Canadian Am: Alex Carrigan takes early lead

CUMBERLAND, Ontario (Aug. 7, 2012) -- They’re all chasing Alex Carrigan after the first round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur golf championship. The 24-year-old from Guelph, Ont., shot a 6-under-par 66 at the Camelot Golf and Country Club on Tuesday and took a one-stroke lead over Brian Churchill-Smith of Oakville, Ont. “I couldn’t ask for a better start,” Carrigan said. “I started three under through four holes, which threw me for a loop, starting that good.” Tied for third were Jerry Christiansen of Saskatoon and Stéphane Dubois of Brantford, Ont., whose 68 was the best round of the day at the Outaouais Golf Club. Kanata’s Allen McGee was the leading player from the National Capital Region, shooting a 69 to share fifth with Nathan Clark of Dublin, Ohio, Daniel Morgan of Australia, Mathieu Perron of St-Hubert, Que., Calgary’s Jordan Irwin, Kevin Kwon of Pitt Meadows, B.C., Patrick Barrett of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Stéphane Boudreau of Dieppe, N.B., Raoul Ménard of Ange-Gardien, Que., Anthony DeGol of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont. Another dozen golfers shot 70, and there were 16 who were also under par at 71. “The greens were absolutely phenomenal. Speeds were just perfect,” Carrigan said. “I love the (Camelot) golf course. It’s a shotmakers golf course. I love the fact that you’ve got to be aware of the elevation change, and it’s very similar to what I deal with at the Cutten Club (in Guelph).”