Morning Star Staff
Randy Strang used home-course golf knowledge to shoot 1-under-70 and win the Spallumcheen Senior Men’s Open on a sun-drenched Thursday.
A field of 116 competed, including 70 from out of town.
“The weather cooperated very well and some good golf was played,” said tournament director Jim Urquhart. “Our tournament is regarded by most who attended this year as the best-run Senior Open in the Okanagan Valley. We have seen a core of repeaters over the last six years.”
Rick Pusher of Gallagher’s Canyon in Kelowna won low net with a 64. Strang and Pusher each collected new drivers.
Doug Swaine of the Kamloops Golf & CC aced the par-3 third hole, but nobody rang up a hole in one on No. 7, worth $5,000.
Alastair Walker took low gross in the top flight at 71, followed by Grant Oben with 72 and Greg Jackson and Shawn Walton at 75.
Fred Trussel topped the second flight with a 78, edging Peter Evans by a stroke. Bob Davidson was third at 82.
Harry Bowker ruled the third flight at 81, followed by Doug Pain with 85 and Tom Dendy and Harv Grummit at 87.
The fourth flight title went to Gerry Obrecht at 88, one stroke ahead of Don Purdie, Greg Cowie and Ken Davis.
Bill Copeland took low net in the first flight with 68, while Dave Gray won the second flight at 71 and Vince Lewis topped the third flight at 71. Greg Walker won the fourth flight at 72.
In the Super Senior category, Mike Todd won low net at 73.
n The Kalamalka Lakers won the Valley AA Boys Golf Championships at Kelowna Springs.
Officials used retrogression to break a tie after both teams finished at 308. The Sonics edged the Lakers in a playoff last year at Vernon. Jared Larson with 72 and Matt Kreutz with 74 led Kal.
Mac Gourdine of Seaton drained a 25-footer on 18 for a 69, top score on the day. Parker Wadsworth with a 76, Christian LaCasse, at 81, and Grade 8 rookie Landen Harison with an 82, rounded out the Seaton scoring.
Seaton, who hosts the provincials, June 1-3 at Predator Ridge, already has a berth, so two more Okanagan schools – George Elliot and South Okanagan – also advance to the B.C. finals.
n The UBC Thunderbirds finished in a tie for eighth at the 64th NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship, which concluded Friday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Seaton grad Conner Kozak (75-79-72-76) was 4-over on Friday, with four birdies (on No. 10, 15, 1 and 2), five bogeys and one triple bogey. Kozak and Trent Abraham (Hamilton) tied for 66th at 14-over 302. Senior Scott Secord (Calgary) finished as the top T-Bird, tying for 13th at 2-over 290 (74-73-71-72).
