Gavey wins point title again: Nagrani tops at Pen Lakes
Aidan Gavey’s 73 and tie for seventh Sunday in the Niagara Men’s Golf Tour’s tour championship at Peninsula Lakes was enough for the 25-year-old Caledonia resident to wrap up his second straight points championship.
In winning the overall crown, the Monthill Golf and Country Club member won two events on the tour this year.
“I played every event and my game was in decent shape after playing in a bunch of events this summer. I had a couple of good results and it just takes a little bit of confidence,” he said. “I know they are not the biggest events in the world but it is a spot where you can gain confidence. It only takes a small piece to gain confidence and then it can transform into bigger tournaments.”
Confidence is crucial in golf.
“At any level, everyone’s skills is around the same and it is basically who gets the hot putter and putting is all confidence. You make a boatload one day and you miss everything the next day.”
He enjoys the Niagara tour.
“I like it because you are playing different golf courses and at the end of the day they are still competitive rounds. It is a chance to see where your game is at leading up to bigger events.”
Gavey’s 2024 included: a tie for fourth at the Ontario amateur after placing second and sixth in previous years; and, making the cut at the Ontario and Canadian mid-amateurs.
“I had a couple of decent results and I struggled a bit through the summer,” the former NCAA Division 2 scholarship golfer at Rogers State in Oklahoma said. “I would give it a B+. I made all the cuts and I gave one of the tournaments a good go.”
He has one qualifier left for the U.S. four ball championship before the competitive window closes for the season.
NAGRANI TOPS FIELD
Oakville resident Hanish Nagrani won the tour championship Sunday at Peninsula Lakes with a tidy three under par 68.
“It was fun. I played pretty solid and putted well,” the 28-year-old Welland native said. “It was nice because I haven’t won this year and haven’t played well in the events this year. It was nice to play well today in tough, windy conditions.”
Nagrani finished two shots ahead of Niagara National’s Maric Brooks who carded a 70.
“I worked on a couple of things on the range and struck the ball pretty solidly,” the former overall points champion said. “I felt really comfortable over the ball and I hit 17 of 18 greens. It was just avoiding three-putting and making my birdies when I could.”
It was the third career tour victory for the former scholarship golfer at Virginia Commonwealth, who didn’t have much success on the tour in 2024.
“I had a busy sort of year. I missed two events and the other two events I played OK but they were right in the middle of a bunch of other things. This one I had a long break before and that was nice.”
Although his tour results weren’t great, Nagrani had an excellent season. Among his accomplishments were: placing 11th at the Ontario mid-amateur; winning the Buffalo District mid-amateur; and, finishing third at the Buffalo individual championship, thanks to an opening-round 65.
“I would give my season a 7.5 or an 8.0. I had really good events and then I had bad stuff so it was a mix of both.”
The Cherry Hill member enjoys playing on the Niagara men’s tour.
“There are a lot of great people on the tour, a lot of good friends, a lot of good golf courses in the area and it is always a fun day out. I love the people, the camaraderie and playing with people I grew up playing with. It is nice to be a part of that.”
Rounding out the top 10 Sunday at Peninsula Lakes were: Brooks 70; Cardinal Lake’s Zach Hallborg 71; public player Andrew Dagneau 72; Cayuga Golf Club’s Charlie Cooper 72; Bridgewater’s Nolan Vonkalckreuth 72; Sawmill’s Mike Woodhouse 73; Sawmill’s Nathan Freure 73; public player Brendan Canning 73; and, Gavey 73.
