THUNDER BAY – Jeff Hunter says he wasn’t playing well heading into this year’s Teleco District Amateur.
He found his golf game in a hurry this week.
Hunter, who had won the past three Thunder Bay majors before having his streak stopped at last month’s Strathcona Invitational, was back atop the podium on Labour Day Monday, firing a 2-under 70 at Whitewater Golf Course to capture the Amateur for a second straight year, cruising to an eight-shot win over Nathan Lepore with a 7-under, three-round total of 208.
Lepore started the day two shots back of the lead, tied with Kevin Jackson, but slipped in the third round of the 54-hole event, shooting a 4-over 76 to finish the tournament with a 1-over 216.
Two-time defending district junior champion Nathan Hoogsteen took third, playing out of the second flight, winding up two shots behind Lepore after a 1-over 73 on Monday.
It was the fifth local major for Hunter, who said it’s been a pretty incredible run over the past year.
“It’s pretty cool to play good golf and shoot scores when it matters,” Hunter said. “We’re all playing good on Wednesday afternoon, but to do it in the tournament, that’s what we’re trying to do. I haven’t been playing well coming in, so for me, it was kind of a treat, maybe because I came in with pretty low expectations for myself. That kind of helped me, maybe.”
Hunter said the plan entering the final round was to keep his foot firmly planted on the gas pedal, to make the players chasing him have to take a few risks over the final 18 holes of the three-day event, which started Saturday at Chapples Golf Course and continued on Sunday at Strathcona Golf Course.
“It’s the same thing I usually do. I’m usually pretty conservative off the tee and more aggressive coming in, because my strength is more in my approach game. I kind of do the same thing all the time and I hit it really good coming into the greens today and managed to hit a couple of putts too,” Hunter said.
Nursing a five-shot lead through 13 – at least by his count – Hunter stuck his approach on 14 to about 12 feet and rolled in the putt.
Lepore, who drove the short par 4 green, just missed his eagle chance and settled for birdie, unable to gain back any ground.
Hunter dropped his second shot on the 16th to about two feet and made another birdie, sealing the win.
“Sixteen didn’t need much to go in there. I made a good putt on 12 as well and a really good par putt on 10 to keep myself in a good spot,” the former professional said.
Jackson and Cooper Anderson finished tied for fourth, at 220, with Barry Caland, who departs this week for next week’s Canadian Senior Amateur, one shot back at 221.
Jaden Jones led the tournament with a nine-under 62 after Day 1, but was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard in round two.
