Jager relieves previous ‘Pain-ful’ experience with 2026 Ontario Men’s Amateur title

Otter Creek Golf Club Director of Golf Taylor declercq enjoyed the competitive level and smooth operation of the 104th Men’s Amateur hosted Monday, July 6-Thursday, July 9. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Jager Pain had a full-circle moment at the 104th Ontario Men’s Amateur Thursday, July 9 at the Otter Creek Golf Club (OCGC).

Two years ago, at the Junior Boys event said OCGC Director of Golf Taylor declercq, Pain had seen a potential victory fade away on the 18th hole. This year, heading into the final hole with a lead, he executed a flawless tee shot, closing out a solid score of 69 for the day on the green to lock up a two-stroke victory over Gabriel Mainella.

“It was nice for our staff to see him get his redemption,” said declercq of a humble and talented 2026 champion, whose home club is listed as the Birdwood Golf Course.

One hundred and fifty-six of province’s top male golfers teed off Monday at OCGC, on the edge of Otterville. Following two 18-hole rounds, the top 60-plus ties (67) made the cut for the final two days. Pain shot rounds of 69, 68, 76 and 69 en route to the title, for a six-under-par total of 282. Mainella (Oviinbyrd Golf Club) was in second place with a four-under-par 284 on rounds of 73, 72, 68 and 71. Matteo Rocco (70, 73, 71, 71, Weston Golf & Country Club) and Jackson Murphy (70, 71, 71, 73, Cataraqui Golf & Country Club) tied for third, and Josh DiCarlo (74, 74, 71, 67, Pointe West Golf Club) and Cam Burke (73, 74, 71, 68, Golf Ontario Public Player) tied for fifth with identical two-under-par scores of 286.

Avery Mahoney (even-par 288, Hamilton Golf & Country Club) and Charles Fitzsimmons (288, Beacon Hall Golf Club) tied in seventh; and Spencer Shropshire (289, Hawk Ridge Golf Club) and Eddie Gu (289, Laurel Oak Country Club) rounded the top-10 finishers with a ninth-place tie. The OVGC was represented by Andrew Gradish, who won a 36-hole in-house competition for the host exemption berth.

“I had to play well to earn the spot,” said Gradish, whose two-day score was not among his better totals, leaving him well above the cut line. “I was not last,” he laughed, not thrilled with his performance, but honoured and privileged to represent not only the club, but golfers in the area. “It was a great experience.”

Gradish had competed at a couple of Mid-Am (25-plus) tour events previously, but found the 156-member field at the Ontario Amateur to be at a different level.

“The competition was second-to-none,” he said, noting a field featuring some of Ontario’s best golfers, also includes many of Canada’s best amateur golfers.

“I kind of know my place,” he laughed. “It’s a different game - these young guys play with no fear.

“It was just a really cool experience to be able to play in your backyard.”

The average age of the field was low said declercq, noting a lot of the golfers are either on, or heading to, NCAA scholarships south of the border.

“These guys are good,” he said, mentioning one Pain shot in particular, a five-wood off the number four tee on the final day, a hole playing as a 300-yard par four.

“He was over the back of the green,” declercq marvelled, adding the course surrendered three holes-in-one during the tournament, two on the fourth hole, another single on the par three seventh.

“Crazy stuff,” said declercq, who came to his present position after beginning his career at The Bridges at Tillsonburg.

Superintendent Randy Booker had the course in great shape declercq credited, playing a shade over 7,000 yards for The Amateur. Otter Creek can be described as two courses in one the Director of Golf continued, opening with four links-style holes, giving way to wooded valleys and tree-lined fairways before closing out with another introduction to fescue.

“It’s a unique course,” he said. “It challenges your whole game. You can’t relax, you have to control your ball.”

Hosting the Ontario Men’s Amateur is a significant undertaking, however there is also a measure of pride and prestige involved. declercq issued thanks for a 55-member cadre of volunteers from the area who helped the event run smoothly, as well as sponsorship from Sobey’s, Zehrs and Sysco Southwestern Ontario.

“The event couldn’t have gone any better,” he concluded. “I don’t imagine it will be too long before we have something else like this.”