Dawson Lew and Jean-Philippe Parr tied for the lead entering the third round on Wednesday
CALGARY, Alta. – Team Quebec entered the final round of the Inter-Provincial Team Championship trailing Team British Columbia and Team Ontario and finished with a team score of 12-under to win their tenth Willingdon Cup, to cap off an exciting second round at the 121st playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO on Tuesday at Mickelson National Golf Club and Heritage Pointe Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.
Jean-Philippe Parr of St-Célestin, Que. led Team Quebec to the top of the leaderboard in the annual Inter-Provincial Team Championship. Parr shot an 8-under 64 carding nine birdies on Tuesday to secure Quebec the victory. The 2021 and 2022 Canadian Junior Boys champion not only helped secure the team championship but also put himself into a tie atop the leaderboard after two rounds.
“It feels great to win the Inter-Provincial Championship, I didn’t even know we won until you guys just told me, but I’m so proud to represent my home province of Quebec,” said Parr. “It’s a huge honour for me and my teammates to be able to accomplish that and bring the trophy back home to Quebec.
“I felt like I got it going pretty early, specifically on 10, making a good putt for birdie, then on eleven I hit my second shot short of the green and was able to make a nice putt from the fringe to tap in distance for birdie, that’s when I felt like I got it going,” said Parr. “My game’s felt pretty good, I haven’t putted well recently so it was nice to get the putter going today. Making putts is a great feeling, it makes you feel like you can’t miss a shot, I wish I could have that feeling all the time.”
Parr was joined by teammates Éloik Bertrand of Candiac, Que. and Guillaume Paquette of La Minerve, Que. Parr’s 64 and Bertrand’s even par 72 counted on Tuesday, with Parr and Paquette’s scores counting towards the overall team score on Monday.
Team British Columbia finished one back of Quebec at 11-under with the host province, Team Alberta rounding out the top three at 8-under in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship.
Team Canada NextGen member Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. shot a bogey free 7-under 65 to sit at 9-under through two rounds. Lew carded five birdies and one eagle to move him into the co-lead with Parr following Tuesday.
“I hit the ball really well today, I had a good par save on the first hole and then was able to hit every green from there on out which made it a pretty stress-free round,” said Lew.
“Keep picking good targets off the tees and into the greens and just continue committing to every shot and ensuring I execute my process as best I can and I will be happy with the result,” added Lew on what he can do to continue his success through the next two rounds.
Lew’s Team Canada teammates Thomas Grenier of Thetford Mines, Que. and Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. are also in the hunt. Grenier shot 3-under 69 carding five birdies putting him into a tie for third. Matthews shot a 2-under 70 to sit at T4 entering Wednesday. Matthews was 1-over through 15 holes but finished strong with a birdie on no. 16 and an eagle on no. 18 to strengthen his position on the leaderboard.
Brock Blais of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. recorded a hole-in-one on no. 15 at Mickelson National finishing his round at 3-under 69. Blais hit a nine iron straight at the hole, landed it three and a half feet past the pin, and it rolled right into the hole, for the fifth ace of his career. Blais sits at 4-under through two rounds tied for 25th.
Eighty-two (82) players made the cut at even par following Tuesday’s second round and will compete over the final 36 holes of the championship at Mickelson National.
The winner of the Earl Grey Cup will receive direct exemption into several events, including a spot in the field at the 2027 RBC Canadian Open. Additionally, the Canadian Men’s Amateur champion will earn an exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship, 2027 U.S. Open Final Qualifying, and 2027 U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying. The winner will also be exempt into the 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and will have the chance to defend their title, if eligible.
For the individual and inter-provincial team leaderboards following the second round of the 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
