Senior Men’s Championship
July 17, 2012
Final Recap
Sandy Harper Supplants Gudmund Lindbjerg as British Columbia Senior Men’s Champion
Ray Henry captures Super Senior division in a one-hole playoff
Nanaimo, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-Hometown Nanaimo favourite Sandy Harper dethroned four-time defending champion Gudmund Lindbjerg to capture the 2012 British Columbia Senior Men’s Championship at Nanaimo Golf Club.
The Nanaimo Golf Club member started the day seven ahead of the field, quickly stretching that lead to nine-strokes after making birdie on the par 5, 500-yard first compared to a bogey from Port Moody’s Lindbjerg.
“I started out with a good birdie on one and then got another one on the sixth hole,” stated Harper. “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 would give both shots back on the seventh hole with a double-bogey six, his first one of the week. He would bounce right with a birdie on the par 3, 155-yard eight hole.
Similar to round two, Harper closed his back nine with relative ease, carding a one-under 35 inward half, good enough for a three-day Championship total 210, -6 (72-68-70), eleven strokes ahead of his nearest competitor.
Playing in his threesome were Lindbjerg and Senior Men’s rookie Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver. Both Lindbjerg and Roxburgh struggled on the day, posting identical seven-over-par 79’s. Lindbjerg finished with a Championship total 226, +10 (72-75-79) while Roxburgh posted a 228 total, +12 (75-74-79), good enough for T5 and 12th respectively.
“I played today with my good friend Gudmund and Doug Roxburgh, who else would you want to play with,” smiled Harper.
Quietly going about his business while Harper was going through the motions of wrapping up his victory was Nanaimo’s Tony Hatchwell. The Nanaimo Golf Club member was able to give the spectators something to cheer about, posting a final-round best one-under-par 71 (72-75-71-221), vaulting himself into solo second right behind his club mate.
Both Harper and Hatchwell had a short handshake after realizing both players would be members of Team BC thanks to their place this week. Team BC will be going to the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship at Le Griffon des Source GC in Mirabel, Quebec August 28-31, 2012.
“I am really excited to represent Team BC,” said Harper. “We always have good teams so it will be a fun tournament.”
Rounding out the top three performers and the final Team BC position was Victoria’s Marty Holman. Holman was able to ride steady nerves after going four-over-par on his first eight holes during round three before finishing the remaining ten in two-under-par, posting a 224 total, +8 (76-73-74-223).
Evident to all players in the field was the support that was received from Nanaimo Golf Club members from the beginning of the week, a fact Harper couldn’t ignore during his historic win as a member of the home club.
“The support from everyone at the club has been really great. Right from day one there were people following me from my very first hole,” said Harper.
“My mother and father were both here today as well and they have been members here for a number of years although they aren’t playing anymore. They got me into golf so to have them here to see me win was special.”
Although the Senior division was essentially cut-and-dry from the beginning of the day, the Super Senior division, whose leaders were one group ahead of Harper, Lindbjerg and Roxburgh, provided drama right to the bitter end.
Delta’s Bill Wilms and Victoria’s Ray Henry carded identical 227 totals after three rounds, forcing what would be a short sudden-death playoff.
With both players on the green in two on the first hole, Wilms unfortunately three-putted, leaving the door wide open for Henry to knock his six-foot par putt into the heart of the cup, with authority.
“I got off to a bad start today but got it back on track after that,” said Henry. “I am happy to have won the playoff and to be the Super Senior champion.”
2011 Super Senior champion Ron Petersen of Coquitlam finished in third place all by himself in the division, posting a 231 three-round total (78-77-76).
Harper was the only player that finished under-par for the week, a testament he claims is due to the care taken by the course.
“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,” stated Harper. “The scores this week showed this isn’t an easy course.”
British Columbia Golf would like to thank the volunteers and staff at the Nanaimo Golf Club for their tremendous efforts in making the Senior Men’s Championship a success.
For more information on final scores, please click here
Round Two Recap
Harper Busts Senior Men’s Championship Open Taking a Seven Stroke Lead into Final Round
Four-time reigning champion Lindbjerg in second;Roxburgh sits nine strokes back of lead
Nanaimo, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-Sandy Harper busts the competition wide open, taking a seven-stroke lead into the final round at the 2012 B.C. Senior Men’s Championship, hosted by Nanaimo Golf Club.
Harper, a Nanaimo resident and local Nanaimo Golf Club member, started the day in a first-place tie with four-time defending Senior Men’s champion Gudmund Lindbjerg of Port Moody.
Unlike round one, which saw the 1980 BC Amateur champion go a modest -1, 35 on the front side, Harper got right to business with an eagle-3 on the par 5, 500-yard first hole. He would post a birdie on the third to go to an impressive -3 through his first three holes. He would finish the front nine strong with a birdie on the ninth, getting his total to -4, 32. Harper would close out his back nine in even-par fashion, posting a two round 140 total, -4 for the Championship (72-68-140).
“I had a bad finish yesterday bogeying three of the last four holes. Today I got off to a fast start to get things back on track,” stated Harper.
After starting his round a couple hours before Harper, Lindbjerg started with two straight birdies only to give both strokes back and three more coming in, posting a second round three-over-par 75, good enough for a 147 total, +3 for the Championship (72-75-147).
Sitting in a five player tied for third place is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver. The 13-time BC Amateur and 4-time Canadian Amateur champion posted a +2 second round 74 (75-75-149), putting him in at +5 for the Championship, nine strokes back of Harper. This is Roxburgh’s first B.C. Senior Men’s Championship. In that tie for third with Roxburgh are Victoria’s Marty Holman (76-73), Surrey’s Gary Heselton (77-72), Qualicum Beach’s Brian De Biasio (75-74) and Bill Wilms of Delta (75-74).
In the Super Senior division (65 years of age and older), Wilms is out in front of Victoria’s Ray Henry by a single stroke heading into the final round. Henry sits at +6 for the Championship, 150 total (76-74-150). The reigning Super Senior champion Ron Petersen of Coquitlam sits six strokes back at +11 with Ron Berry of Nanaimo and Bryan Munro of Parksville.
The Zone Team title was awarded to Zone 6 following the second round today, thanks to a +7 aggregate team total, 13-strokes better than their nearest competitors from Zone 4. Representing Zone 6 are Harper, De Biasio, Nanaimo resident Tony Hatchwell and Mark Kloske of Lake Cowichan.
The field was cut to 73 players after round two with the cut line falling at 162 strokes and better. Final round tee times will begin at 7:30am with the lead group of Harper, Lindbjerg and Roxburgh set to close things out at 11:06am.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Entrance is free-of-charge.
For more information on final round starting times, players and round two results, please click here
Round One Recap
Harper and Lindbjerg Lead Senior Men’s Championship After Round One Action
Roxburgh sits 3 strokes back of lead
Nanaimo, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-Local Nanaimo resident Sandy Harper and four-time defending champion Gudmund Lindbjerg of Port Moody share first round lead at B.C. Senior Men’s Championship at Nanaimo Golf Club.
Playing in his first Senior Men’s Championship, Harper delivered an up-and-down first round performance that saw him get as low as three-under-par through 14 holes before stringing together three-straight bogeys starting on the par 4, 383-yard 15th. The Nanaimo Golf Club member ended his round with a par to finish even-par 72.
Tied with Harper is the four-time defending champion Lindbjerg, who this past Saturday captured the Senior Trophy at the Ogopogo Invitational at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club.
Standing on the 11th tee during today’s round, Lindbjerg sat at four-over-par, a number that would certainly his five-peat effort an uphill battle going into day two. As great players do, Lindbjerg turned it around by carding birdies on 12 and 15 as well as an eagle on the par 5, 503-yard 14th hole to get his round back to even-par for the day. He would close with three-straight pars to post a 72.
Sitting tied for third place after posting opening round two-over-par 74’s are Qualicum Beach’s Kevin Kosick and Chestermere, Alberta’s John Russell. Only three strokes back of Lindbjerg and Harper at +3 are Qualicum Beach’s Brian De Biasio, Nanaimo’s Tony Hatchwell, Delta’s Bill Wilms, Victoria’s Mike Fowles and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver.
Leading the Super Senior division is Wilms, followed by Ray Henry of Victoria who shot a four-over-par 76. Parksville’s Bryan Munro sits third in the division with a +5, 77.
After day one, Zone 6 has a healthy eight stroke lead over Zone’s 4 and 5. The Zone competition will be decided following tomorrow’s play.
The Senior Men’s Championship is a 142-player, 54-hole stroke play gross competition with a cut to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes. The Championship consists of two divisions; Senior division for those between ages 55 and 64 and the Super Senior division for those 65 and over. All players will compete for the overall Championship.
The Zone Team Championship is played concurrently with the first and second rounds of the Championship. Four player zone teams are named by each zone prior to the start of play with the low 3 of 4 scores used to determine overall score.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Entrance is free-of-charge.
For more information on starting times, players and round one results, please click here
Preview
Nanaimo Golf Club is set for the 144-player Senior Men’s Championship on July 16-18, 2012.
Set on a ridge above Departure Bay in Nanaimo, the Nanaimo Golf Club (Par 72, 6,700 yards) will host the most talented 55 and older male golfers in British Columbia throughout the three round stroke play competition.
Gudmund Lindbjerg of Port Moody and member at Pitt Meadows Golf Club, will be setting foot on the Vancouver island destination looking to win an impressive fifth straight Championship but will have his work cut out for him.
Playing in his first Senior Men’s Championship, 13-time BC Amateur champion Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver and member at Marine Drive Golf Club, will be a realistic favourite to dethrone Lindbjerg.
Local Nanaimo resident and member at Nanaimo Golf Club Sandy Harper will also be a great test for Lindbjerg looking to repeat. Harper won the British Columbia Junior Boys’ Championship in 1974 and also has a BC Amateur title in 1980 so he is no stranger to victory on the provincial scene.
Other likely favourites are 2011 runner-up Tony Hatchwell of Nanaimo, 2007 champion John Gallacher of Burnaby, 2011 Super Senior champion Ron Petersen of Coquitlam, Earl MacPherson of Surrey and Invermere’s Harry Ferguson.
The Senior Men’s Championship is a 144-player, 54-hole stroke play gross competition with a cut to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes. The Championship consists of two divisions; Senior division for those between ages 55 and 64 and the Super Senior division for those 65 and over. All players will compete for the overall Championship.
The Zone Team Championship is played concurrently with the first and second rounds of the Championship. Four player zone teams are named by each zone prior to the start of play with the low 3 of 4 scores used to determine overall score.
The top-3 competitors from the Championship will represent British Columbia at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship to be held August 28-31, 2012 at Le Griffon des Source in Mirabel, Quebec.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Entrance is free-of-charge.
For more information on starting times, players and results, please click here
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Nice WIn Sandy! Congratulations! Don’t forget the BC High School team win in 1973. Maybe you better enter the BC Summer games….
Is there still a BC Parent and Child? Can’t remember if you and Alex won that back in the day.
BC realtors?