Photo: St. Thomas G&CC Facebook

by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Julian Colavecchia of Toronto captured the 76th Early Bird Tournament in a playoff yesterday at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club.

Colavecchia, who competes for the Chicago State University Cougars and competes out of Markland Wood Golf Club in Etobicoke, finished the two-day, 36-hole tournament tied with Michael Naus of FireRock Golf Club in Komoka at even-par 144.

The duo were the only golfers in the field of 99 to not finish over par. Naus finished 71-73, while first-round leader Colavecchia shot 69-75.

The Early Bird, traditionally held on Victoria Day weekend at the Union club, began as an 18-hole tournament in 1949.

Jeffrey Clarke, Drake Gladstone and Will McHenry all finished two-strokes back yesterday at +2.

Six golfers, including 2017 winner Charles Fitzsimmons and his former Western Mustangs teammate Jackson Bowery, finished +3.

St. Thomas G&CC celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.

Here’s a list of winners:

1949 Moe Norman, Kitchener
1950 Moe Norman, Kitchener
1951 Don Anderson, St. Thomas
1952 Jerry Kesselring, Kitchener
1953 Tom Draper, Detroit
1954 Moe Norman, Kitchener
1955 Tom Draper, Detroit
1956 Jerry Magee, Toronto
1957 Chuck Kocsis, Detroit
1958 Ron Chapra, Hamilton
1959 Mike Krochuk, Fonthill
1960 Gary Cowan, Kitchener
1961 Gary Cowan, Kitchener
1962 Don Pullen, Brantford
1963 CHuck Kocsis, Detroit
1964 Gary Cowan, Kitchener
1965 Gary Cowan, Kitchener
1966 Jim Waite, St. Thomas
1967 Bill Finlay, St. Thomas
1968 Randy Dunk, St. Catherines
1969 Leo Bradshaw, Toronto
1970 Bruce Brewer, Toronto
1971 Jim Waite, St. Thomas
1972 Nick Weslock, Burlington
1973 Kelly Roberts, London
1974 Kelly Roberts, London
1975 Nick Weslock, Burlington
1976 Glen Johnson, London
1977 Nick Weslock, Burlington
1978 Doug Good, London
1979 Ian Thomas, London
1980 David Ahern, Oakville
1981 Dan Mijovic, Willowdale
1982 Warren Sye, Rexdale
1983 Dan Mijovic, Willowdale
1984 Len Foran, London
1985 Warren Sye, Toronto
1986 Kevin Breivik, London
1987 Warren Sye, Toronto
1988 Warren Sye, Toronto
1989 Kevin Breivik, London
1990 Ken Foran, London
1991 Rob Havers, London
1992 Todd Doohan, Sarnia
1993 Garry Winger, London
1994 Len Foran, St. Thomas
1995 Mike Butts, Milton
1996 Bill Hutcheson, London
1997 Brennan Webb, Bracebridge
1998 Drew Symons, Woodstock
1999 Sean Henry, London
2000 A. Corner, Tillsonburg
2001 Bill Seagris, Windsor
2002 Bill Seagris, Windsor
2003 No Competition
2004 Bill Seagris, Windsor
2005 Dan McIntyre, Bowling Green
2006 Jace Walker, St. Thomas
2007 Bill Seagris, Windsor
2008 Jace Walker, St. Thomas
2009 Bill Seagris, Windsor
2010 Jace Walker, St. Thomas
2011 Garrett Rank, Elmira
2012 Garrett Rank, Elmira
2013 Garrett Rank, Elmira
2014 Brett McIntosh, London
2015 Harris Bundy, Scarborough
2016 Quinn Vilneff, Essex
2017 Charles Fitzsimmons, Thornhill
2018 Brett McIntosh, London
2019 Garrett Rank, Elmira
2020 Garrett Rank, Elmira
2021 Jordan Crampton, London
2022 Cameron Kellett, St. Thomas
2023 Jonn Drewery, Kitchener
2024 Julian Colavecchia