Sandy Harper had the edge all week and ended up as B.C. champion.
The Nanaimo Golf Club member won B.C. Golf’s senior men’s championship on his home course on Wednesday after finishing the three-round tournament at six under par, 11 strokes better than anyone else in the field.
Harper shared the lead after shooting a par 72 in Monday’s first round, then shot a four-under 68 on the second day to give him a seven-stroke lead heading into the final round. His 70 on Wednesday was again the low round of the day.
“I really never had that much pressure on me so all I wanted to do was hit fairways and greens and get into a flow,” Harper said, in a B.C. Golf press release.
Runner-up at the tournament was Tony Hatchwell, also of Nanaimo, who shot a final-round 71 to move him to five over par for the week. Victoria’s Marty Holman placed third at seven over.
In the super senior 65-and-over division, Victoria’s Ray Henry outlasted Delta’s Bill Wilms for the title, winning on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff after both golfers finished the tourney at plus-11.
Harper said he appreciated the support at his home club and also credited the course’s upkeep.
“Everyone at Nanaimo put a lot of work into getting the course into the shape it is. It is always in really good shape but I think this week it is in extra special good shape,” he said.
The top three finishers will make up Team B.C. at Golf Canada’s senior men’s championship in Mirabel, Que., at the end of August.
“I am really excited to represent Team B.C.,” Harper said. “We always have good teams so it will be a fun tournament.”
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
