Vancouver Golf Tour - Golden Ear's Invitational

MarketPlace IGA
VANCOUVER GOLF TOUR

Pitt Meadows Golf Club
July 25,26th

“HATS OFF TO HADWIN at 40TH ANNIVERSARY GOLDEN EAR’S”

On a scorching weekend in Pitt Meadows, it was 21 year old rookie VGT Professional ADAM HADWIN who blazed his way to his second victory in three VGT events, posting back-to-back rounds of 66 for a two-day total of 12 under par and a four shot victory over last week’s Chilliwack Open winner BRYN PARRY. Starting the final round leading at -6, both Hadwin and Parry had their share of ups and downs on the front nine. It was Hadwin who struggled first with bogeys on #1 and #3 to give Parry an early 2 shot lead in as many holes. However, after a few more holes both players would settle down on the front nine and finish one-under par for the opening side and 7-under par for the tournament. Playing some four groups earlier, Hazelmere’s PHIL JONAS shot off to a 4-under start on the front nine, and would effectively be only one shot back with nine holes to play. His good play continued on #11 where he birdied to get to -7 for the tournament but his chase for the title was halted after a double-bogey six on the 12th hole to move him back to -5. Although he would make two more birdies coming in, Jonas’ charge was a bit shy and he finished with a Sunday score of 67 and for a 3rd place finish in the tournament alone at -7, good for $1,100.

With none of the other front runners making a considerable challenge to the leaders, it would be the second consecutive VGT event that Parry and Hadwin would go head-to-head on the back nine to see who clinched the Championship. The difference in these nine holes turned out to be Hadwin capitalizing beautifully on a bit of luck after two errant drives, making some fantastic recovery shots on holes #12 and #14. His two birdies on these holes inevitably gave him a two shot lead with four holes to play. Both Hadwin and Parry made great birdies on #15 to go -11 and -9 respectively and it looked like it was going to be a race to the end until Parry made an untimely bogey on #16 to fall three shots back with only two to play. Par’s on 17 by both players gave Hadwin some breathing room coming down 18, which he took full advantage of with two great shots into the par 5 and a two-putt birdie to get to 12 under par and win this 40th Anniversary Golden Ear’s Invitational in style! Hadwin’s victory earned him $2,200 towards his yearly total on the CLEVELAND GOLF/ SRIXON CANADA Order of Merit, chasing all the way into 2nd Place after playing only 5 events with $7,875. This leaves Hadwin less than $1,000 shy of VGT’s 2009 Order of Merit leader Bryn Parry, who sits atop with $8,837.50 after 12 events. With only four VGT events remaining on the schedule to decide who will win the coveted entry to PGA Tour Qualifying School, this race will be an exciting one to follow indeed! McCleery and Hazelmere’s Phil Jonas sits in 3rd Place overall with $7,128.

In Amateur action, Ledgeview’s KEVIN STINSON was only a few shots shy of winning the ‘Amateur Triple Crown (Ledgeview Open, Chilliwack Open, Golden Ear’s Open) as he was simply out-played by 17 year old Capilano Golf Club Junior MATT CAVELTI who shot impressive back-to-back rounds of 69 for a total of 6-under par to take Amateur Honours at this year’s event. Both Cavelti and Stinson will be heading away to play in the Canadian Championships – Cavelti next week in the Juniors at Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener, Ontario and Stinson at the Canadian Amateur the following week at Club de golf Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Quebec. VGT wishes both youngsters a successful trip on their National Championship bids! This year’s Amateur Low Net Winner went to Vancouver Golf Club’s Dave Showman with a 2-day total of 139, winning on retrogression over Paul Jennings and Julian Pasichnyk. Full results can be found by clicking here: http://www.vancouvergolftour.com/2009/live_scoring.htm.