Kyle Smith Wins Fall Qualifier; Tour Welcomes Ten New Players for 2009 Season
Full Leaderboard | Vouchers, Skins and Prizes | Scoresheet - PDF File
September 28, 2008 - Kyle Smith used some home course knowledge on Sunday, shooting a fine 77 at Sawmill GC to win the Fall Qualifier for the 2009 season by a shot over Brad Fleguel. Smith made three birdies, seven bogies and a double during his round, shooting an even par 36 on the front and following with a six over 41. He will be playing on Tour for the first time in 2009 and looks to be someone to watch in the Rookie Points race next season.
Fleguel, a member of Freedom Oaks, compiled nines of 41-37 on his way to a 78, easily good enough to regain exempt status on Tour for 2009 after finishing 43rd overall this year.
The top ten players in the fall qualifier gained exempt status for the 2009 season. Joining Smith and Fleguel on Tour next year are Chris McLean, a GAO member and Queenston's Wes Lowrey, who both shot 79's. Lowrey was a 2008 Tour participant and regains exempt status after finishing 37th this year. GAO member Nick Joon finished in 5th with an 82, while GAO members John Strachan, Gil Guitard and Lookout Point's Paul Lord all finished with 83 to tie for sixth place. Strachan, Guitard and Lord all participated on the Tour in 2008 and regained exempt status with their qualifying scores while Joon will be making his Tour debut in 2009. Two players shot 84 to tie for ninth place: Dunnville's Bill Puckering regains exempt status after finishing 42nd in 2008 while Mike Alfieri, a Sparrow Lakes member, rejoins the Tour after a one year absence.
There were six skins on the day, with each being worth $31.00. Smith won two of them with birdies on #2 and #6. GAO member Barry Carr (birdie - #7), Mike Armitage from Lookout Point (birdie - #13), McLean (birdie - #17) and Dunnville's Pete Robertson (par - #18) won the other skins. Robertson's skin on #18 is the first time in Tour history that a par was good enough to win money!
The Tour will be holding a Spring Qualifier in order to fill up the remaining spots for the 2009 season. Tentative plans call for the Tour's first event to be held at Peninsula Lakes GC in late April 2009 and it will double as the Spring Qualifier. We will have more information on this event and the rest of the courses on the 2009 rotation in the coming months.
If you are interested in participating in the Spring Qualifier in order to gain Tour membership for 2009, please email the committee at niagaramenstour@gmail.com with your name, club affiliation and handicap.
FALL QUALIFIER STATISTICS -
Average Score: 84.7368
Most Birdies: Kyle Smith (Sawmill GC) - 3
Most Pars: Brad Fleguel (Freedom Oaks) - 12
Best Par 3 Performance: Chris McLean (GAO) & Kyle Smith (Sawmill GC) - 3.00 average
Best Par 4 Performance: Brad Fleguel (Freedom Oaks) & Wes Lowrey (Queenston GC) - 4.36 average
Best Par 5 Performance: Kyle Smith (Sawmill GC) - 4.67 average
Most Difficult Par 3: #8 - 4.00 average
Most Difficult Par 4: #1 - 5.21 average
Most Difficult Par 5: #2 - 6.11 average
Easiest Par 3: #14 & #17 - 3.42 average
Easiest Par 4: #15 - 4.42 average
Easiest Par 5: #4 - 5.47 average