Adam Choi - 2010 Canadian Men's Amateur Champion

Originally from Surrey, British Columbia, the 18-year-old Choi posted rounds of 69, 68, 68, 66 for a 17-under par total of 271 to claim the historic Earl Grey Cup and tie the record set by BC's Richard Zokol (1971) for the best stroke-play finish in the Amateur's history.

With his victory comes an exemption into the 2011 RBC Canadian Open at Vancouver's Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. A member of Team Canada's Development Squad, Choi was in BC last week where he finished sixth in the Canadian Junior Championship at Richmond Golf Club.

Choi played flawlessly through his first 48 holes of the Amateur until he bogeyed the London Hunt Club's #18 handicap-hole on Saturday, a 194-yard par-3. He also bogeyed the 17th..

Sunday, with a crowd in excess of 2,500 following his every stroke, Choi drained seven birdies, including three in a row to start his back nine. After five consecutive pars, he came to the 18th tee with a chance to equal the competitive course record of 64.

"I wasn't thinking about the course record, I was just thinking about the win," said Choi. "A poor second shot led to the bogey, but overall I'm pleased with the way I played today. I got it going on 10, 11, 12 and 13, that's when I felt really in control and got into the right mindset where I could pull this win off."

Finishing second was Eugene Wong of North Vancouver, B.C. The 19-year old Team Canada member had a single bogey and five birdies during his final round 68 to finish solo second at 14-under, three shots back of Choi. Wong also finished tied for second at the 2008 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship.

"I played great today, 68, I mean Albin just played really solid, 66, not much to say, he deserves the win," said Wong. "I'm pretty happy with my finish. I'll look to build upon results like this for the events left on my schedule this summer."

Two-time defending champion Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., made a late week push but fell short in his effort to become only the second player in the 106-year history of the Canadian Men's Amateur to win three straight. Brent Franklin (985, 86, 87), the only player to have accomplished the feat, will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame later this year.

Playing in the day's final grouping - a trio of Team Canada members with Choi and Wong - Burke shot a final round 4-under 68 with three birdies and an eagle to finish alone in third at 10-under for the tournament, seven shots back of Choi.

American Lion Kim of Ann Arbour, MI., winner of the 2010 U.S. Public Links Championship, finished fourth at 9-under while Anthony Warren of Charlottetown, P.E.I. and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. rounded out the top-five at 5-under.

Choi's golf season isn't quite over yet. In a couple weeks he'll be back on the west coast and join Wong in the 2010 U.S. Amateur, August 23-29 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, WA., He's also hoping to be chosen for the team representing Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship which takes place October 16-31, 2010 in Argentina.

As for the going to the Canadian Open and playing in a PGA TOUR event, that's not on Choi's mind right now.

"The RBC Canadian Open will be a great experience, but I have to focus short-term for now. I want to have a good freshman year, just get used to playing college golf, that will be a new experience. And, I also want to have a good appearance at the U.S. Amateur - that would be a good starting point."

Choi returns to North Carolina this fall where he'll join the North Carolina State (NC State) Wolfpack men's golf team as a freshman.

The 2011 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship will take place at Niakwa Country Club at a date to be determined. The 107th national amateur will once again feature an expanded field of 240 competitors with Elmhurst Golf and Country Club also challenging competitors during the opening 36-holes of the event.

(Photos: Golf Canada / Graig Abel)

PLAYER INTERVIEWS AND VIDEO RECAP
Audio files of Sunday's interviews with Cam Burke, Eugene Wong and Amateur Champion Albin Choi can be found online at www.rcga.org/canadianmensamateur.


2010 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship

1. Albin Choi, Toronto, ON, *69-68-68-66-271 -17
2. Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, BC, *69-70-67-68-274 -14
3. Cam Burke, New Hamburg, ON, *71-69-70-68-278 -10
4. Lion Kim, Ann Arbor, MI, *68-71-71-69-279 -9
5. Anthony Warren, Charlottetown, PE, *73-71-72-67-283 -5
5. Mackenzie Hughes, Dundas, ON, *69-74-71-69-283 -5
7. Garrett Rank, Elmira, ON, *75-73-68-68-284 -4
8. Daniel Brown, Kelowna, BC, *74-71-72-68-285 -3
8. Marc-Étienne Bussières, Gatineau, QC, *68-71-77-69-285 -3
8. Kyle Kopsick, Highland Park, IL, *72-71-69-73-285 -3
11. Andrew Funk, Edmonton, AB, *72-71-74-69-286 -2
11. Parker Lilly, Victoria, BC, *70-74-73-69-286 -2
11. Patrick Williams, Toronto, ON, *71-75-74-66-286 -2
14. Mitchell Evanecz, Red Deer, AB, *70-78-71-68-287 -1
14. Matt Hoffman, Thornhill, ON, *71-69-74-73-287 -1
14. Brad Boyle, Kingston, ON, *70-72-71-74-287 -1
17. Mathieu Gingras, Moncton, NB, *73-69-76-70-288 E
17. Riley Wheeldon, Bowser, BC, *71-73-74-70-288 E
17. Drew Symons, Woodstock, ON, *72-73-72-71-288 E
17. Kevin Carrigan, Victoria, BC, *74-73-75-66-288 E
17. Darren Wallace, Langley, BC, *73-70-72-73-288 E
22. Jared Hundza, Victoria, BC, *71-74-73-71-289 +1
22. Graham Hill, Forest, ON, *67-76-74-72-289 +1
22. Jake Katz, Williamsville, NY, *74-71-72-72-289 +1
22. Jeffrey Clarridge, Barrie, ON, *68-70-81-70-289 +1
22. Jesse Gibson, Saskatoon, SK, *75-72-73-69-289 +1
22. Dave Bunker, Woodbridge, ON, *74-72-71-72-289 +1
28. Charles Côté, Thetford Mines, QC, *73-70-75-72-290 +2
28. Ryan Willoughby, Chelmsford, ON, *73-73-73-71-290 +2
28. Jacob Patte, Oshawa, ON, *70-73-76-71-290 +2
28. Jason Wellings, Dundas, ON, *73-72-71-74-290 +2
28. Britt Pronk, London, ON, *70-74-71-75-290 +2
33. Adrian Cord, Etobicoke, ON, *72-74-72-73-291 +3
33. Wilson Bateman, Spruce Grove, AB, *70-75-71-75-291 +3
33. Brandon Ng, Toronto, ON, *71-74-71-75-291 +3
33. Cory Renfrew, victoria, BC, *73-71-71-76-291 +3
33. Nick Taylor, Abbotsford, BC, *71-76-68-76-291 +3
38. Ryan Haselden, Houston, TX, *71-75-73-73-292 +4
38. Peter More, Winnipeg, MB, *76-70-73-73-292 +4
38. Steven Lecuyer, Edmonton, AB, *74-72-71-75-292 +4
38. Brian Churchill-Smith, Oakville, ON, *70-76-71-75-292 +4
38. Gavin Smith, Stirling, Scotland, *69-78-74-71-292 +4
38. Charles Fitzsimmons, Toronto, ON, *74-73-74-71-292 +4
38. Ben Griffin, Victoria, BC, *75-70-76-71-292 +4
45. Jeff Bishop, Halifax, NS, *76-72-71-74-293 +5
45. Matthew Sim, Oakville, ON, *71-76-72-74-293 +5
45. Neil Thomas, Edmonton, AB, *73-72-74-74-293 +5
45. Seon Kim, Coquitlam, BC, *72-75-70-76-293 +5
45. Zac Bested, Tecumseh, ON, *73-73-76-71-293 +5
45. Stephane Dubois, Brantford, ON, *73-74-77-69-293 +5
51. Jonathan Kim-Moss, Mississauga, ON, *72-74-72-76-294 +6
51. Daniel Kim, Toronto, ON, *68-72-80-74-294 +6
51. Jean-Philippe Paiement, Mont Laurier, QC, *71-71-80-72-294 +6
51. Jean-Hubert Trahan, Lachenaie, QC, *74-73-76-71-294 +6
51. Tyler Frank, Saskatoon, SK, *76-70-77-71-294 +6
56. Scott Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *74-71-74-76-295 +7
56. Jack Wesche, Calgary, AB, *72-73-75-75-295 +7
56. Scott Desmarais, Calgary, AB, *73-72-75-75-295 +7
59. Brock Crosson, Edmonton, AB, *69-75-74-78-296 +8
59. Scott Thompson, St. Walburg, SK, *69-71-76-80-296 +8
59. Michael Young, Oakville, ON, *73-75-76-72-296 +8
62. Eric Hawerchuk, Orangeville, ON, *71-73-76-77-297 +9
62. Raoul Ménard, Ange-Gardien, QC, *72-76-81-68-297 +9
64. Justin Shin, Pitt Meadow, BC, *75-73-74-76-298 +10
65. John Henry MacDonald, Cherry Valley, ON, *70-77-75-77-299 +11
65. Brad Larente, Cambridge, ON, *73-75-77-74-299 +11
65. David Sheman, Newmarket, ON, *71-75-79-74-299 +11
68. Josh Bamberger, Waterloo, ON, *73-75-75-77-300 +12
68. Lucas Kim, Toronto, ON, *71-76-77-76-300 +12
70. Matthew Gowdy, London, ON, *73-74-76-79-302 +14
71. Matt Wheeler, Toronto, ON, *75-73-80-75-303 +15
72. Peter vanWezel, Lasalle, ON, *72-75-80-83-310 +22

--- DID NOT FINISH ---
CUT. David Freeman, Salisbury, NB, *+5
CUT. Darren Roach, Salisbury, NB, *+5
CUT. Adam Svensson, Surrey, BC, *+5
CUT. Adam Cornelson, Langley, BC, *+5
CUT. David Byrne, Essex, ON, *+5
CUT. Mitch Sutton, London, ON, *+5
CUT. William Hutcheson, Aurora, ON, *+5
CUT. Scott Lowe, Calgary, AB, *+5
CUT. Stéphane Boudreau, Dieppe, NB, *+5
CUT. Jared Vosler, Battle Creek, MI, *+5
CUT. Rob Cowan, Waterloo, ON, *+5
CUT. Bradley Graham, St. Catharines, ON, *+5
CUT. Sebastian Szirmak, Toronto, ON, *+5
CUT. Zachary Kempa, Brantford, ON, *+6
CUT. Martin O'Brien, O'Leary, PE, *+6
CUT. James Holland, New Minas, NS, *+6
CUT. Chris Battersby, London, ON, *+6
CUT. Nathan Leonhardt, Richmond, BC, *+6
CUT. Daley Byles, Barrie, ON, *+6
CUT. Evan Larocque, Toronto, ON, *+6
CUT. Jens Bracht, Lake Forest Park, WA, *+6
CUT. Chris Moore, Guelph, ON, *+6
CUT. Luke Leibel, Toronto, ON, *+6
CUT. John Hurley, O'Neill, NE, *+6
CUT. Mathew Perry, New Zealand, *+6
CUT. Mark McMillen Jr., Smithfield, NC, *+6
CUT. Jarred Callbeck, Victoria, BC, *+6
CUT. Dwight Reinhart, Renfrew, ON, *+7
CUT. Glenn Robinson, Lower Sackville, NS, *+7
CUT. Brett Webster, Abbotsford, BC, *+7
CUT. Kyle Morrison, Red Deer, AB, *+7
CUT. Mitch Lock, Mission, BC, *+7
CUT. Michael Blair, Burlington, ON, *+7
CUT. Brett Cairns, Courtland, ON, *+7
CUT. Eric Banks, Truro, NS, *+8
CUT. Thomas Petts, North Vancouver, BC, *+8
CUT. Jace Walker, St. Thomas, ON, *+8
CUT. Darren Hupfer, Edmonton, AB, *+8
CUT. Sonny Michaud, Rouyn Noranda, QC, *+8
CUT. John Coey, Toronto, ON, *+8
CUT. Brendan Leonard, Cambridge, ON, *+8
CUT. Ian Mulder, Abbotsford, BC, *+8
CUT. Richard Jung, Toronto, ON, *+8
CUT. Jonnie Motomochi, Delta, BC, *+8
CUT. Chris Drake, Thornhill, ON, *+8
CUT. Charles Etienne Boucher, Montreal, QC, *+8
CUT. Corey Conners, Listowel, ON, *+9
CUT. Brett Stewart, Abbotsford, BC, *+9
CUT. Luke Dempsey, Bedford, NS, *+9
CUT. Justin Fluit, Toronto, ON, *+9
CUT. Matthieu Blouin, Ile D'Orléans, QC, *+9
CUT. Jordan Krulicki, Red Deer, AB, *+9
CUT. Karl Parrington, Dewinton, AB, *+9
CUT. Josh Koch, Medina, OH, *+10
CUT. Zach MacDougall, Coquitlam, BC, *+10
CUT. Garth Collings, Matlock, MB, *+10
CUT. Patrick Goodhue, Ottawa, ON, *+10
CUT. Matt Loewen, Winkler, MB, *+10
CUT. Keith Martin, Kelowna, BC, *+10
CUT. Russell Bowie, Mississauga, ON, *+10
CUT. Paul Ashleigh, Mississauga, ON, *+10
CUT. Raymond Floyd, Old Greenwich, CT, *+10
CUT. Scott Stiles, Calgary, AB, *+10
CUT. Chris Cooke, Canmore, AB, *+10
CUT. Adam Shaw, Richmond Hill, ON, *+10
CUT. Simon McInnis, Toronto, ON, *+10
CUT. Matthew Wood, Bloomfield, PE, *+11
CUT. Simon Reyers, Kingston, ON, *+11
CUT. Alex Carrigan, Guelph, ON, *+11
CUT. Tim McCullough, London, ON, *+11
CUT. Glen Burke, Stephenville, NL, *+11
CUT. Bobby Wiebe, Headingley, MB, *+11
CUT. Teale Merkeley, Winnipeg, MB, *+11
CUT. John Neufeld, Calgary, AB, *+11
CUT. Kevin Bredy, Calgary, AB, *+11
CUT. Craig Gibson, Brooks, AB, *+11
CUT. Gregory Belsito, Thornhill, ON, *+11
CUT. Samuel Rochette, Pont-Rouge, QC, *+11
CUT. Jamie Core, Berkeley, CA, *+11
CUT. Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation, SK, *+11
CUT. Craig Klassen, Calgary, AB, *+11
CUT. Mac Boucher, Uxbridge, ON, *+11
CUT. Stephane Pellerin, Trois-Rivieres, QC, *+11
CUT. Bruce Frick, Sudbury, ON, *+11
CUT. Julien Proulx, Quebec, QC, *+12
CUT. Sean Burke, Mississauga, ON, *+12
CUT. Edward Reevey, Rothesay, NB, *+12
CUT. Brett Maue, St. Agatha, ON, *+12
CUT. Gage Murphy, Rosebud, AB, *+12
CUT. John Crowther, London, ON, *+12
CUT. Robert O'Hagan, Paris, ON, *+12
CUT. Dax Phillips, Fredericton, NB, *+12
CUT. Wes Ladouceur, S-Woodslee, ON, *+12
CUT. Rocky Co, Richmond Hill, ON, *+12
CUT. Russell Budd, Toronto, ON, *+12
CUT. Matt Thompson, Battle Creek, MI, *+12
CUT. Scott Sinclair, Toronto, ON, *+12
CUT. Sang Gyun Lee, Calgary, AB, *+12
CUT. Ryan Cook, Winnipeg, MB, *+12
CUT. Scott Kulczycki, Saskatoon, SK, *+13
CUT. Michael Herperger, Humboldt, SK, *+13
CUT. Thomas Lee, Newmarket, ON, *+13
CUT. Dusty Louth, Washago, ON, *+13
CUT. John Regan, Burlington, ON, *+13
CUT. Jason Doyle, Quispamsis, NB, *+13
CUT. Scott Malo, Calgary, AB, *+13
CUT. Buddy Reed, Wilmington, DE, *+13
CUT. Matthew Broome, Barrington, RI, *+13
CUT. Michael Zizek, Mississauga, ON, *+13
CUT. Jonathan Brain, Nice, France, *+13
CUT. Andrew Stewart, New Zealand, *+13
CUT. Alexis Gemme Piacente, Montréal, QC, *+14
CUT. Shane O'Neill, St. Albert, AB, *+14
CUT. Jordan Duffy, Calgary, AB, *+14
CUT. Kenny Gregor, Calgary, AB, *+14
CUT. Jace Barros, Edmonton, AB, *+14
CUT. Stephen Brown, Corunna, ON, *+14
CUT. Mike McAleer, Vancouver, BC, *+14
CUT. Patrick Barrett, Pinehurst, NC, *+14
CUT. David Rose, West Vancouver, BC, *+14
CUT. Conrado Paderes, Vancouver, BC, *+14
CUT. Andrew Zanatta, London, ON, *+14
CUT. Stephen Layne, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, QC, *+14
CUT. Byron Olson, Calgary, AB, *+14
CUT. Jonathan Drake, Toronto, ON, *+15
CUT. Stephen Brodie, London, ON, *+15
CUT. Jay Jewett, Sudbury, ON, *+15
CUT. Jesse Skelton, St. Francois Xavier, MB, *+15
CUT. Scott Markham, Winnipeg, MB, *+15
CUT. Riley Unger, Winnipeg, MB, *+15
CUT. Binupa Wijesinghe, Brampton, ON, *+15
CUT. Dale Stypula, Cranbrook, BC, *+15
CUT. Pieter de la Ray, Comox, BC, *+15
CUT. James Krantz, Oshawa, ON, *+15
CUT. Chris Welton, York, PE, *+15
CUT. Chad Currie, Owen Sound, ON, *+16
CUT. Derek Reid, Mill Bay, BC, *+16
CUT. Matthew Speyer, Cambridge, ON, *+17
CUT. Doug Alexander, London, ON, *+17
CUT. James Roxburgh, Vancouver, BC, *+17
CUT. Jay Woodward, Bridgeport, WV, *+18
CUT. Dennis Kavelman, Waterloo, ON, *+18
CUT. Jacob Ohanian, Winona, ON, *+18
CUT. Tim Yorke, Kensington, PE, *+20
CUT. Nikashantess Penashue, Sheshatshiu, NL, *+20
CUT. Michael Tibbo, Corner Brook, NL, *+20
CUT. Michael Nedoszytko, Toronto, ON, *+21
CUT. Hunter Doubt, London, ON, *+21
CUT. Geoffrey Butt, Vancouver, BC, *+22
CUT. Jamie Arbeau, Lincoln, NB, *+22
CUT. Matthew Steger, North Vancouver, BC, *+22
CUT. Jeremy Brown, Vernon River, PE, *+22
CUT. Brett Macgillivary, Edmonton, AB, *+22
CUT. Russell Goodwin, London, ON, *+23
CUT. Murray McLeod, London, ON, *+23
CUT. Daniel Webbe, North Vancouver, BC, *+24
CUT. Gary Dunville, Kippens, NL, *+24
CUT. Benjamin Murray, Toronto, ON, *+24
CUT. Alexander Brekke, Calgary, AB, *+25
CUT. Andrew Atshapi, Sheshatshit, NL, *+25
CUT. David Crawford, Hamilton, ON, *+26
CUT. Anthony Bedard, London, ON, *+27
CUT. Austin Kelly, Chatham, ON, *+28
CUT. Matthew Porter, Cortland, NY, *+28
CUT. Gerry MacDonald, Calgary, AB, *+31
CUT. Tim Glennie, Clearwater, FL, *+37
--- DID NOT FINISH ---
WD. John Hahn, Las Vegas, NV, *
DQ. Jason Roach, Saint John, NB, *E