-79-310 +22
55. Ron Kelly, Calgary, AB, *75-75-81-79-310 +22
55. Bill Hilton, Newmarket, ON, *79-76-79-76-310 +22
58. Mark Spooner, West Vancouver, BC, *76-74-82-79-311 +23
58. Wally Keating, London, ON, *79-74-80-78-311 +23
58. Scott Purdy, Brampton, ON, *79-76-81-75-311 +23
61. John Murphy, Orillia, ON, *76-77-78-81-312 +24
61. Dave Miller, West Vancouver, BC, *75-76-83-78-312 +24
61. Dru Lafave, Ottawa, ON, *72-83-79-78-312 +24
61. Robert Gibson, Toronto, ON, *77-74-84-77-312 +24
61. Brad Walsh, London, ON, *75-77-85-75-312 +24
66. Tim Young, Orangeville, ON, *83-72-77-81-313 +25
66. Rick Valin, Kitchener, ON, *76-79-84-74-313 +25
68. Rick Cody, Mississau, ON, *76-77-80-81-314 +26
68. Kerry Short, Vineland, ON, *73-78-85-78-314 +26
70. John Husband, Burlington, ON, *74-81-81-79-315 +27
71. Bruce Gerrard, Okotoks, AB, *80-75-78-83-316 +28
72. Brad Haw, Maple Ridge, BC, *74-81-86-76-317 +29
73. Brian Graham, New Westminster, BC, *77-75-77-89-318 +30
74. Stephen Brodie, London, ON, *74-81-86-78-319 +31
75. Finley Mah, Edmonton, AB, *75-80-81-84-320 +32
75. Gerard McAnulty, Sarnia, ON, *77-76-87-80-320 +32
77. Larry Anderson, St Catharines, ON, *76-79-89-77-321 +33

DID NOT ADVANCE

Michael Breen, Bloomfield, NB, *79-77-156 +12
George Stokes, New Hamburg, ON, *79-77-156 +12
Frank MacKenzie, Vernon, BC, *77-79-156 +12
Terry Hodson, Surrey, BC, *78-78-156 +12
Ron Petersen, Coquitlam, BC, *78-78-156 +12
Ross Eisele, Milton, ON, *80-76-156 +12
John Taylor, Kemptville, ON, *79-77-156 +12
Dany Richard, Québec, QC, *83-73-156 +12
Don Boland, St. John’s, NL, *82-75-157 +13
Lance Lundy, Pemberton, BC, *79-78-157 +13
Stefan Albinski, Australia, *77-80-157 +13
Phil Kerbrat, Calgary, AB, *82-75-157 +13
John Russell, Chestermere, AB, *76-81-157 +13
Sylvain Mercier, Terrebonne, QC, *80-77-157 +13
Richard Brochu, Gatineau, QC, *74-83-157 +13
Robert Chaperon, Sudbury, ON, *77-80-157 +13
Colin Coben, Delisle, SK, *78-79-157 +13
Jim Redston, Beaconsfield, QC, *77-80-157 +13
Daniel Haineault, Boucherville, QC, *81-76-157 +13
Mark Armstrong, Rothesay, NB, *80-78-158 +14
Mel Bernard, Summerside, PE, *79-79-158 +14
Randy Hauck, Lethbridge, AB, *77-81-158 +14
Gerry Stoddart, Calgary, AB, *81-77-158 +14
Tom Skinner, Red Deer, AB, *81-77-158 +14
Alan Defoe, Calgary, AB, *78-80-158 +14
Patrick Feeney, High River, AB, *78-80-158 +14
Brian Bowman, St. Thomas, ON, *77-81-158 +14
Keith Newton, Olds, AB, *81-77-158 +14
David Showman, Coquitlam, BC, *79-79-158 +14
Dan Gagliardi, Ancaster, ON, *76-83-159 +15
Brian Brawley, Sechelt, BC, *81-78-159 +15
Barry Minish, Winnipeg, MB, *79-80-159 +15
Bill Probst, Midway, UT, *78-81-159 +15
Dan O’Donoghue, Peterborough, ON, *82-77-159 +15
Adélard Collin, Québec, QC, *80-80-160 +16
Sandy (Robert) Kalle, Amherstburg, ON, *78-82-160 +16
Gary Melanson, Woodstock, NB, *81-79-160 +16
Peter Stirling, Bedford, NS, *78-82-160 +16
Banks Scott, Burnaby, BC, *82-79-161 +17
Les Swelin, Sundre, AB, *82-79-161 +17
John Mealia, North York, ON, *80-81-161 +17
Robert Choy, Richmond, BC, *83-78-161 +17
Brad Moore, Winnipeg, MB, *77-85-162 +18
Rob Myhill, Thornbury, ON, *87-75-162 +18
Bernie Bolokoski, West Kelowna, BC, *80-82-162 +18
Bruce Marshall, London, ON, *80-83-163 +19
Louis Boudreau, Boudreau-Ouest, NB, *82-81-163 +19
Ron Dolinki, Perth, ON, *77-86-163 +19
Eric Springings, Saskatoon, SK, *81-82-163 +19
Jamie MacLeod, Annapolis Royal, NS, *79-84-163 +19
Michel Roy, Quebec City, QC, *87-77-164 +20
Tom Banks, Auburn, NS, *81-83-164 +20
Wayne Fillmore, Aurora, ON, *81-83-164 +20
Per Hansen, Delta, BC, *80-84-164 +20
Larry Ferguson, Comox, BC, *77-87-164 +20
Jeffrey Gauf, Edmonton, AB, *82-82-164 +20
George Janson, Saskatoon, SK, *79-86-165 +21
Doug Stone, White Rock, BC, *82-83-165 +21
Ken Warwick, Winnipeg, MB, *85-80-165 +21
Warren Sye, London, ON, *80-85-165 +21
Randy Strang, Vernon, BC, *89-76-165 +21
Greg Kocher, Gibsons, BC, *84-81-165 +21
Gordon Rundell, Okotoks, AB, *85-81-166 +22
Scott Dutton, Calgary, AB, *90-77-167 +23
Pierre Provencher, Québec, QC, *86-82-168 +24
Keith Bonner, Coquitlam, BC, *84-84-168 +24
Kenny Fraser, Alberton, PE, *83-86-169 +25
Jim Gaiger, Toronto, ON, *86-83-169 +25
Ray Stoodley, St. John’s, NL, *85-85-170 +26
David Bird, Saskatoon, SK, *83-88-171 +27
Philip Killeen, London, ON, *83-88-171 +27
Scott Hiles, Stony Plain, AB, *88-83-171 +27
Rick Stead, Mount Pearl, NL, *84-89-173 +29
Andre Jette, Mt St Hilaire, QC, *86-89-175 +31
Ken Lafrenière, Ottawa, ON, *89-88-177 +33
Bob Dufresne, Edmonton, AB, *90-87-177 +33
John Williams, St. John’s, NL, *94-85-179 +35
WD. David Greenaway, Barrie, ON, *77-0-77 +5
WD. Michel Labelle, Kirkland, QC, *77-86-163 +19

2016 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
– SUPER SENIOR DIVISION

1. John Gallacher, Burnaby, BC, *72-72-144 E
2. Howard Broun, Calgary, AB, *75-75-150 +6
2. Merv Dusyk, Sylvan Lake, AB, *78-72-150 +6
2. Ron Kelly, Calgary, AB, *75-75-150 +6
5. William Jackson, Oklahoma City, OK, *75-76-151 +7
5. Kerry Short, Vineland, ON, *73-78-151 +7
5. Dave Miller, West Vancouver, BC, *75-76-151 +7
8. Gudmund Lindbjerg, Port Moody, BC, *75-77-152 +8
8. Peter King, Australia, *79-73-152 +8
8. Mike Sweett, Calgary, AB, *79-73-152 +8
11. Bruce Gerrard, Okotoks, AB, *80-75-155 +11
11. Dru Lafave, Ottawa, ON, *72-83-155 +11

DID NOT ADVANCE

George Stokes, New Hamburg, ON, *79-77-156 +12
Frank MacKenzie, Vernon, BC, *77-79-156 +12
Terry Hodson, Surrey, BC, *78-78-156 +12
Ron Petersen, Coquitlam, BC, *78-78-156 +12
Don Boland, St. John’s, NL, *82-75-157 +13
Phil Kerbrat, Calgary, AB, *82-75-157 +13
Mel Bernard, Summerside, PE, *79-79-158 +14
Alan Defoe, Calgary, AB, *78-80-158 +14
Patrick Feeney, High River, AB, *78-80-158 +14
Barry Minish, Winnipeg, MB, *79-80-159 +15
Adélard Collin, Québec, QC, *80-80-160 +16
Sandy (Robert) Kalle, Amherstburg, ON, *78-82-160 +16
Peter Stirling, Bedford, NS, *78-82-160 +16
Les Swelin, Sundre, AB, *82-79-161 +17
Rob Myhill, Thornbury, ON, *87-75-162 +18
Bruce Marshall, London, ON, *80-83-163 +19
Louis Boudreau, Boudreau-Ouest, NB, *82-81-163 +19
Ron Dolinki, Perth, ON, *77-86-163 +19
Eric Springings, Saskatoon, SK, *81-82-163 +19
Tom Banks, Auburn, NS, *81-83-164 +20
Larry Ferguson, Comox, BC, *77-87-164 +20
Doug Stone, White Rock, BC, *82-83-165 +21
Randy Strang, Vernon, BC, *89-76-165 +21
Greg Kocher, Gibsons, BC, *84-81-165 +21
Ray Stoodley, St. John’s, NL, *85-85-170 +26
Andre Jette, Mt St Hilaire, QC, *86-89-175 +31
John Williams, St. John’s, NL, *94-85-179 +35
WD. Michel Labelle, Kirkland, QC, *77-86-163 +19

2016 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
– INTER-PROVINCIAL TEAM COMPETITION

1. Team Alberta – David Schultz, Calgary, AB, Frank Van Dornick, Camrose, AB, Brian Brown, Nanton, AB, *146-138-284 -4
2. Team Manitoba – Michael Walker, Winnipeg, MB, Garth Collings, Matlock, MB, Brad Moore, Winnipeg, MB, *144-149-293 +5
3. Team British Columbia – Harry Ferguson, Invermere, BC, Gudmund Lindbjerg, Port Moody, BC, Doug Roxburgh, Vancouver, BC, *149-149-298 +10
4. Team Ontario – Christopher Kertsos, Pickering, ON, Randy Blondin, Nipyn, ON, Robert Gibson, Toronto, ON, *149-150-299 +11
5. Team Nova Scotia – Tom Banks, Auburn, NS, Ernie Sheaves, Baddeck, NS, Gary Smith, Kingston, NS, *157-148-305 +17
6. Team New Brunswick – Mark Armstrong, Rothesay, NB, Michael Breen, Bloomfield, NB, Dan Coulombe, Fredericton, NB, *153-155-308 +20
7. Team Quebec – Michel Roy, Quebec City, QC, Michel Labelle, Kirkland, QC, Adélard Collin, Québec, QC, *157-157-314 +26
8. Team Saskatchewan – George Janson, Saskatoon, SK, David Bird, Saskatoon, SK, Ken Rodgers, Regina, SK, *160-159-319 +31
9. Team Prince Edward Island – Kenny Fraser, Alberton, PE, Mel Bernard, Summerside, PE, *162-165-327 +39
10. Team Newfoundland and Labrador – Rick Stead, Mount Pearl, NL, Don Boland, St. John’s, NL, *166-164-330 +42

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