A brand new driver wasn't the only reason that Rick Gareau was able to lay claim to a club championship at Cedra Green Golf Course last weekend, but it sure didn't hurt.
The senior men's champ put together rounds of 76 and 79, right around his handicap, to earn a four shot victory over friend and teammate Dion Dumontelle, with both gentlemen part of their club's Senior Ryder team that has advanced to the next round of provincial playdowns in Huntsville.
"I've struggled all of my life with my driver," said Gareau - well, at least dating back to his early thirties when he first picked up the sport upon purchasing a house that was almost adjacent to the 15th hole at Cedar Green.
"I'm a good chipper, a good putter - but that driver just kills me," added Gareau. "I bought a brand new driver this year and it's made the world of difference. It's the first time I ever got fitted for clubs."
That said, bogeys on his first five hole of round two were not the way he envisioned bringing home the title. It was time to breathe and relax, by whatever means possible.
"The beer girl came by," Gareau explained. "I had a beer and changed my ball and in the last 14 holes, I was four over."
Playing several times a week, including with Charlie Kettle and Mike Ricjer in the Friday Night Molson League, Richer has called Cedar Green home for almost thirty years now.
As for the Men's Open championship, Greg Cantin followed up an opening round of 75 with a score of 78 on Sunday, pulling away from other contenders to finish five strokes clear of Zack Yackobert.
Tyler Stoneypoint and Jaden Martin were tied for third at 160 while Ken Robineau was all alone in fifth at 163.
Starting next Monday, the Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) will play host to the 119th Canadian Men's Amateur Championship presented by BDO, with a trio of Sudbury hopefuls on hand.
Brothers Ben and Alex Fowke as well as Laurentian alumnus Jacob Lacko will take a crack at trying to make the cut with much of the top-tier golf talent in the country on hand for the event.
