Defending-champion Jackson Rothwell of Victoria won’t have to leave the Island to go for the sa国际传媒 Men’s Amateur Golf Championship hat-trick. The 121st edition of the venerable championship will be held July 11-14 at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville.
Rothwell is a 21-year-old graduate of St. Michaels University School who plays in the NCAA Div. I with the University of San Francisco Dons. The Victoria Golf Club member followed up his 2019 title at Big Sky in Pemberton by lifting the Bostock Cup as sa国际传媒 Amateur champion for the second time last year at Christina Lake.
It continued a recent string of successes for Island golfers in the sa国际传媒 Amateur. Now-professional Tristan Mandur of Mill Bay, a Duncan Meadows member out of the NCAA Pac-12 University of Utah Utes, won the 2020 sa国际传媒 Amateur championship in Kelowna, Rothwell was the champion at age 18 in 2019 at Big Sky and Jake DuVall of Uplands won it in 2017 at Morgan Creek in Surrey. Nolan Thoroughgood of Royal Colwood was the champion as a 15-year-old in 2016 at Pheasant Glen in Qualicum Beach before playing in the NCAA Pac-12 for the Oregon State Beavers.
“It must be something in the water,” said Rothwell, of the recent Island success, after taking his second championship last year.
“We have had some good players come from the Island. It’s been something else and has sure given the Vancouver crowd fits.”
Other Island players to win the sa国际传媒 Amateur since 1980 are Bryan Toth in 2006, Gordie Scutt in 2000, Darren Griff in 1994, Ed Beauchemin in 1984, Steve Berry in 1981 and Sandy Harper in 1980.
The seemingly-ageless 13-time champion Doug Roxburgh of Marine Drive was tied for 11th last year at Christina Lake and it would be no surprise to see him take another run this year at Morningstar at age 71.
“I am not going to catch Doug Roxburgh,” said Rothwell, after last year’s championship.
“But I am proud to win it twice in this era of the college-to-pro golf track.”
The sa国际传媒 Men’s Amateur Championship is returning to the Island for the second time in three years. Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., 2022 NCAA Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year with the Michigan State Spartans, won in 2021 at Storey Creek in Campbell River. McCulloch was based at the Team sa国际传媒 training centre on Bear Mountain and so had a Langford address at the time and was eligible for that 119th sa国际传媒 Amateur.
