Toronto, ON: Beginning the day atop the leader board 43-year old veteran Dave Bunker of Woodbridge continued his strong play in round three to grab a two stroke lead at the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship at Islington Golf Club.

 

Despite bogeys at the second and eighth holes Bunker finished his front nine one under par after birdies at the fifth, seventh and ninth. He struggled a bit on the back nine, with back to back bogeys on fourteen and fifteen but held on to retain the top spot on the leader board, finishing the day with a three day total of 207 (six under par). The 2007 Mid-Amateur champion will try to hold on to his lead when he tees it up in the final group in tomorrow’s fourth and final round.

 

Joining Bunker in the final group is Korey Pettit of Brantford, who despite a bogey at the eighteenth matched his 66 from round two today and finished at four under par (209) for the tournament. The 22-year hopes to continue his solid play in the final round and try to make up the two stroke gap between himself and Bunker.

 

The round of the day went to David Markle of Shelburne who climbed all the way up into a tie for third place after firing a bogey free round of 65, including four birdies on the front nine and two on the back. The 23-year old will tee it up four strokes off the lead as the third member of the final pairing tomorrow with hopes of building on his momentum of today’s round.

 

Four other players are sitting in a tie for third with Markle at two under par (211) heading into Friday’s round. Shawn LaFontaine of Cobourg, David Byrne of Essex, Simon McInnis of Toronto and Cam Burke of Baden will all start their final round four strokes off the lead.

 

The final round will begin Friday morning at 7:30am with the final pairing teeing it up at 10:50am. An awards ceremony will follow the completion of play on Friday at approximately 3:30pm where the Champion will be crowned and the Ontario Provincial Team will be announced.

 

-30-

 

For more information contact:

 

Kyle McFarlane

Golf Association of Ontario

905-706-6538