Qualifier Evan Angi Wins Opening Event; 17 Other Qualifiers Gain Exempt Status

Full Leaderboard | Vouchers, Skins and Prizes | Scoresheet - PDF File

Sunday May 2, 2010 - The Niagara District Junior Golf Tour is proving to be quite the training ground for the Briggsy's Sportswear and Promotion Men's Tour.

Evan Angi from Lookout Point, trying to qualify for the Tour after graduating from the junior circuit in 2009, did much better than he could have possibly imagined. The 19 year old edged fellow qualifier and junior tour graduate Evan Olsthoorn from St. Catharines GCC in a one hole playoff to win the first event of the 2010 season at picturesque Peninsula Lakes GC, sponsored by Paul Lord and the Financial Care Group.

Angi, seen above receiving congratulations from Paul Lord and flanked by Tour treasurer Willie Ormerod on the left and Tour title sponsor Jim Briggs, shot a tremendous one over par 73 (36-37) in windy conditions, making one birdie, three bogeys and fourteen pars in a very steady performance. His bogey on the par three 9th hole on the Hillside Course was enough to edge Olsthoorn (37-36) in the playoff for the title and the two-year exemption that comes along with it.

Angi, a business administration student at Brock University and Olsthoorn are joined by 16 other successful qualifiers who gain exempt status for the remainder of the 2010 season, with all qualifiers shooting 82 or better making the cut.

Finishing third all alone and continuing the youth movement on the Tour was Fox Run's Adam Briggs, another former junior tour standout now in his second year on the men's circuit, who shot a solid 74 (37-37). Tour veterans Matt Bosela from St. Catharines GCC (37-38), Ryan Gidney from Lookout Point CC (38-37) and Twenty Valley's Bill Lipsett (37-38) all fired rounds of 75 to finish in a tie for fourth. Rounding out the top ten and finishing in a tie for seventh with fine scores of 76 were Tour veterans Gord Henderson of Bridgewater (40-36) and public player Andy Ragats (35-41), sophomores Brad Butler from St. Catharines (38-38) and Kyle Smith from Sawmill (35-41) and qualifier Dave Toulouse from LochNess Links (36-40).

As indicated, 18 out of 39 potential qualifiers ended up gaining exempt status for the remainder of the season, bringing the total number of Tour members to 53. The Tour Committee is extremely excited with the infusion of young talent and the grizzled vets are looking forward to more great competition this year and beyond.

There were seven skins on the day in the exempt players section, each worth $50.00. Winners included Ian Penney, who won two skins for his birdies on Quarry #1 and Quarry #5. Other winners were Joe Buote - #3 Quarry (birdie), Gord Henderson - Hillside #1 (birdie), Matt Bosela - Hillside #6 (birdie), Bob Goss - Hillside #8 (birdie) and Jesse Bedard - Hillside #9 (eagle). There were five skins in the qualifiers section, with the winners being Stephen Billyard - Quarry #1 (birdie), Frank Belchior - Quarry #3 (birdie), Mark Cottringer - Quarry #4 (birdie), Dan Tully - Quarry #9 (birdie) and Brandon McGregor - Hillside #9 (eagle).

The Closest to the Hole prize from 13 Mountain Street Restaurant went to Tour committee member Bernie Bodogh for his shot on the 9th at Quarry while Evan Angi won the Closest to the Hole award from Briggsy's Sportswear and Promotion for his great shot on the 8th on the Hillside nine. Stephen Billyard from LochNess Links won the 50/50 draw and took home a whopping $102.00.

The Gary Bos Academy Rookie of the Year race should be hotly contested in 2010, with 18 players in their first season on Tour. Evan Angi jumps out in front on the strength of his win, with Evan Olsthoorn in second, Dave Toulouse in third, Whirlpool's Stewart Law in fourth and Dan Tully from Sparrow Lakes in fifth spot. In the Niagara Golf Report Senior Division race for players 50 & older, 51 year old Gord Henderson from Bridgewater GCC takes the early lead in what should be a great race. Fox Run's Jim Briggs sits alone in second, Port Colborne's Bob Goss and Willie Ormerod from Links of Niagara are tied for third and the GAO's Ken Childs is in fifth position.

The Tour committee would first like to thank Peninsula Lakes' Steve Christie for his tremendous support over the years. Pace of play was superlative and the course is a favourite of many players on the Tour. We look forward to coming back again in 2011. The Tour would also like to thank event sponsor and Tour participant Paul Lord from Financial Care Group, a truly independent financial planning organization that thrives on developing new & better ways to help their clients, right here in the heart of Niagara. We couldn't have done this without your great support! We'd also like to thank Gary Bos from the Gary Bos Academy for his support in the Rookie points race. Gary was on the range prior to the event watching over the swings of the Tour participants and looks forward to working with the players at future events.

The Tour's second event will be held on Sunday May 30th at Thundering Waters GC in Niagara Falls. Trappers Sports Bar in Welland is the event sponsor and the Tour looks forward to returning to Thundering Waters for the first time since 2006.

PENINSULA LAKES STATISTICS -

Average Score: 82.62

Most Birdies: Evan Olsthoorn (St. Catharines GCC) - 5

Most Pars: Evan Angi (Lookout Point CC) & Kyle Smith (Sawmill GC) - 14

Best Par 3 Performance: Dave Toulouse (LochNess Links) - 2.67 average

Best Par 4 Performance: Ian Penney (Lookout Point CC) - 4.00 average

Best Par 5 Performance: Evan Olsthoorn (St. Catharines GCC) - 4.20 average

Most Difficult Par 3: #5 (Hillside) - 4.01 average

Most Difficult Par 4: #4 (Hillside) - 5.23 average

Most Difficult Par 5: #7 (Quarry) - 5.87 average

Easiest Par 3: #8 (Hillside) - 3.32 average

Easiest Par 4: #1 (Hillside) - 4.56 average

Easiest Par 5: #9 (Hillside) - 5.06 average