Fitzsimmons battles windy conditions to win his 2nd career Early Bird golf tournament

Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club on day two of the Early Bird tournament on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Source: Brent Lale/CTV London)

Even on the calmest of days, the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club (STGCC) provides a difficult test for amateur golfers.

During this weekend’s 77th annual Early Bird, the winds were howling and only one player was able to break par over the 36-hole event.

That player was former Western Mustang Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons who shot 71-69 (-4) to win the tournament for his second time (2017) by four strokes over Nathaniel Gray Lamont.

Fitzsimmons described the conditions as “playing in Scotland” when CTV caught up with him as he approached the 13th tee with a two-stroke lead.

That lead would shrink to one stroke over fellow group member Russell Bowie on the 15th tee, however Fitsimmons would finish the final four holes in one-under par, while Bowie closed in four-over to fall out of contention.

Fitzsimmons, a sports psychologist coaching amateur and professional athletes, has a decorated amateur career.

He won back-to-back Canadian Mid-Amateur championships in 2021 and 2022, the Ontario Mid-Amateur in 2019 and multiple OUA golf titles.

With his second win, he joins other notable multi-time winners like Moe Norman, Gary Cowan, Jim Waite, Kelly Roberts, Warren Sye, Jace Walker, Bill Seagris and Garrett Rank and others.

To capture this title, he had to beat one of the strongest field’s in tournament history.

“I think there was 90 players that were scratch or better this year,” says Jake Adams, head professional at STGCC.

“We reached out a little bit deeper to some of the schools in the U.S. and there were also four or five previous winners in the field. The winners here put their name in the history books”.

The Early Bird is the unofficial kick off to the amateur tournament season and there is no better place to do it than STGCC.

“This is one of Stanley Thompson’s absolute gems and, one of those golf courses that’s maybe a bit off the beaten path, but everybody loves coming back because of the history of this golf course and it’s a really special place as soon as you drive on the property,” says Adams.

Fitzsimmons has a lot of experience playing the golf course and knows to win it takes a lot of grinding. He kept himself below the hole, which is key, and with the strong winds was able to grind, making just four bogeys over 36 holes in those conditions.