The first marquee event of the year at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club attracted 73 golfers on a blustery Victoria Day.
The Marv Symons Memorial Tournament saw champions crowned in three separate divisions. Cody Balon shot a two-under-par 70 to win the men’s championship flight, and finish two strokes ahead of Nolan Rohatyn and Marcus Friess.
Mike Ross won the senior men’s championship flight with a 1-under-par 71 to finish two strokes better than Scott Blackstock.
And Linda Murhpy had a 17-over-par 89 to win the women’s championship flight by six over Dawn Ramstead.
Balon said he had to grind his way to the winning score.
“If you ask anyone from my group, it wasn’t a 70 round,” said Balon. “But things just started to click, and I made a few putts, and I got lucky on a few shots.”
It was his first round of the year, too, so Balon wasn’t expecting to play as well as he did. Balon’s foursome started on the back nine, and after he had a few holes under his belt, he felt more comfortable.
He was really impressed with the shape of the course, too.
“Bob (superintendent Bob Currie) and his crew do a great job every year, but for May, the course is immaculate. It’s beautiful right now,” said Balon.
Ross said the tournament marked a turnaround for his game. He has been out about 15 times so far this year, and said he has been struggling a bit this season, so he was happy to leave with a victory in the tournament.
“I hit the ball solid and putted well,” said Ross. “The course was in good shape.”
Murphy said she had some consistency hitting the ball from tee box, so that left her in a good position for her approach shots.
“I wouldn’t say putting was my strong suit today, but it wasn’t horrible,” she said with a laugh.
She was also part of a good group that had five players, which is a little unusual, she said, but it was a better option than having two smaller groups.
Winning the tournament is always a great way to start the season, she said. It is typically her first 18-hole round of the year, and she echoed the praise for the course conditions from Balon and Ross.
Other flight results from the tournament were: Jim Larter won the men’s first flight with an 81, defeating Tony Heath via a count-back. Braden Lonsberry was third with an 82.
Ryan Larter won the men’s second flight with a 92, one stroke better than Brett Erickson and Blaine Fichter.
Ed Demas won the senior men’s first flight with an 86, one shot better than Terry Rohatyn.
The tournament is named after Symons, a community leader and local entrepreneur who ran the Beefeater/Days Inn hotel and other businesses in the city, and also served as an alderman with Estevan city council.
