Winners Receive Personalized Golf Bags
Story by Pat Payton | The Independent
The 2018 version of the ‘Battle of Gowanbrae’ golf tournament was held this past weekend, and four new champions were established at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club.
Altogether, there were 60 players in six men’s and ladies' groups competing in the two-day golf tournament.
Merlin Malinowski and Jamie Hodgins are the men’s champions. With Malinowski notching a birdie on the par-4 No. 18 hole. They edged out the team of Wayne Ross and Larry Torrance in a playoff. With the win, Malinowski and Hodgins picked up customized Ping golf bags, donated by Greg Thompson, tournament organizer.
Malinowski hit a 7-iron from 139 yards out to a foot from the pin for a tap-in 3. “It’s an uphill shot on No. 18, and we also had a bit of wind in our face,” Malinowski noted. “I hit the 7 and I knew it was right on line. It was probably the shortest putt I had all day.”
Malinowski and Hodgins were the Blue tee group 1 winners. From the Blue tees group 2 division, Ross and Torrance earned a spot in the playoff after winning a three-way ‘chip-off’ on No. 18 against Steph McNeil and Steve Chateauvert, and Troy Carter and Tom Charette.
On the men’s side, White tees group 1 winners were Graham Glousher and Derwin Carter, and White tees group 2 winners were Nelson and Steven Goad.
Par Wins It on Number 18
In a playoff in the ladies' division, Bonnie Betteridge parred the No. 18 hole to give her and teammate Janis Kapp a close win over the duo of Dianne Downing and Marion Canning. With the win, Betteridge and Kapp walked away with customized golf bags, donated by the St. Marys Golf & Country Club.
Betteridge and Kapp were ladies group 2 winners, while Downing and Canning were group 1 winners.
Tourney notes:
--For winning this year’s ‘Battle of Gowanbrae’, Malinowski, Hodgins, Betteridge and Kapp all received golf bags.
--The tournament format is as follows: Two-person teams play four 9-hole matches against teams in their own division, based on golf handicaps. Golfers play 18 holes each day. The tourney is organized each year by St. Marys G&CC member Greg Thompson.
--The Country Club wishes to thank tournament organizers Greg Thompson and Jim Craigmile for their tremendous efforts over the weekend. And also to member Dan Armstrong for rocking out the tunes with live music on the Saturday night.
--During the trophy presentations, Eric Dunn, PGA Head Pro and Golf Operations Manager, was thanked for assisting the organizers throughout the week leading up to the tournament
