Sports

 

Consistent would be the best word to describe Richard Greer’s play at the annual Upper Canada Men’s Open on Saturday.

On his way to a one under par 71 and the tournament win, Greer, who plays out of the Beaconsfield Golf Club posted, three birdies and 13 pars. His round was marred by just two bogeys, the first on the par four first hole and the second on the par three seventh.

The long-time golfer turned the corner with a one over par 37 and picked it up a notch on the difficult Upper Canada back nine with a two under par 34, thanks to back-to-back birdies on the par four 16th and 17th holes.

The course, in fantastic condition, drew rave reviews from the 35 competitors who played in three flights.

Greer’s closest competition came from Ottawa golfer and defending champion Paul Nooyen and Cedar Glen’s Rick Barkley who were tied with 78s.

The only other golfer to break 80 was Kirk Barkley (Morrisburg) who posted a 79 for the win in C flight.

Two strokes back, in second spot, was Upper Canada’s Jr. Thompson with an 81 and after that it was Bernie Variault (Upper Canada) and David Myers (no club affiliation) tied with 91s.

B flight had the closest finish with three players tied for top spot with 81s to force a one hole, sudden-death playoff on the par four ninth.

They included Upper Canada’s Mike Laurin and Nationview’s Larry Gordon and Shawn Lapier who plays out of Iroquois.

In the playoff all landed good drives and all missed the green on their approach shots from 150 plus yards out.

Gordon, who was first up, put down the challenge with a chip that ended up inches from the cup. Lapier’s chip left him a six foot putt while Laurin’s bunker shot checked well short and left him about a 12 footer.

Lapier and Laurin missed their par putts and Gordon tapped his in for the B flight win.

Other low scores in B flight were an 82 shot by Rod Pittman of Nationview, an 83 from Upper Canada’s Richard Guthro and an 84 from Upper Canada’s Jim Beckstead.

Following the top three shooters in A flight were Upper Canada’s Tom Thompson, Jamie Scott and Lance LePage and Cedar Glen’s Kurtis Barkley all tied with 80s.

The players was divided into flights with the 11 player A flight including players up to a nine handicap,  15 players in B flight with handicaps from 10 to 13 and C flight including nine players with a handicap range of 14 and up.

[…]

Build it and they will come.

Over the past couple of weeks, South Dundas manager of parks and recreation, Donnie Lewis and his crew have been busy building ice at the Morrisburg Arena.

Monday night, (September 10) members of the Morrisburg and District Figure Skating Club were the first to give it a whirl, followed by players of the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association.

“We started the plant on Monday, August 27th, and I was making ice by the weekend (September long weekend),” Lewis told The Leader, Friday morning.

By Tuesday, August 28 the valve involved with the elimination of air in the lines was wide open, which began the process of cooling the floor. By Wednesday, the 29th, the “floor was at 18º F”.

“Thursday, we started flooding with half inch garden hose,” and from then on it was full steam (ice) ahead. Over the long weekend, Lewis flooded three times per day.

On Tuesday, September 4, the hockey lines were put down, and then it was back to the garden hose for flooding.

The Zamboni saw its first action on Wednesday and “by Thursday, (September 6) we had one inch of ice.”

Over this past weekend, Lewis planned to continue to flood with the Zamboni with the intent to have 1.25 inches of ice for Monday night’s official startup.

Throughout the season, he says the optimum ice thickness is 1.50 inches. “We monitor it weekly by drill tests, drilling 23 holes at various locations.”

Lewis says he likes to keep the ice at one and one half inches, “because that gives you fast ice. Anything past that and the ice gets too slow.”

According to Lewis, thanks to new technology and the changes made to the arena roof and insulation several years ago, the process of putting the ice in, in the fall, does not take nearly as long. “With everything being new it doesn’t take very long.”

With the better insulation and technology the process is no longer at the mercy of the weather as it was years ago.

“We are actually ahead of schedule this year,” said a pleased Lewis.

The figure skaters and minor hockey used the ice Monday night and the Junior B Lions were to have their first practice Tuesday night (September 11).

“The Juniors are scheduled to open their home schedule on Sunday, September 16 against the Winchester Hawks.”

“Everything ran smooth this year, just like peanut butter,” said Lewis. “We had no problems even though it was very hot. Years ago we’d have never made ice with that weather. We were flooding every 30 to 45 minutes initially and the floor never got over 24ºF. That’s good.”

[…]

Another Junior B season is set to open in Morrisburg this Sunday, September 16 when coach Dan Frawley and his Lions entertain the Winchester Hawks in a 2:30 p.m. match.

The Lions open the 2012-13 season on the road Friday night, September 14 when they visit the Alexandria Glens at the Glengarry Sports Palace. Then on Sunday, local fans will get their first look at this year’s Lions.

Coach Frawley says the Lions are coming off a good camp, and he is looking forward to a good season. Returning to the bench with Frawley are last year’s coach Thom Racine and assistant coach Herbie Sequin, both as assistant coaches.

Also returning to the Lions lineup are goaltenders Mikel Dion and Ryan Cooper.

“Mikel gives us solid experience as a veteran and Cooper is young and is developing,” says Frawley.

Dion is also one of the four 21 year old players signed to Lions cards. The others are Curtis Pilon who played last year for the Westport Rideaus and returning Lions Chris Rutley and Sylvester Bzdyl. Also returning is veteran Clark Veenstra.

Frawley is counting on Pilon to provide some experience on the blue line and as Lions’ fans know, Rutley and Bzdyl have been the team’s key scorers. “We are expecting leadership and production from them.”

According to Frawley, approximately 40 hopefuls were out to the Lions pre-season camp, most of which consisted of exhibition games.

The Lions opened with a 5-0 loss to Alexandria on Saturday, September 1 then backed that with a pair of wins 6-4 over South Grenville and 10-9 over Char-Lan. They lost to Casselman 6-4 and then collected an 8-1 victory in a rematch with the Rebels.

Frawley points out you can’t take much from the exhibition game results as,  “Our philosophy was to give everyone a chance to play.”

As well their opponents were looking over their prospects.

Frawley says he is happy to have a good crop of local talent on board. Returning are Sam and Ty Hodgson of Morrisburg. In addition he has added Brian Van Moorsel who played much of his minor hockey with the Kings organization and last year played midget for South Dundas.

Dillon Lapier and Dylan DeJong, both products of the South Dundas system, are also on board along with Dylan Casselman of Williamsburg, who took a break after finishing minor hockey with the Kings and now, as a 20 year old, brings maturity to the squad.

Casselman and Eric Evans of Long Sault were two pleasant surprises at the camp. “They weren’t expected and really weren’t on our radar. Both are bigger boys and both skate well. They should provide us with some good solid depth.”

Also catching the coach’s eye and signed to a 16 year old card is Grant Cooper, who Frawley says has good size and really impressed us.

“We have a fair number of returnees and our main thought was to get more size,” says Frawley. “I think we have a good mix of veterans. “We’ve signed quite a few and all indications are that they are excited at the new approach for the year. We also have a fair number of kids still in camp.”

Frawley says “we’ve gotten bigger on defence. We should be fast and physical.”

As the newcomer to the bench, Frawley says he is going to rely on his assistant coaches Sequin and Racine for help.

“I’ve told the boys it’s a clean slate. I’m new to the league and I’m going to count on their help.”

Game time Sunday is 2:30 p.m.

[…]

 

It came down to a sudden death playoff between last year’s Men’s Open winner, Paul Nooyen and challenger Johnny Morrow for the low gross at the 38th annual Cedar Glen Open on Monday, September 3. Nooyen took the win with a 74, retaining the Open championship. Barry Casselman was the B champion with an 82 while Mike Berube took C with an 88. Seventy golfers from Eastern Ontario turned out for the Men’s Open. “It was an awesome day for golf, and beautiful weather,” said Dennis Casselman, co-owner of Cedar Glen.”We had great participation from area clubs. Many thanks go out to our executive, staff and volunteers who made it all work. We’re already thinking about next year’s open.” Pictured (l-r) are Barry Casselman, presenter co-captain Darryll Schlep, Paul Nooyen and Mike Berube.  

[…]

 In their final clash of the season, White Lightning struck another win to claim the Dundas Men’s Roller Hockey League championship title.

Thursday, they capped off their stellar season with a 6-3 win over New Blue.

The first period ended with one goal a side, but by the end of the second, white held a 4-3 lead. They scored two unanswered goals in the third to capture the win and the league title.

Five different players contributed to the tally. Only Brandon Buma scored twice. The other goals were scored by Dave Summers, Steve Mattice, Tyler Brown and Tyler Gallinger. Billy Henderson had three assists on the night and Rob Thurler had two assists. Barret Brundige backstopped the win.

Scoring for New Blue were Connor Hodgson, with two goals and Jamie McIntosh with the single.

No consolation final was played. 

[…]

The generosity of members of the Cedar Glen Golf Course has made a big difference to three young players from the club. Kurtis Barkley. Brandon Cousineau and Jessica Whitteker each received a $500 cheque at a special presentation at the club on Monday, August 20.

“Our September 10, 2011, Members for Members tournament was meant originally to raise funds to defray Kurtis Barkley’s C.P.G.A. entry costs,” said Barry Casselman, a member of the Cedar Glen executive. “But as those costs didn’t materialize, we decided to redirect the funds to three deserving members of the Club. Kurtis, Brandon and Jessica all came up through our Junior Program here at Cedar Glen.” 

Each of the three young recipients is deeply committed to sports.

Kurtis Barkley is using the $500 for “entry fees for the Chase the Dream qualifier. The Canadian Tour event is scheduled for Smuggler’s Glen, and the $500 will pay for my entry fees, my driving fees and my practice rounds. The news of the cheque was really great, and I am very grateful to the members of this club.”

Should Barkley qualify at Smuggler’s Glen, he will move  on to the Canadian tour. “My chances are good, I hope,” Kurtis laughed. “I have to be one of the top three competitors out of a field of 28. And there are lots of pros in the event.”

For Brandon Cousineau, the Cedar Glen cheque will help off set the expenses he incurred when he played for Team Canada in the  2012 Amputee Hockey Games, held this year in Finland. 

“And we came home with the gold medal,” Cousineau said.

Cousineau made it through two major try outs before he was finally selected for the men’s team in the Games. Although normally a forward,  during the tournament he played defence. “I was definitely the ‘young guy’ on the squad,” he said.

Brandon said that receiving the cheque from his home golf club took him by surprise. “But I am very glad, very grateful,” he added. He has played golf for years, but “I think I am probably better at hockey,” he smiled.

The third cheque recipient, Jessica Whitteker, was represented by her father, Bruce, at the presentation. The young golfer has already reported to Coastal College of Georgia where she has been awarded a partial golf scholarship. 

While she left golf for a short time a few years ago, her father said that “in the last three years, she has been a determined keen golfer.  She’s a ‘decent’ golfer,” he said, smiling, “with a five or six handicap. Of course, she hasn’t beaten the old man yet.”

When she was in Florida in early March, a Georgia coach saw Jessica golf and invited her to come to Coastal College for discussions. When the school offered her a two-thirds scholarship, she accepted.

Her father said that Jessica was very happy and very surprised to be honoured with a cheque from her home club.  She appreciates the generosity of the Cedar Glen membership. The $500 will go to her educational expenses. 

[…]

The Williamsburg Warriors Majors claimed their league title Monday, August 20, in a tight, well-played 4-2 win against Prescott. This was the second game of the best of three series, with the Warriors having won a close 7-4 game the previous night. The Warriors placed first in the six team league during regular season play and were given a first round bye. In the semi-finals, the Williamsburg Warriors faced another Williamsburg team, the Thunder. After dropping the first game 6-5  to the Thunder, the Warriors came back with 14-3 and 14-6 wins. In the front row (l-r) are Matt Backes, Thomas Rae, Jack Thom, Kobey Young, Jonah Bennis, Dean Lapier and Kent Young (coach). In the back row are Dwayne Backes (coach), Johnny Testerink, Lucas Bennis, William DeJong, Cal Bilmer, Travis Barkley and Adam Lapier.

[…]

The Kickers made this an undefeated season by winning a final make-up game 6-4 over the Ottawa Internationals Team 2, on Thursday, August 16, in Iroquois, then going on to do an outstanding job at the year-end tournament held at Kemptville Agricultural College on Sunday, August 19. The Iroquois game was tied 4-4, with three minutes left in play, when Randy Doherty scored for the Kickers, giving him three goals in total for the night.  With seconds left on the clock, Jeff McLaughlin rushed in to make the last goal of the evening. Coaches Jeff Buchanan and Don Hoogwerf were very pleased with the season’s results. “The Kickers also made the year-end tournament,” said Hoogwerf, “where they won all three of the games they played. They defeated North Dundas 1-0, in the first game, Nepean Hotspurs, Team 2, 3-2 in the second game and Nepean Hotspurs Team 1 by a score of 2-0 in the third game.”  On the field,  Liam Bush controls the ball. 

[…]

The Morrisburg team’s gross score of 896 was enough to put them in third place at this year’s Ladies Valley League tournament held at Morrisburg Golf Club, Sunday, August 19.

Prescott, the 2011 defending champions, came in, in second place with a gross of 877, while first place finishers, Summerheights,  took home the honours with 873.

Cedar Glen ended up with a gross of 914, while Iroquois finished with 915.

The first tee off of the day was at 9 a.m. the last at 12:30 p.m., with final players on the course turning in their score cards by 5:30, just in time for awards and a banquet. Morrisburg player Stephenie Cochrane described it as a “good day”: a cloud burst in early afternoon only slowed the action briefly.

The Ladies Valley League has been in existence for over 40 years. Players this year ranged in age from 16 to Morrisburg’s Lillian Noon, 92, who said she’d been taking part now for about 20 years “and I still love it. Actually, I’m aiming for a hole in one before I’m 100.”  

Individual results were announced at the banquet organized by the host Morrisburg club.

Senior gross was Dale Duncan of Prescott with 89, while senior net was Pat Tetrault of Summerheights with 75.

Spare gross was Summerheights’ Susan Fort with 92, while spare net was taken by Cheryl Boyd of Prescott with 68.

D gross was Sharon Landry of Prescott (104) with D net taken by Audrey Arcand (68). 

C gross was Ann Cook of Cedar Glen, with 97, and net was Nancy Mierau of Prescott with 67.

Ann Leduc of Summerheights took the B gross with 88 and Carolyn Weegar of Morrisburg took the B net with 68.

The A gross winner was Robyn Campbell of Summerheights with Pat Reaney of Cedar Glen taking the A net with a score of 63.

[…]

 

The finals are set for Men’s Roller Hockey Thursday, following last week’s action.

The championship will be decided between New Blue and White Lightning.

White had a bye into the championship game on the merit of their quarterfinal win, but last week Blue had to win their way to the championship game, and had to go through the Morewood Monkeys to do it.

They did so handily, posting a 10-7 win.

Blue was first on the board and held the lead throughout the entire game.

The combined efforts of Justin Elliott and Connor Hodgson accounted for every one of Blue’s goals of their four-goal first period. 

Elliott went on to record a six point night with three goals and three assists. Hodgson had a four-point night with two goals and two assists. 

Chris Embry had a three goal night for the Monkeys, in their losing effort.

In other action, a last minute goal gave the Red Rockets a 9-8 win over White Lightning. The game winning goal was scored by Chad McMillan. It was his second of the night. Darrel Moore posted a team-leading seven point night with four goals and three assists.

Thursday night the consolation game will pit the Monkeys against the Rockets.

[…]