Leon Carter is no stranger to winning provincial golf titles, but he added a new plaque to his collection yesterday.
The 38-year-old Dundee standout carded an even-par 72 in the final round to win the Nova Scotia Golf Association men’s mid-amateur (ages 25 and older) championship by four strokes at the Greenwood Golf Club in Greenwood, Kings Co.
Carter has won four NSGA amateur titles (15 and older) in 14 attempts but had never triumphed at the mid-am. He also hasn’t won a major provincial tournament since 2007, so he was happy to get back on track.
“There were shades of the old swing (this weekend),” Carter said. “I haven’t hit the ball good in the last two or three years, but I’ve been hitting it pretty decent all summer. This is a good start (to the summer).”
Carter, who resides in River Bourgeois, tied for 36th at last year’s mid-amateur and had top-six finishes in both the mid-amateur and amateur two years ago.
Jody Swim of River Hills and Bobby Marriott of Granite Springs finished tied for second, each posting three-day totals of 5-over 221.
Aaron Nickerson of River Hills shot a three-day 222 to qualify for the fourth and final spot on the provincial team that will compete at nationals from Aug. 16 to 20 in Gatineau, Que.
Marriott had the lead heading into the final round but shot a 5-over 77 yesterday to give way to Carter, who said he “played it pretty conservative” after entering the day two strokes off the lead.
Carter made par on 14 of 18 holes and finished with two birdies and two bogies.
“Consistency was the key,” Carter said. “I stayed out of the woods today, which I did for the most part over the weekend. I didn’t put any big numbers.”
Defending champion Trevor Chow of Ashburn finished seventh (8-over 224), one stroke behind both Darren MacPherson of Glen Arbour and Glenn Robinson of Ashburn.
