BY IAN THORPE
We are fortunate in this part of the world that our mild weather allows golfers to get out on the course almost year-round. Technically, though, another golf season has just about wrapped up.
Club championship competitions were held at local courses at the end of the summer. From the Nanaimo Golf Club, head pro Chris Wilson sends word that in the 55-and-under men’s competition, low gross champion for the two-day event was Sandy Harper with a 146 score. Second place went to Tyson Lemon, with Marty Morelli third. For low net scores, top three golfers were Alex Harper, Steve Seriani and Dale Van der Mark.
In the senior (55-64) division, Harper was again the winner. His brother Ian Harper, the leader after day one, finished in second place, with Tom Hickey in third. Best low net scores in the division went to Greg Seaker, Ron Young and Tim Cullen. The super senior (65-plus) competition saw Ron Berry tops in low gross scoring at 153, followed by Tony Hatchwell and Rick Monaghan. Ed Townsend won the low net title ahead of Brian Ranger and Jeff Oxler.
Turning to the Nanaimo Golf Club women’s championship, overall low gross honours and the Barker Cup went to Jan Jarvie with a 162 total score. Overall low net winner was Andrea Hrabowych. In the women’s non-senior division, Brooke Bestwick was first at 169, ahead of Yun Ye Norris. Low net winner was Wanda Cullen. The Bunny Anderson Trophy for women’s senior champion went to Anna North with a 169 total. Elaine Hilchey was second and Gwen Cleave third. Top senior women’s low net winners were Sandy Miles, Emily Edwards and Terry Tolmie. The super senior women’s champ was Karen Schadt who posted 184, ahead of Lucette Tremblay and Linda Bartz. Top low net scores in the division went to Rosemary Byfield, Joy Tangen and Katherine Moore.
Ian Harper from Winchelsea View reports that this year’s club championship for men was claimed by Wes Betz with a two-day low gross total of 146. One stroke behind was Dom Landry, followed by Dave Weimer. Top low net score was posted by Peter Alexander. Runner-up for low net honours was Nelson Symbaluk, with George Grover third.
From Cottonwood Golf Course, Doris Diefenbacher tells us that the two-day men’s club championship there this year was won by Kevin Bishop with a 144 total. Second low gross went to Kris Dunn, with Sean Roden third and Kevin Roden fourth. In A flight competition, low gross winner was Greg Fiddick ahead of Ken Bibby and Mike Friesen. Top low net scores were by Kevin Marsden, Gord Uvanile and Henri Hebert. In B flight, Rick Badall and Tyler Beaureguard were first and second in low gross, while Wes Burke and Gary Langdon were top low net players. Low gross in C flight went to Ron Blank ahead of Cam Jones, with Cleve Carleton ahead of Reg Sampson in low net.
In the seniors A flight at Cottonwood, Fiddick was low gross champ, with Henri Hebert tops in low net. Gord Uvanile took the low gross title in seniors B flight and Badall the low net honours. In seniors C flight, winners were Terry Johnston for low gross and Blank for low net.
Ladies’ club champion at Cottonwood this season was Georgina Hermans with a 158 score. Shari Molchan won first low gross and Yvonne Russell first low net. In B flight, low gross winner was Cheri Holder and low net champ was Jill McGlenen.
Congratulations also to the Vancouver Island University golf team coached by Mike Hrabowych. At the PacWest Conference championships recently in Vancouver, the VIU Mariners captured the women’s championship. Alex Foston won her second consecutive individual title, while teammates Victoria Ross and Mariah Netzer took the silver and bronze medals. On the men’s side, Mitch Turko of VIU came from behind to win the men’s individual title. Overall, the VIU team placed second, which qualified them to compete at the 2019 CCAA national golf championships this week in Quebec.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
