U.S. Team finally prevails at Canadian Hickory Open; Ben Plaunt takes the individual title
Aug. 12, 2017
The Legends GC, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Can.
The 2017 Canadian Open Hickory Championship was held the week of Aug. 7-11. The hickory event included two practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday, a Wednesday Scramble, a Thursday USA/Canada match (Ryder Cup format), and the Friday Championship tournament.
Following 27 holes of friendly competition in Ryder Cup format, the U.S. team, captained by Paul Biocini of Modesto Calif., won for the first time in 15 years. It was a close competition that came down to the final match with the final tally of 25 to 23 points. The four-ball matches featured a hole-in-one for the Canadian team by Chris Ream, which led one wag to observe: “Sure hope he won the hole!”
On Championship Friday, the champions division was won by Ben Plaunt, who eked out a one-stroke victory over runner-up Michael Ream. The Senior Division was won by Paul Biocini with a sterling 5 under par! Paul is on his way to breaking the world’s record for the number of times of shooting one’s age (over 2,600, according to an August 2017 story). He has done that a remarkable 1,650 times. He figures that if he lives 10 more years he may make it!
The Ladies Division featured a repeat win by Fran Looten, the Chinese hickory champion was Edwin Chan, and Dave Racette won the First Nations Division.
Each year in conjunction with the Canadian Open Hickory Championship, The Legends honors an Albertan who has made significant contributions to the game of golf in Alberta. This year’s honoree for the ‘Legends of Alberta Golf’ award was Debbie Amirault.
Debbie, in 2011 became the first woman President of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. Following thirty years as Superintendent at Edmonton’s prestigious Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club she left to take on the recently constructed Les Furber design in Edmonton, The Quarry.
The 2018 Canadian Open Hickory Championship will be held the week of Aug. 6-10. Many come up a few days early for the annual two-day pre-tournament road trip. All are welcome! For information contact Ron Lyons at antiquegolf@shaw.ca, the golf course at 780-449-4911, or check the Legends website at www.legendsgolf.ca.