Golden Eagle North: Where Howard Smith Rules the Greens!
Welcome to Howard Smith’s world – we’re just fortunate to be a part of it!
In a rare and blessed twist of fate, 16 golfers gathered at the first tee of the Golden Eagle North Course with no threat of rain. Umbrellas were left behind, shorts and short sleeves were donned, and sunglasses were a common sight.
The practice green buzzed with anticipation as members prepared for Major #2 of the 2024 Pacific Canadian Golf Association Season. The occasion also drew out some first-time appearances of the year, with Levi Sheck and Chris King joining the fray to see what all the excitement was about.
Golden Eagle North, however, lived up to its reputation as a challenging course, baffling many members who struggled to score well. In the post-round debrief, no one could quite explain their scores – the course’s difficulty simply crept up on them.
Amidst the widespread mediocrity, a few standout performances shone through. PCGA founding member Bob Hayes delivered a near-perfect shot on the Par 3 4th, landing just 12” from the cup. It was an epic shot, earning him an easy KP and the only deuce of the day. Yet, despite this moment of brilliance, a great round requires more than one stellar shot, as Bob’s overall performance illustrated.
The Master’s Division saw recent stalwarts Matt Fulton and Bob Wagner struggling against Golden Eagle North’s unforgiving terrain. Scott Heke provided a spark with a dazzling 40 on the back nine, culminating in a net 76. However, the ultimate victor in the Master’s Division was Will Russell with a Callaway net 75. In just his second tournament with the club, Will received a warm welcome from his peers at the 19th hole.
But the day’s spotlight, and indeed the story of the past few weeks, belonged to Howard Smith. Howard edged out Darren Tromans by a single stroke with a net 72. This victory marked Howard’s second consecutive win and his third triumph of the season. Adding to his impressive net 72, Howard claimed two KPs, proving that someone is indeed playing exceptional golf right now.
Howard’s recent successes have catapulted him to the top of the season standings, creating a noticeable lead over second-place Bob Wagner. The leaderboard saw significant shifts this week, emphasizing the importance of consistent participation. Players who have competed in 8 or more tournaments dominate the top three spots, while those with 6 or more appearances almost fill the top eight.
The tournament concluded with a lively 19th hole gathering, brimming with good energy and camaraderie. After a period of low turnout, it was heartening to see everyone so happy and enthusiastic. The season series is heating up, and each tournament brings exciting changes to the leaderboard.
We hope to see even more members join us for future tournaments. The season is far from over, and the competition is only getting more thrilling.
Division Winners ($50 Each):
Masters Division Matt Fulton - Net 75 (Countback)
Players Division Howard Smith - Net 71 (Countback)
KP’s ($60 Pot):
Hole #3 Chris Palsenbarg
Hole #7 Bob Wagner
Hole #12 Bob Wagner
Hole #16 Tony Izzo
Deuces ($40 Pot):
Hole #12 Bob Wagner
Division Winners ($50 Each):
Masters Division Will Russell - Net 75
Players Division Howard Smith - Net 72
KP’s ($60 Pot):
Hole #4 Bob Hayes
Hole #6 Randy Gibson
Hole #14 Howard Smith
Hole #17 Howard Smith
Deuces ($40 Pot):
Hole #4 Bob Hayes
