PORT ALICE—While those around him suffered the typical ups-and-downs of a weekend of amateur golf, Rory Bondue parlayed consistency into the low-gross title in the annual Port Alice Golf & Country Club Spring Open tournament Sunday.
Bondue shot matching 18-hole rounds of 62 Saturday and Sunday to post a 36-hole 124, good for a seven-stroke advantage over runner-up Darren Schmidt. Schmidt, like Bondue a scratch golfer, trailed by just a stroke following Saturday’s two tours of the nine-hole course, but slipped to a 68 on Sunday to fall back.
And there were far more dramatic swings. Neil Fraser, a 16-handicapper, fired a 75 Saturday that left him one stroke off the low-net lead with a 59. But he limped home with a 91 Sunday and wound up fourth on the leaderboard behind low-net champion Fletcher Crook (120).
“Too many shots into the trees,” Fraser said with a shrug. “(Saturday) I played the whole day with one ball. (Sunday) I got off to a rough start. It got better, but the damage was already done.”
Some players saved their best for last. Richard Inglis claimed runner-up honours in the net standings by firing a 58 Sunday after his opening round of 66. His net of 124 was one stroke better than another late charger, Harvey Prescott, who claimed third with 125 by shooting a 59 after his Saturday round of 66.
Joseph Ruiz was third in the low-gross tourney with a 68-70—138.
Ruiz played in a foursome with Bondue, Schmidt and Russell Murray, unique in that all four golfers play left-handed. They were joined by the tourney’s lone woman entrant, Kim Chabot, who fired a gross of 117-113—130 to get the win unopposed after failing to coax other women players through a Facebook campaign in the days leading up to tee-off.
The women were scheduled to play two nine-hole rounds on the hilly Port Alice course, situated above the Neucel Specialty Cellulose pulp mill, but Chabot opted to play all 36 while grouped with her partner, Bondue.
“I’m starting to feel it,” she said midway through Sunday’s final nine holes. “But I just figure there’s no pressure.”
GOLF
Port Alice Spring Open
at Port Alice Golf & Country Club
Low Gross
1. Rory Bondue 62-62—124; 2. Darren Schmidt 63-68—131; 3. Joseph Ruiz 68-70—138; 4. Guy Mitchell 73-70—143; 5. Russell Murray 76-74—150; 6. Ken Archer 98-82—180; 7. Gerry Johnson 103-87—190; 8. Scott MacMillan 117-112—129.
Low Net
1. Fletcher Crook 58-62—120; 2. Richard Inglis 66-58—124; 3. Harvey Prescott 66-59—125; 4. Neil Fraser 59-75—134; 5. Stu McMillan 73-64—137; 6. Dugald McMillan 74-65139; 7. Darryl Lyons 84-63—147.
Women
1. Kim Chabot 117-113—130 (gross); 158 net.
Closest to the pin
Saturday — 7/16: Neil Fraser; 9/18: Richard Inglis.
Sunday — 7/16: Richard Inglis; 9/18: Russell Murray.