After seven years away from competitive golf, Humboldt's Paul Raycroft has made a strong return to the action.

A highlight summer for the 34-year-old included a tie for ninth at the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

In returning to competitive golf, Raycroft says he was influenced by those younger than him.

"Mike Herperger, obviously he's well-established, and being a little older, you kind of miss the game and you miss that competitive nature."

"I've had some really good mentors, one in particular, Richard Evoy. He's playing out in Senior National Championships, and he's taken his game to the next level in his 50's. I just figured I would like to see how good I can get, and you have to play at the highest level possible against the best guys possible to see how good you can actually get."

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Raycroft moved to South Korea to teach before eventually landing a job in Beauval, Saskatchewan before making his way north to the Humboldt area.

One of Raycroft's favourite things about Humboldt is living close to the links.

"The big difference I noticed was the grass, and how the ball and the club reacts to the grass," he explained. "Nationally and in the States, a lot of the courses are longer, but price wise, you're getting just as good if not better than a lot of the courses I have played around the country."

One of the other courses Raycroft visited throughout the summer was Elk Ridge Resort in Waskesiu - site of the 29th Golf Saskatchewan President's Cup - also known as the Mid-Amateur.

Raycroft started the three round tournament with a 7-over 79 before bringing it down and posting 76 and 73 over a three day total of 12-over, good enough for a tie for eighth.

Finishing in the top ten qualified him for the Canadian Mid-Am in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

Prior to heading to the Atlantic coast, Raycroft made a stop in Estevan for the 104th Saskatchewan Amateur.

There, Raycroft started strong, shooting a 1-over 73, however, it was the final three rounds where he struggled, compiling a total of 21-over to finish at +22.

Still though, it was a quality finish, as he placed in a tie for 20th.

"Being under the pressure, especially under bad weather, and re-learning how I react to pressure situations, and how to handle those situations," he said of getting back to the competitive edge. "That helped out a lot with coming to Nationals, just learning how to relax and get the ball in the hole and not worry about how your swing is and where the ball is going."

At the Canadian Mid-Am, it was a similar start to the Saskatchewan Mid-Am, as he shot a 7-over, leaving him down the leaderboard, and close to the potential cut line.

"From there, I had two really solid rounds - 69 and 68 - which brought me right up to third place."

Raycroft's second and third round scores were so good that he accounted for two of just five rounds under par from the entire field over those two days.

"I started thinking I had a chance to win this thing, which didn't seriously cross my mind, and I think that played on what happened in the last round."

He closed out the tournament with a 9-over 79, dropping him down six spots to finish in a tie for ninth.

Ontario's Garrett Rank claimed the championship with a four day total of 3-under, which earned him an exemption into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open - a PGA Tour event.

Raycroft says that would be a dream come true.

"I've played on some Canadian Tour events in the past when I was younger," he stated. "Playing in a PGA Tour event is every kids dream, and that would be quite incredible if that happened and it would be great to share that experience with everyone from Sault Ste. Marie and from Humboldt."

Raycroft is automatically qualified to chase the dream next year, as his top ten finish in Nova Scotia earns him an exemption to the 2016 Canadian Mid-Am which will be played in Quebec.

To hear more from Raycroft in an interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork, click below.