CANADIANS
ON TOUR

with
Barry Sharpe

December 15, 2003

THE WEEKEND CHAMPIONS

Davis Love III won the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California Sunday by defeating tournament host Tiger Woods by two shots, which earned him the largest first place cheque of his career, $1,200,000. Although this was Love’s fourth victory of the year, the event and the money are not considered official by the PGA TOUR and won’t count in the record books.

Woods was 10 shots behind with 10 holes to play when he suddenly put it into high gear and rallied for six birdies in seven holes to earn $700,000, which he promptly donated to his own Tiger Woods Foundation. Padrig Harrington, winner of the European Tour’s Omega Hong Kong Open two weeks ago, collected $500,000 for his third place finish.

Mike Weir from Bright’s Cove, Ontario was one of the 16 world-class players invited to this special exhibition event created by Tiger to raise funds for his Foundation five years ago. The 2003 Masters Champion, Weir tied for 3rd at (75-68-69-72—284) 4-under par with Justin Leonard and collected $317,500.

A winner of three tournaments on TOUR this season, including the distinction of becoming Canada’s first winner of a major, Weir quite likely will be named Canada’s Athlete of the Year. The 33-year-old Sarnia, ON native, whose first of six career PGA TOUR victories occurred at the 1999 Air Canada Championship on Surrey’s Northview course, was the season’s fifth leading PGA TOUR money winner ($4,9178,910); missed only one cut in 21 official events; had 10 Top 10 finishes (T10th at the Bell Canadian Open) including TOP 10’s at three of the majors; finished among the Top 25 in 16 tournaments; had the third best scoring average on the PGA TOUR and is presently number six on the Official World Golf Ranking. Weir was named winner of the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s Male Athlete of the year in 2001. Last season, Victoria, BC’s Steve Nash became the first Canadian basketball player to win the honour for his outstanding All-Star season with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. The winner will be announced in early January 2004.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee spent two weeks in America and failed to win his PGA TOUR card for the 2004 season. However, after rushing home last week to tee it up in the final championship of the season for the Asian PGA Tour, Thongchai more than made up for his earlier disappointment by winning the $500,000 Volvo Masters of Asia at the Bangkok Golf Club and $90,000US. Thongchai got off to a slow start after his long trip home but found his groove over the final three rounds and finished up (71-64-65-65—265) 19-under par, one shot ahead of Taaiwan’s Lin Keng-chi, Canada’s Rick Gibson was one stroke ahead of Thongchai after the opening round but was unable to keep pace over the final 54-holes, winding up tied for 43rd at (70-71-71-70—282) 2-under par and collecting $2,940. Gibson finished the season in 13th place on the Asian Order of Merit list with earnings of $86,455.07 in 15 tournaments. On the Japan Tour, Gibson earned 2.337.500 yen (approximately $21,587US) playing in two events and finished 136th on the money list.

India’s Arjun Atwall, who did manage to secure a US PGA TOUR card for 2004, finished tied for 57th at 4-over par but, more importantly, finished the season with $284,018 in earnings and captured the Asian PGA Tour’s Order of Merit title playing in just seven events. The honour also earned Atwall a place in next year's British Open and full playing rights on the Japan Golf Tour, however, he’ll undoubtedly spend most of his time on the US PGA Tour.

It was closer than he wanted it to be but Queenslander Peter Senior of Australia captured the Australian PGA Championship for his first victory since 1997 despite three-putting the 18th green for his second consecutive bogey.

“It’s been a long time between drinks. I’m over the moon,” said the 44-year-old Senior, who finished one shot ahead of fellow countryman Rod Pampling and two in front of Australian Craig Perry.

The ultra-competitive Senior becomes the second oldest player to claim the championship, behind only Kel Nagle who was 48 when he won his fourth title in 1968.

Heading into this week’s Australian Open Andre Stolz continues to lead the Australian PGA Order Of Merit race with $395,270.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, governing authority for the rules of the game in more than 100 affiliated nations has announced that Prince Andrew is the R & A’s new captain. Prince Andrew becomes the sixth member of the Royal Family to assume the ceremonial position, the first since the Duke of Kent was appointed in 1937. The captaincy dates back to 1754. Andrew marked the occasion by driving from the first tee, a tradition since 1863. The symbolic swing was accompanied by the firing of a cannon.

"I hope that throughout my captaincy there will be an air of celebration for the game of golf, not only here in the United Kingdom, but throughout the world," Andrew said.

The captain is elected by about 20 predecessors and holds the position for a year. John Whitmore's tenure ended this month. The captain serves as an ambassador, representing the club at various events. Andrew served on the club's Amateur Status Committee from 1999 to 2003.

Other members of the Royal family to be appointed captain were The Prince of Wales (1863), Prince Leopold (1876), The Prince of Wales (1922), The Duke of York (1930) and The Duke of Kent (1937).

Ancient comic books in mint condition aren’t the only publications that collectors are trying to get their hands on these days. If you happen to have any American golf magazines published prior to the first World War, especially if the covers are in good condition, be sure to take good care of them --- their value is increasing rather dramatically each year.

Mike Riste of the BC Golf Museum, one of Canada’s foremost authorities on golf history, collecting and memorabilia, reports that there’s a ready market willing to pay upwards of $100 and more for those early covers, And in most cases that’s all collectors are after - - the front cover. Content is not as important as being able to display some of those early caricatures, colourful paintings and photos.

Following the 78th Annual General Meeting of the British Columbia Golf Association In Kelowna at Gallagher’s Canyon, November 28 the following members have been elected to the 2004 Board of Directors:

Wayne Haddad, zone 1E, Cranbrook Golf Club; Chris Andrews, zone 1E, Kimberley Golf Club; Barry Jackson, zone 1W, Castelgar Golf Club; Keith Larson, zone 2, Aberdeen Hills Golf Links; Bernie Monteleone, zone 2, Kelowna Golf Club; Scott Vannatter, zone 3, Peace Portal Golf Course; Craig Lennon, zone 4, Seymour Golf & Country Club; Menno Martens, zone 4, Fraser Golf Club: Lawrie Kerr, zone 5, Royal Colwood Golf club; Robert Bagnall, zone 6, Eaglecrest Golf Club: Gerry Walker, zone 6, Nanaimo golf Club: John Ross, zone 7, Skeena Valley Golf & Country Club; Jim McKinnon, zone 8N, Lakepoint Golf Club; David Wright, zone 8S, Williams Lake Golf & Tennis Club. With the exception of Chris Andrews, who has one year remaining, this Board will remain in office through 2005.

Dates to Remember

February 13 – 14 – 15
VANCOUVER GOLF & TRAVEL SHOW
BC Place Stadium