Notes, quotes and anecdotes from the wonderful world of golf…
They needed a one-hole playoff in Ken Holland’s annual derby up at Predator Ridge Golf Resort two weekends ago.
Vernon Panther hoop grad Steve King, a member at Predator, and fellow member Brad Lay, a Medicine Hat Tiger alumnus, defeated ex-NHLers and Vernon products Jeff Finley and Matt Higgins by parring the 18th hole at the Ridge course.
Finley, now a scout with the Detroit Red Wings based out of Kelowna, and Higgins, married and working in Calgary after a solid European career, bogeyed the extra hole. Both teams shot scorching 21-under over three rounds.
Weber helps Sicamous flood victims
Josh Gorges of the Montreal Canadiens, a Kelowna summer resident, led his scramble team to victory in the inaugural Sicamous Shootout July 13 at Hyde Mountain in Sicamous.
Staged by Sicamous boys Shea Weber and Cody Franson, who also live in Kelowna come the offseason, the fundraiser for cancer research raised more than $100,000.
Part way through the tourney, Weber thrilled attendees and volunteers when he announced he would donate $50,000 of his own money to a disaster relief fund set up to help residents of Sicamous who suffered in the recent flooding.
He made that pledge just before signing that humongous new $110 million contract with Nashville.
“I still think he might be underpaid at that price…,” Franson told Black Press Sports. “I’m biased, maybe because he’s a good friend of mine and I’ve known him for a long time, and I think very highly of him.
“I think if you go around the league, there’s probably 20 other teams that would have paid him that dollar, if not more. I don’t think you can say a guy is overpaid or not worth that when there’s that much want for him out there.”
That the Predators would match the Flyers’ offer did not surprise Sicamous Eagles’ GM Wayne March. With the team already having lost Ryan Suter, March says Weber, an Eagles alumni, is the man holding the team together.
“He’s the heart and soul of that team. They’re starting to build a good franchise there and the fanbase is coming back and if they lost him, as far as I’m concerned, it would just go down hill.”
Nike treats Crowe like he’s a king
Kal Laker grad Jesse Crowe, the head pro out at Canoe Creek in Salmon Arm, enjoyed a luxurious paid vacation in Halifax last week.
Crowe took in the Telus World Skins Game on Nike’s nickel since his course runs an exclusive Nike shop. Through 18 holes, defending champion Jhonattan Vegas never trailed, but a single shot from England’s Paul Casey brought Vegas – and the house – down, winning a $100,000, closest-to-the-pin chip-off to capture the charity event at Glen Arbour Golf Course on Tuesday.
After only one skin and $15,000 on Monday, Casey finished with eight skins and $185,000 thanks to a brilliant strike in the chip-off. Sweden’s Carl Pettersson (three skins, $60,000), Calgary’s Stephen Ames (one skin, $15,000) and American Lucas Glover (one skin, $15,000) rounded out the field.
Crowe got up close and personal with all the PGA stars and even cracked a bra joke with Pettersson after his microphone wires got crossed up in his clothing. He also played in a Pro-Am which featured Canadians versus Americans.
“Last year we beat them by about 45 strokes so they brought a new team with some guy who shot 62 in the morning and 66 in the afternoon,” said Crowe. “In the end, they got us by four strokes.”
Crowe was inside the TV ropes for the opening four holes on Day 1 and on the last three holes on Day 2. You can catch his mug hanging on a Telus sign, on TSN, when they air the Skins Game following the Olympics.
Johnson sets Rise course record
Myles Johnson of Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club set a course record 67 during an Interior Callaway Pro Tour stop at The Rise a few weeks ago.
Johnson and Crowe share fifth place on the Order of Merit with 250 points. Johnson started play Thursday in the Quebec PGA’s $150,000 Rogers Canada Cup (see story on A20).
Dean Claggett of Two Eagles leads the points race with 321, and Rob Anderson of Kelowna Golf & CC is second at 276 and Josh Fleming of Gallagher’s Canyon third at 273.
The Rise is holding the Vernon Vipers inaugural charity tournament for KidSport Sunday, Aug. 26. Carey Price of the Canadiens and Jerred Smithson of the Panthers are confirmed NHLers.
Entry fee for the 18-hole scramble is $150 and includes golf, power cart, dinner, tee gift and prizes. There will be a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Entries and sponsorship at several levels are required. Interested parties may call Ranger at 250-545-7425, or e-mail lee.ranger@therise.ca, or Vipers’ marketing manager Paula Coulter at 250-542-6022 ext. 200, or marketing@vipers.bc.ca.
