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CANADIANS February 9, 2004
For Singh it was his first victory of the season, his third in his last nine on the PGA TOUR and his 12th consecutive finish in the top 10, two away from the modern-day record set by Jack Nicklaus in 1977. It also provided him with a first place cheque for $954,000, shooting him atop the PGA TOUR money list with $1,968,000 in four tournaments where he has finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 10th. With the start you’ve had, carrying over from last year, do you feel you’re the top golfer in the world right now, queried a member of the media? "I'm No. 2. I'm playing the best I can,” Said Singh, after posting a decisive (67-68-68-69—272) 16-under par three shot decision over Jeff Maggert and four in front of Phil Mickelson. “I want to be No. 1 before I finish. But it's a hard feat to take Tiger off the top because he's playing well. If I keep playing like I'm doing now, I have a shot -- maybe not this year, but in a year or two."
David Morland IV of North Bay, ON, whose first round on Spyglass Hill included a triple bogey, managed to score six birdies at Pebble Beach Golf Links before concluding his third round on Poppy Hills with a birdie-eagle finish and just missed the cut by (77-69-70—216) 1-shot. Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, ON, playing the same course rotation, had one birdie more than bogeys he encountered to stay in the hunt after round one but couldn’t maintain it and missed the cut by (71-78-76—225) 8-strokes.
"I was very fortunate today," admitted Fleisher. "It was a struggle out there. We haven't seen a golf course like this in a long time.” Dave Barr of Kelowna, BC, who started his season last year by winning this tournament, was already 6-over par through his first 13 holes before managing to sink one of only five birdies he would get in this 54-hole tournament and wound up with a disappointing (77-73-74—224) 8-over, tying for 51st among the 78 players who started. Barr earned $3,915.
"Yo Amo a Panama. I love Panama." said a jubilant Walker. “This is a really cool place to get your first win. The crowds were great. Having them cheer for you is awesome." Jim Rutledge of Victoria, BC, after a promising start, had to overcome a double bogey in each of his final three rounds in order to finish (68-74-72-70—284) tied for 12th with fellow Canadian Jon Mills of Oshawa, ON (66-71-75-72—284) at 4-over par. Mills was a shot off the lead following the opening round but his downfall came in round three where, despite an eagle three on the third hole, he posted five bogeys and a double bogey. Rutledge and Mills each earned $9,800. Formally a fixture on the Caribbean Tour, the BellSouth Panama was the first visit by the Nationwide Tour to Central America. This week the Tour visits Adelaide, Australia and then heads to Christchurch, New Zealand before returning home to America in late March.
Among the nine players gaining partial exemption for 2004 were Rod Spittle of Niagara Falls, ON, who finished two under par, Sweden’s Bjorn Widerstedt and seven US players. Mac McLeod, Brandon, MN, Jason Hrynkkiw, Winnipeg, MN and Ottawa, ON’s Nick Starchuk failed on this occasion. However, they can re-enter Q-School, including this week at Los Serranos G&CC in California. Earned exempt card: 1. Rob Labritz, Hobe Sound, FL ………..…..68 71 71 69 -- 279 Earned non-exempt card: 6. George Bradford, Columbia, MD ……..….67 72 71 72 -- 282
A news release from the Association’s Oakville headquarters reveals the RCGA Provincial Golf fund will be disbursed over a six-year term and separated into two major funds. The first fund will go towards development and funding of an RCGA golf intern program in every province for a total of 10 interns across the country beginning in May 2004, to promote Canada-wide initiatives such as the RCGA Future Links program and to develop future golf industry employees and experts. The second fund, to be administered under the granting guidelines and procedures of the RCGA Grant Advisory Committee, will begin in April 2004, with funds going towards special projects or programs that grow the game of golf in Canada. All projects must be initiated by provincial golf associations and granted on an application basis. "We are delighted to establish a fund that will both help grow the game of golf in Canada and celebrate the centennial playing of our most prestigious national amateur golf championship," says Stephen Ross, Executive Director of the RCGA. "The RCGA is committed to the continued growth of the game and this fund allows us to make a meaningful and demonstrable contribution to our partners at the Provincial Golf Associations." At the RCGA's recent annual general meeting in Saint John, New Brunswick a cheque for $75,000 was presented to the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF), bringing to over $810,000 the total of funds donated to the CTRF in he past 11 years. "The RCGA has long been committed to developing the game in an environmentally responsible manner," said Teri Yamada, Managing Director RCGA Golf Programs and Services. "We are proud to support the CTRF and initiatives that protect and enhance our environment." The Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation funds turfgrass and environmental research at various universities and research facilities across Canada. The foundation's goal is to reduce maintenance requirements by improving turfgrass species and management practices. The program has funded numerous research projects at six different Canadian universities and research facilities across Canada. Following their annual general meeting two weeks ago the RCGA announced intentions to form an amalgamation with the Canadian Ladies Golf Association to create one governing body for Canadian golf. For more information visit www.rcga.org.
BID, WIN and SUPPORT! That’s what you can do by logging on to the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Associations Online Auction in support of the CLGA Girls’ Club program. ONLINE AUCTION RAISES MONEY FOR CLGA GIRLS’ CLUB Visit www.clga.org anytime between now and March 15, 2004 to bid on fabulous items such as clothing, tickets to the Ryder Cup plus much much more. – New items will be added each week and larger items will become available as the auction progresses. All proceeds from the auction go towards the CLGA Girls’ Club program – helping young girls learn the game of golf. The CLGA Girls’ Club was developed to address the concerning number of young girls taking up the sport of golf. It aims to not merely attract girls to the game but also to help retain them longer in a fun, friendly, female environment. The Girls Guides of Canada is a proud partner of the CLGA Girls’ Club program. As part of the partnership Girl Guides of Canada will offer golf as an activity to all its guides. Girl Guides leaders are also encouraged to run a CLGA Girls’ Club site as part of their activities. TOP ITEMS TO BID ON RIGHT NOW
DONATE AN ITEM & SUPPORT THE CLGA GIRLS CLUB Do you have an item you would like to donate to the Girls’ Club Online Auction? Send a message to onlineauction@clga.org with items you have to donate. Remember donors will be entitled to a tax receipt for fair value of the item. Suggested items:
For more information about the CLGA Girls’ Club Online Auction contact onlineauction@clga.org or 1.800.455.2542
QUOTE OF THE DAY "I improved from last year. I hope I can just reach another level next year."
"All the guys know I really want to play out here now. When I was 12, it was like, 'What are you doing out here? Now they're all really nice to me. I don't even remember when I was 12 now. There's been a lot of time since then." "My goal this tournament was to win it, but after the first day, I didn't really have that much of a chance so I just went for top 10 or low amateur."
"This week my short game was a little shaky. I think if I get those two things (accuracy and short game) more consistent, I'll be able to play better." Although uncertain how many, if any, of the seven PGA TOUR sponsor exemptions she’ll accept this season, Wei does look forward to competition on the LPGA Tour, where she played seven times last year and missed only one cut. "The courses are shorter, obviously, but the rough is slightly less long. But it's both the same. A tournament is a tournament. It doesn't matter who you play against. You're playing against the course." Having already established a record on the course last month as the youngest player (of any sex) to play in a PGA TOUR event, Wei has also established a new benchmark for ladies with her selection by the USGA Women’s Committee to the 2004 U.S.A Curtis Cup team, the youngest player ever chosen. Partially lost in Michelle’s wake is the fact that 42-year-old Greg Meyer won the Hawaii Pearl Open championship for the second consecutive year -- the fourth time overall -- and he did it on a set of borrowed golf clubs after thieves broke into his garage and stole three sets just 12 hours before he was to tee off. Meyer won $12,000. UPCOMING EVENTS February 10-13
February 12-15
February 13-14-15
February 13-15
February 16-20
February 19-22
February 21-22
February 26-29
March 1-2
March 5-7
March 11-14
March 12-14
March 17-18
March 19-21 EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR
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If Masters Champion Mike Weir of Brights Cove, ON could have played his final nine holes on the Poppy Hills course where he shot a six-under par 30 the day before, there’s a good chance he might have given Vijay Singh a closer run for his money. But the big Fijian was not to be denied Sunday surfing his way to victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at famed Pebble Beach Golf Links on the California coast.
Weir had a spectacular 6-under par third round Saturday, mainly on the strength of shooting a 30 on the back nine that included an eagle and four birdies and pushed him up 11th place heading into the final. Sunday he overcame a bogey on the third hole with birdies on five of his next seven holes and then ran a string of seven straight pars. However, with a chance to move from third into sole possession of second place, Weir’s tee shot on 18 caught the lip of a bunker and caromed into the salty Pacific surf. After his drop, Weir took a seven on the par-5 18th to finish tied for fourth at (73-70-66-70—279) 9-under with K.J. Choi and Arron Oberholser, who had shared the overnight lead with Singh. Weir, who finished T5th last week in the FBR Open, collected $219,067 to bring his season total to $507,867 in four tournaments. 
Pebble Beach Notes: . . . Weir will rest this coming week before defending the Nissan Open title he won in 2003 with a birdie on the second extra hole at Riviera Country Club, a little something he accomplished after overcoming a seven shot deficit in regulation . . . at 34 under, Jerry Kelly and Robert Halmi won the pro-am portion of the AT&T tournament hosted by the former Mayor of Carmel, Clint Eastwood.
Although he posted the highest winning score in the history of the tournament, Bruce Fleisher sank a crucial birdie on the final hole to win the Champion Tour’s Royal Caribbean Golf Classic for the third time in six years Sunday. Overcoming winds at Crandon Park Golf Club in Key Biscayne, Florida that at times gusted to more than 20 MPH during the final round, Fleisher dropped a six footer at the 18th to finish at (69-70-71—210) one-under par, one shot ahead of Dana Quigley and two in front of Gil Morgan and John Bland. Fleisher’s win was worth $217,500.
Perhaps some of the signs were there last year - - eighth golfer in the history of the Champions Tour to post three eagles in one round; 30 consecutive rounds at par or better; ranked in the top 10 in 13 statistical categories; one runner-up finish. Now Jimmy Walker, a former winner on the Canadian Tour in 2001, has come through with his biggest victory in three years as a pro, claiming the BellSouth Panama Championship in Panama City by (65-69-70-69—273) five shots Sunday and a prize of $90,000.
He started the day with an eight shot lead but after playing only the front nine of his final round Sunday he had lost the lead altogether. However, Ernie Els of South Africa recovered his game after making the turn, posted three consecutive birdies at 10-11-12 and hung on at (60-66-68-74—268) 20-under par to win the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Victoria, Australia by one shot. The victory in this European-Australasian co-sanctioned event was ‘The Big Easy’s’’ third consecutive Heineken Championship -- netting him over $295,000USD -- and was his 50th title worldwide as a professional.
The words from ‘seasoned 14-year-old’ Michelle Wei after the Aloha Darling thrilled her Island fans with a superb performance in the Hawai’i Pearl Open where she made the cut for the first time in her six career tournaments against male professionals. Two years ago Wei’s appearance in the event as a gangly 12-year-old drew little attention. However, this time the 6-foot tall, long-ball hitter was mobbed by autograph seekers and followed for three days by the only galleries that gathered. A Punahou freshman from Honolulu, Wei finished tied for 38th at (74-68-72—214) 2-under par -- second low amateur in a field of 132 male pros, many veterans on the Japanese PGA Tour as well as 40 amateurs. 
Wei started her final round driving the ball over 320 yards on the 559-yard first hole and drained an 8-footer for par, but like the hilly Pearl course, her game was up and down.