THUNDER BAY – It’s been 13 years since Jeff Hunter last hoisted the AON District Open trophy.
The drought ended on Sunday.
Hunter blew the field away in the 36-hole tournament, carding a 5-under 67 in Round 2 at Fort William Country Club, a day after posting the lowest score in Saturday’s opening round at Whitewater Golf Club, posting a 2-under 70. His 137 total was nine shots better than second place finisher Matthew Cho-Chu and 10 better than Evan DeGrazia, Walter Keating Jr. and Nathan Lepore.
The 34-year-old shot a 4-under 32 on the front nine on Sunday, and coasted to victory, the low score allowing him to play more conservatively on the back nine, while his competitors were forced to pin hunt as they tried to close the ever-widening gap.
Hunter started the day one shot ahead of Lepore and two up on former touring pro Keating Jr.
He's not sure why he caught lightning in a bottle this weekend.
“If I had an answer, I would do it all the time,” said Hunter, who last August completed the local grand slam, claiming his first Strathcona Invitational title, then followed up with a win the District Amateur, Sunday's win giving him all three local major titles at once, the first time anyone’s accomplished that feat since Barry Caland won all three in 2008. Before that it was Trevor Jones in 1985.
“I’ve just been playing good golf and have been able to get out of my own way, more than usual, I think.”
The strong start on Sunday was a definitely confidence boost and made things a lot easier heading home, after a brief rain delay brought all competitors back to the clubhouse for a weather reset.
“It gave me the opportunity to play conservative off the tee, so that was good. It’s never put away until it’s put away, but it gave me an opportunity to lay back a little bit off the tee.
Hunter got it to 6-under for the day on the back, birdieing the 10th and the 16th, where he hit iron off the tee before pitching his second shot to within six feet.
He drained the putt and it was academic from there.
Lepore matched Hunter with a birdie on the 10th, but after making a great third shot out of a green-side bunker on 12, couldn’t sink a second birdie putt, and instead settled for par.
Hunter’s only blemish was a two-putt bogey on No. 18, his approach rolling into thick rough just off the fringe.
“I’d trade a couple of (those birdies) for the bogey on the last hole, probably. But it was good. The putter was rolling down the line and when the ball is going where you want it to go, there’s not much to complain about,” Hunter said.
