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CANADIANS February 2, 2004 In two months from now Canada’s two governing
In a joint statement released Monday the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) and Canadian Ladies' Golf Association (CLGA) say they have laid the foundations of a merger that will see one unified body governing golf in Canada following votes by both boards to accept a letter of intent. The letter of intent outlines a commitment to proceed in principle with exploring the key elements involved with a merger, which was approved by the CLGA board of directors in late January and by the RCGA board of governors at their annual general meeting this past weekend in Saint John, N.B. "Our board of director's approval is the first of many steps in creating a successful merger," says Carole Mix, CLGA President. "The merger allows us to create new opportunities to grow women's golf from the grassroots to high performance golf and more importantly develops new synergies that will help shape the future of golf in Canada." "Our respective boards have now given us a clear mandate to move forward and create one unified governing body," says David Shaw, RCGA President. "By sharing our resources and expertise, we will be able to better serve our members and further our mutual goal of protecting and growing the game of golf in Canada." A formal agreement will be created over the next few weeks and voted on by the CLGA and RCGA governing boards in April of this year. "This is an exciting new direction that gives us the potential to grow the game of golf, particularly the women's demographic. The next few months will involve significant consultations with our board and membership to determine how we will combine our skills, talents, and resources to create a unified approach to serving golfers in Canada," said Jeff Thompson, CLGA Executive Director in Monday’s news release by the RCGA. "Merging two organizations with such long and respected traditions is a complex task," commented Stephen Ross, RCGA Executive Director. "We must now begin the work of determining what this new association will look like and how it should function under the direction of our respective boards and with input from our members." Commenting in Vancouver, Doug Roxburgh, a four-time Canadian Amateur champion and the Director of Player Development for the RCGA, said, “Other provinces have merged already and found it works well. It was going to happen eventually and I think it will be good for golf.” So far Men’s and Ladies associations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick have merged and Nova Scotia is now in the process of a merger. There have been no announcements from associations in British Columbia or Quebec. The CLGA has been the governing body of women's amateur golf in Canada since 1913. It is a dynamic organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and expanding women's golf in Canada through pro-active development and delivery of focused education, services and programs for all female amateur golfers. Founded in 1895, the RCGA has traditionally been considered the governing body of men's amateur golf, although core services such as handicapping, the rules of golf, amateur status, turfgrass and environmental research are used in both the men's and women's games. In addition to providing those core services the RCGA also conducts BMO Financial Group Future Links, Canada's national junior golf program, and Canada's most prestigious golf championships. The Bell Canadian Open and BMO Financial Group Canadian Women's Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while six regional junior championships, nine national amateur championships and the BMO Financial Group Canadian Women's Tour showcase the best of Canadian golf.
“This one feels a little better than the first one,” said Kaye Sunday after he calmly recorded four straight birdies from 12 through 15 before paring out and finishing (65-68-66-67—266) 18-under par and two shots ahead of Chris DiMarco. Di Marco, the 2002 winner, bogeyed 16 & 17. Defending champion Vijay Singh and Steve Flesch tied for third at 269. “I was pretty petty focused and trying not to get too far ahead of myself, but it was a good feeling – goose bumps on top of good bumps,” said Kaye, who told a TV audience, “This one is for you, Grandpa. He broke his leg recently and he’s recovering from surgery so I dedicate this to my Grandpa.” In January Kaye and his wife purchased a new home in Scottsdale and with Sunday’s first prize of $936,000 it’s now paid for.
Palmer, who at the age of 74 is now celebrating his 50th year as a tour professional, took home $140,000 after being blanked the past two seasons, although he narrowly missed sinking a 7-foot birdie attempt on the last regulation hole that would have given him his fourth title in 16 Skins appearances. Nicklaus, who just recently turned 64, came in third with $60,000 while 64-year-old Trevino, the defending champion, was skinned. Together Watson, Palmer, Nicklaus and Trevino have combined to win 258 events on both the PGA and Champions tours, including 39 major championships (20 by Nicklaus) and have earned more than $51 million during a era when purses were no where near what they are for today’s events.
Faltering as he came down the back nine was third-round leader Thomas Bjorne of Denmark who finished second together with India’s Jyoti Randhawa who was soaring up the leader board with a closing round that included two eagles and five birdies. Canadian Rick Gibson, a veteran member of the Asian Tour, never got untracked. The Victoria, BC golfer finished (73-74—147) 5-over par and missed the 36-hole cut by those same five shots.
Four players have made the trip from Japan in hopes of playing some or all of the 14 scheduled Canadian Tour events this season. There are 35 American hopefuls entered as well as one representative each from Argentina, England, Germany, Mexico, Scotland, Sweden and Trinidad. Following this week’s Q-School another begins next week at Los Serranos Golf and Country Club in Chino Hills, California. Then it’s on to Barton Creek’s Palmer Lakeside and Fazio Canyons courses for the final school February 16-20. The Canadian Tour’s first event of the season is the Texas Classic February 26-29.
BCGA Executive Director Kris Jonasson and his team hold their first Handicap Seminar in Zone 4 at Mayfair Lakes Golf Club in Richmond on Tuesday, February 17. The first Rules Seminar is scheduled for Zone 3 at South Surrey’s Morgan Creek Golf Course on Tuesday, March 2. BCGA members and those interested in attending are encouraged to register on-line. To view the full list of Seminars: http://www.bcga.org/events.htm Investors Group will participate with the BCGA for the next three years in supporting and sponsoring the BC Amateur Golf Championship, scheduled for Vernon and Spallumcheen Golf Clubs July 14-17.
This year Phyllis Laschuk is hoping to defend her BC Senior Ladies Amateur championship June 21-23 at Sushine Coast in Gibsons while the BC Junior will be played in Kimberly July 7-9. August is nationals month and the Canadian Junior is slated for Hillcrest in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan August 9-11 followed by the Canadian Amateur August 16-20 at Cook Municipal in Prince Albert, SA. Steinback Fly-In in Manitoba hosts the Canadian Senior August 30 through September 2. The BC Senior Inter-provincial team will be looking to win their competition for the 3rd straight year, while the juniors will be defending for the first time.
“There was 250 golfers that signed up and registered for the BC provincial golf championship that didn’t get in because that year the index (handicap) was four point something and they were just above it. So you could be a 15-year-old kid and be a 5-index and not be able to play in the biggest junior event in the province. So a kind of a light switched on, I said you know what, we need some more top-level competition for these kids. And that’s how it all started. I mean, if the BC Golf Association can only handle a field of 150 kids that means a lot of young kids are not going to be able to compete in high level tournaments and they are not going to get better.” With help from his friends in 1998 Poje got the Western Canada Junior Golf tour off the ground with about eight or 10 events. But now, with fellow CPGA professionals Dean Spriddle of Alberta, Derk Ingram and Garth Goodbrandson of Manitoba, Ashley Chinner of Ontario, Alex Macdonald of British Columbia and Boston Pizza, the Tour’s national presenting sponsor, the MJT may well blossomed into a perfect vehicle for giving young Canadian boys and girls the additional advantage they might need for finding their way to a U-S college golf scholarship, to a career in golf while serving as an enjoyable way to create new friendships and learn the many life values the game of golf has to offer. For more information on the benefits that the MAPLE LEAF JUNIOR GOLF TOUR has to offer and to read the comments of PGA TOUR winner and Hall of Fame member Dave Barr visit: http://www.maplejt.com/index.php QUOTE OF THE DAY
Commenting on her time spent with the Golden Bear, Wei said of Jack Nicklaus: “Just to see what he has done and see he can still play, is amazing. He hits the ball really good. He outdrove me twice” When introduced to Lee Trevino: "I saw you on 'Happy Gilmore." Arnold Palmer, after signing an autograph for Wei: “I have grandchildren older than she is.” UPCOMING EVENTS February 5-8
February 6-8
February 13-14-15
February 21-22
March 1-2
March 5-7
March 11-14
March 12-14
March 26-29
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Jonathon Kaye played in 194 tournaments before winning his first PGA TOUR title last year. That obviously gave him a lot of confidence because now it’s only taken him 12 tournaments to capture his second PGA championship, the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Masters champion Mike Weir from Bright’s Cove, Ontario posted his strongest tournament of the young season finishing (65-69-68-69—271) in a tie for fifth and won $197,600. Weir had a flawless opening round with six birdies and finished the tournament by carding only two bogeys and a double during the week. His biggest hurdle is getting his long putts to drop. Stephen Ames of Calgary, Alberta made the cut by knocking eight shots off his opening round and finished (72-64-69-69—274) tied for 14, worth $78,115.55. Selkirk, Manitoba-born Glen Hnatiuk played consistently well to (68-71-69-69—277) tie for T27 and earn $36,140. Ian Leggatt from Cambridge, Ontario made an early departure from the FBR in Scottsdale Friday night, thanks to a final round that, despite four birdies and two bogeys, also included two double bogeys to push him to (72-73—145) 3-over par and out of the money.
Imagine going to Hawaii, teeing it up for two days with ‘The King’ Arnold Palmer, ‘The Golden Bear’ Jack Nicklaus and ‘The Merry Mex’ Lee Trevino to help raise money and awareness on behalf of a charity and then winning $400,000 to boot. That was how Tom Watson spent part of his weekend at the Wailea golf course on the Island of Maui, playing in the annual Wendy’s Champions Skins Game. Player of the Year for 2003 on the Champions Tour, Watson, 54, prevailed over three of his closest friends and rivals with a par on the third hole of a playoff to win the final five skins, giving him a total of 10 skins from18 holes.
Shooting birdies on holes where his nearest opponent was bagging bogeys coming down the stretch enabled Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez to claim a two-stroke victory in the jointly sanctioned European-Asian-Australasia Tours’ Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok, Thailand. Demonstrating why he’s nicknamed “the Mechanic”, Jimenez made some minor adjustments after his opening round and finished (70-66-67-68—271) 17-under par, good enough for USD$301,787 and first place on the European Order of Merit money list. 
When the first round of the first of three 2004 Canadian Tour Qualifying Schools gets underway this week (February 3-6) at Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis, Florida 51 or more aspiring tour professionals will tee off, including five Canadians and players from nine other countries. Ontario players Austin Chase of Tecumseh, Rod Spittle, Niagara Falls and Nick Starchuk, Kanata will join Jason Hrynkiw and Mac McLeod of Winnipeg, Manitoba in the hunt to earn one of the five exempt and five non-exempt cards to be awarded at each school.
The BC Golf Association will be staging a total 15 Handicap and 24 Rules Education Seminars throughout the province beginning this month and carrying through to June 2 presented by one of their newest corporate sponsors. 
Unless the BC Ladies Golf Association and the Pacific Northwest Golf Association make a concerted effort to rearrange their major amateur championship dates we are not likely to see a British Columbia golfer win the prestigious PNGA Amateur title in the same calendar year. The BC Ladies will be staging their provincial amateur championship July 12-14 at Creston the same week the PNGA women are in Bend, Oregon. Vernon’s Jackie Little, defending BC Amateur titleist, would certainly be a PNGA contender along with teenager Eom-Ji Park. However, for some reason these two tournament dates always seem to conflict.
What was once the Western Canada Junior Golf Tour has taken on a new dimension for 2004 beginning with a new name and logo that is now national in scope. The MAPLE LEAF JUNIOR TOUR will open its season in Washington State in mid-March with the Alcan Junior at Point Roberts Golf & Country Club being the first of some 30 scheduled tournaments across Canada for players between 10 and 23 years of age. The season concludes in mid-September on Vancouver Island with the MJT Boston Pizza National Junior Championship at Crown Isle Golf Club in Courtenay.
One of the driving forces behind the MAPLE LEAF JUNIOR TOUR is BC PGA member and veteran tour player Murray Poje (right) who was first inspired in 1997 to do something for BC’s young golfers.
It’s gotten so that any time there’s a professional golf tournament in Hawaii spectators on the Islands can count on seeing the ‘Aloha Darling’, 14-year-old Michelle Wei, teeing off with some of the best players the game has to offer. Wei, whose legend seems to be growing at a faster pace than that of golf’s last teenage phenom, Tiger Woods, teed it up with Ernie Els during the recent Sony Open in Hawaii and this past week took part in the pro-am that preceded the Wendy’s Skins game with four of golf’s current legends.