INNISFIL, Ont. - Niagara's Josiah Dixon (Bognor) shot an even par 72 in the final round to win the men's individual gold medal at the 2016 OCAA Golf Championships presented by belairdirect.

Dixon held a three-stroke lead entering the final 18 holes, and increased the margin to five to win his second OCAA medal in two seasons. Dixon finished the three-round tournament at an impressive six-under. He earned a bronze medal in 2015.

Christian McCullough (Richmond Hill) of Humber, the 2013 OCAA champion, could not close the gap on the final day, finishing in second place, one-under for the tournament. McCullough has won an individual gold, silver and bronze medal over the past three seasons.

Last year's individual champion, Evan Littlefield (Thunder Bay) of Niagara shot the best round of the day with a one-under 71 to take the bronze medal. Jamaal Moussaoui (Kingston) of St. Lawrence-Kingston, who led the tournament after the first 18 holes, finished two shots out of medal position. Matt Lemay (Waterloo) of host Georgian placed fifth, three strokes behind the bronze medal winning Littlefield. The top five males are named to the OCAA All-Ontario team.

With the performance of Dixon and Littlefield, it is not surprising that Niagara was able to defend its men's team title, although in a hard-fought contest. Niagara finished two strokes better than Georgian, which was awarded team silver. Also contributing to the men's team gold medal for Niagara were Benjamin Kenel (Hamilton), Logan Lammerant (Seaforth) and Brett Shewchuk (Thunder Bay).

Along with Lemay, Mitchell Ahrens (Peterborough), Jon Collins (Fergus), Josh Lynch (Burlington) and Danny Watts (Burlington) helped Georgian to the silver medal. Humber took the men's team bronze. Led by McCullough, he was joined by Cameron Brennan (Erin), Luke McLean (King City), Michael Vance (Aurora) and Connor Watt (Mississauga) in capturing the bronze medal.

Niagara's Lorelle Weavers (Burlington) successfully defended her OCAA women's individual gold medal, winning by one stroke over Georgian silver medalist Addison Wallwin (Barrie), who successfully closed the gap by two in the final round. Sheila McKeen (Ottawa) of Humber finished in the bronze medal position, four strokes better than fourth-place finisher Emilie Tyndall (Kirkland, Que.) of Georgian. The top four females are named to the OCAA All-Ontario team.

Wallwin, Tyndall and Sady Beelik (Pefferlaw) helped Georgian defend its OCAA women's team championship, 15 strokes better than Humber's trio of McKeen, Sonia Nagindas (Aurora) and Lindsay Voogt (Niagara-On-The-Lake). Seneca took the team bronze medal, led by Maria Novoa (Toronto) and Andrea Fayet (Toronto).

OCAA awarded its Division II men's team championship to Seneca, made up of Scott Baker (Scarborough), Robin Hutchins (Toronto), Mitchel Kennedy (Scarborough), Matthew Madden (Iroquois Falls) and Juan Novoa (Toronto). Seneca finished seven strokes better than silver medalist St. Clair. Members of the silver medalists are Darren Alexander (Essex), Chris Hasiak (Anchorage, Alaska), Tyler LeBlanc (Belle River), Chris Ryan (Harrow) and Patrick Thompson (Amherstburg).

Mohawk teammates Brendan Canning (Stoney Creek), Colin Churchill (Caledonia), Nicholas Francis (Waterdown), Cameron Kotulak (Oakville) and Alex Proksch (Cambridge) were awarded Division II men's team bronze.

Durham head coach Tyler Martin was named OCAA Coach of the Year as selected by his peers. He is now nominated for the national award.

The competition took place at National Pines Golf Club in Innisfil, Ont., and was hosted by Georgian. A total of 85 golfers represented 15 Ontario college campuses, including Confederation, Durham, Fanshawe, Georgian, Humber, Lakehead (Orillia), Lambton, Mohawk, Niagara, St. Clair, St. Lawrence (Brockville, Cornwall and Kingston), Sault and Seneca.

The tournament consisted of three 18-hole rounds. The male and female player posting the lowest gross score through 54 holes earned their respective individual championship.

Men's teams consist of four or five golfers, with the top four individual scores of each round contributing to the total team score. Women's teams consist of two or three golfers, with the top two individual scores of each round contributing to their total score. Schools with the lowest aggregate of gross scores after 54 holes won the respective team titles.

This marked the 50th time the OCAA awarded golf medals as one of its inaugural varsity sports back in 1967. That year, Mohawk won the men's team title, with St. Clair's Dan Hasson winning individual gold.

Designed by Thomas McBroom, National Pines Golf Club was third in Golf Digest's ranking of best new courses in Canada. It is 7,013 yards in length, a great walking course that predominantly features Love Creek which comes into play 14 times during a round. Facilities include a three-level 7,000 square-foot clubhouse, a three-tiered grass deck with 15 hitting stations, seven target greens, and a putting green. National Pines was home to the 2007 and 2008 Canadian Tour Championship and the 1995 Ontario Amateur.

Championship Website: ocaa.com/championships/golf/2016-17/index

National Pines Golf Club: nationalpines.clublink.ca

Results via Golf Ontario: gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao16/event/gao16549/index.htm

- OCAA -

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