NHL referee Garrett Rank wins his 4th Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur golf title

BRANTFORD, Ontario (AP) — NHL referee Garrett Rank won his fourth Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship on Friday, breaking a last-hole tie with a 6-foot par putt at Brantford Golf & Country Club.

The 38-year-old Rank, from Waterloo about 40 miles north, closed with a 3-under 69 for a one-stroke victory. He finished at 18-under 270. Third-round leader Evan Nachtigall of Brandon, Manitoba, bogeyed the last for a 72 to drop into second.

“As soon as I saw my ball was on the back of the green, I knew it was a good time for lag putt to try and two putt, and luckily enough I was able to make the 6-footer at the end to win,” said Rank, who worked his first Stanley Cup Finals as a referee this year.

Rank’s previous Canadian Men’s Mid-Am wins came three years in a row from 2014-16. He has five national titles, also winning the 2012 Canadian College/University Individual Championship.

“It’s a huge honor,” Rank said. “Winning a golf tournament is never easy. To do it four times is pretty special. I think it’s been 10 years since I last did it so to do it close to home in a place like Brantford is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Rank received a spot into the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Sand Valley Resort in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, in late September and early October.

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See AP’s full golf coverage here