The dreary stormy weather that clouded over St. Paul nearly all of Friday fortunately made way for warm, sunny weather on Saturday and Sunday, providing a good backdrop for the Annual Men’s Open golf tournament to be staged at the St. Paul Golf Club.
Nearly 60 golfers from St. Paul and neighbouring Alberta communities stepped up to the tee to try and master the 18-hole course and become a champion. Jerrid Pasitney, the manager of the St. Paul Golf Club, says the participation rate was on par with previous years.
The overall winner of the two-day tournament was Mike Lo of Two Hills. The first-time winner, who participated in the tournament for the tenth time this year, won by a decisive 11 strokes.
“On Saturday, I shot par (72) and that allowed me to have a six stroke lead heading into Sunday,” says Lo. “I maintained the lead by shooting a 76 (Sunday).”
Lo said the course proved to be a bit more difficult on Sunday due to the wind being more of a factor. Although there was wind on Saturday, it did not have an impact on scores to the same degree.
Lo was not the only person that was happy that he ended on top.
“Mike is a friend of mine,” says Pasitney. “It is really nice to see him win this tournament. He deserved to win it.”
Lo says it is the “great people” and the “really good competition” that motivates him to keep signing up for this tournament. He is also a regular at the golf course, and plays in the club’s men’s league every Tuesday night.
The category winners of the 2015 Annual Men’s Open are as follows:
Overall Low Gross: Mike Lo (148)
Overall Low Net: Adam Eskcrow (141)
Championship First Flight 0-7 Handicap
1st Low Gross: Jerrid Pasitney (159)
1st Low Net: Silar Makokis (152)
Second Flight 8-12 Handicap
1st Low Gross: Ryan Yopyk (162)
1st Low Net: Brayden Makokis (141)
Third Flight 13-18 Handicap
1st Low Gross: Gerry Sandboe (163)
1st Low Net: Bill Yakimec (186)
Fourth Flight 19 and up Handicap
1st Low Net: Jason Cardinal (142)
NOTE: This year, the men’s tournament was supposed to be preceded by a demonstration by local world long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski on Friday, which would have seen him display his powerful golf drive. But, the show was cancelled due to the rainy weather. The event is being rescheduled to coincide with the Club Championship tournament on Aug.16. Sadlowski’s show is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m.
