Two steady rounds of golf powered Stephen Watson to his third North Island Men's Open championship, July 9-10 at the Comox Golf Club.
Watson (BC Players) shot identical one-over par rounds of 69 on Saturday and Sunday to finish with 138. He previously won the tourney in 2002 and 2004. Doug Petrie (Sunnydale) finished two shots back at 140 (69-71).
Seven-time winner Greg Koster (Crown Isle) finished four shots back at 142 (74-68) while Tyler Van Anrooy (Sunnydale) was fourth at 142 (71-71) and Jeff Edwards (Glacier Greens) was fifth at 143 (72-71).
Tourney spokesperson Timothy Collinge noted Koster's 68 on Sunday was the only sub-par round for the weekend. "The course was a challenge. The grounds crew and superintendent did a wonderful job preparing the course and it provided a test for all the players," Collinge said.
Pat Riva (Comox Golf Club) was the net winner with 114. Next with 131 were Chris Kalnay (Glacier Greens), Ken Simmons (Squamish) and Burt Meek (Comox Golf Club) followed by Gabe Trembley (Comox Golf Club) with 133.
KP winners were: Saturday #5 Ken Simmons, Saturday #9 Rick Duerdan, Saturday #14 Tracy Branch, Saturday #9 Gord Trenholm, Sunday #5 Alan Moore, Sunday #9 Peter McDonald, Sunday #14 Tyler Smith, Sunday #18 Don Hilchey.
"Thanks to major corporate and hole-in-one sponsor Investors Group and Rob Backhouse," Collinge said. Other hole-in-one sponsors included Visual Sound Store, Comox Valley Dodge Chrysler, Square One Travel and Rice Toyota.
Hole sponsors were: Classic Stairs and Fine Finishing, Toto Restaurant, Black Fin Pub, Petersen Contracting, Glacier Gutters, Chinook Forest Products, Wheeldon Construction, Rick Siddall/Sun Life Financial, The Mortgage Centre, Holland and Cameron- Barristers and Solicitors, Oceanways Agencies, Jim’s Clothes Closet, Jim Gordon/Remax Realty, Scott Fraser/Royal LePage Realty, Shilo Painting and Decorating, Brian McLean Chevrolet, W S Jackson Appraisals, Courtenay VQA Wine Store and Gus Baudais.
"The core of volunteers made this event possible and deserves many thanks," Collinge said. "Grounds crew and kitchen staff kept the tournament running smoothly. Next year will be special as it will be the 75th annual edition of this golf tournament," Collinge noted.