Roger Perry Wins Fall Qualifier; Eleven Players Gain Exempt Status for 2010
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September 20, 2009 - Roger Perry from Rolling Meadows GCC put together a fine round of 75 (+3) to win the 2009 Fall Qualifier being held at Riverview GC by one shot over the host club's Joe Buote.
Perry fashioned nines of 39 and 36 to take top spot in the qualifier, which saw 34 participants playing for nine available spots plus ties. Perry immediately becomes the favourite for the Niagara Golf Report Rookie of the Year award for 2010.
The top nine players and ties in the fall qualifier gained exempt status for the 2010 season. Joining Perry and Buote (39-37) on Tour next year is Sawmill GC's Dave Abrams, who shot 77 (38-39) and regains exempt status after finishing 44th in 2009. In fourth spot all alone was Josh Groom from Links of Niagara with a 78 (40-38). Groom, the proprietor of 13 Mountain St. Restaurant, a Tour sponsor, rejoins the Tour after a one-year absence. Tying for fifth position with scores of 79 were Jeff Jackson (39-40) and Chris McLean (39-40), both representing the GAO. Jackson and McLean both regain exempt status after finishing the 2009 Tour season in 41st and 43rd positions respectively. Tying for seventh after shooting 80 were Sawmill's Matthew Hopper (39-41) and the GAO's Kham Vong (42-38), both of whom will be Tour rookies in 2010. Grabbing the last qualifying spots with matching scores of 81 were Sparrow Lakes GCC's Anthony Marotta (44-37), Rockway Glen's Ryan MacGlashan (42-39) and Steve Kealey (42-39) from LochNess Links.
There were an incredible nine skins on the day, with each being worth $30.00. Mark Lynds from Rolling Meadows GCC won two of them with birdies on #11 and #15. Also nabbing skins were GAO's Barry Carr (birdie - #3), Buote (birdie - #8), Glen Rothwell of the GAO (birdie - #9), Jeff Germond from St. Catharines GCC (birdie - #10), Vong (birdie - #13), Mark Cottringer (birdie - #14) and McLean (birdie - #17).
The Tour will be holding a Spring Qualifier in order to fill up the remaining spots for the 2010 season. Tentative plans call for the Tour's first event to be held in late April 2010 and it will likely double as the Spring Qualifier, similar to what was done in 2009. We will have more information on this event and the rest of the courses on the 2010 rotation in the coming months.
If you are interested in participating in the Spring Qualifier in order to gain Tour membership for 2010, please email the committee at niagaramenstour@gmail.com with your name, club affiliation and handicap.