Brad Fritsch is hoping this could be his week. The Manotick pro has reason to believe.
The 26-year-old is coming off his best finish ever on the Canadian Tour, a tie for fifth at the Telus Edmonton Open (his previous best was a couple of weeks ago in Victoria where he finished T6).
He cashed his second biggest cheque ($5,070, about $600 less than he got in Victoria), and now he's pumped for the Canadian Tour event next week in Montreal.
"I feel close to winning," he said as he stopped here before heading off to Montreal next week for the resurrected Montreal Open. "I'd love to get into the Canadian Open and if I could get in there on a roll, who knows what could happen?"
Fritsch needs to win to get one of the exemptions in the Bell Canadian Open offered to the Canadian Tour's top money winners.
He's currently 38th on the Order of Merit with $13,149 and only the top six and the next two highest-ranked Canadians get exemptions.
HONOUR ROLL: Bonnie Wolff tops the list this week, thanks to her sizzling, course-record 67 at Predator at Greyhawk to win the CLGA's women's district championship. The Carleton Golf and Yacht Club member had a two-round total of 148, four shots ahead of defending champ Leigh-Ann Ellis of Brockville. Susan Pearl of Rideauview and Diane Dolan of Tecumseh tied for third at 153. Low net went to Arnprior's Chris Lafortune at 140 ... Nationview's Brad Mayhew won the OVGA's City and District B Class Championship with a 73 at Greensmere and a 36-hole total of 156 (the first round was at Mont Cascades). That was good for a one-shot victory over Rene Pinard Jr. of Tecumseh (82-75--157). Rounding out the top 10 were T.J. Barber of Smiths Falls (83-76--159), Bill Coulter of Glen Mar (79-80--159), Tim McCooeye of Glen Mar (87-74--161), Bob Dickson of Smiths Falls (86-75--161), Bob Brady of Tecumseh (86-76--162), Gilles Cote of Tecumseh (88-74--162), Howard Radford of Smiths Falls (86-76--162) and Ray Kulchyski of Smiths Falls (90-74--164). Winners in the handicap divisions were: 12-14, Mike Andersen of Mont Cascades (83-77--160) and 15+, Tim Beach of Edgewood (84-84--168).
CHIP-INS: The recipients for this year's Serge Giroux Golf Dream trip to Orlando are Christine Mulvihill, 16, of Ottawa, Vincent Jean-D'Aoust, 13, of Gatineau and Kieran Thompson, 13, of Greely. All three were chosen for their "determination and inspiring spirit while battling their illnesses" by the Golf Dream Classic Committee. This year's fundraiser, sponsored by Cisco Systems of Canada, AT&T Global Services Canada and the Rautins-House Celebrity Charity Classic, will be played Aug. 3 at Rivermead. The annual tournament sends children who are battling serious health issues, and their families to Florida every year. The funds will be used to send the kids and their families to Orlando in October to see Tiger Woods play, meet Canadian pro Ian Leggatt, play some golf and visit Orlando's theme parks.
JUNIOR ROUNDUP: River Allen of Ottawa and Patrick Sears of Kanata have been selected to play in the CJGA's PING Canadian Junior Match Play Championship Aug. 9-12 at Cherry Downs in Pickering. Allen, 16, is in the boys' 14-16 division and Sears, 17, is in the 17-19 group ... Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls finished T30 (77-78-80) at the prestigious Callaway Junior Golf Championships in San Diego last week.
FROM THE FRINGE: An Antique Golf Festival is being held in South Dundas this weekend. Today, antiques and memorabilia will be on display at the Iroquois Golf Club (9 a.m.-3 p.m.), a 9-hole antique golf and BBQ will be held at Cloverdale Links starting at 3 p.m. (with antique prices, too; please call ahead, 774-0076), and a modern skills competition "in an antique setting" will be held at Parker's Driving Range (10 a.m.-noon). Tomorrow's events include a mixed two-ball tournament at Cedar Glen and a BBQ supper starting at 2 p.m. (please call ahead, 535-2323). The events are part of the annual Antique Fest, which includes an antique car, truck and boat show (www.southdundaschamber.com).
chris.stevenson@ott.sunpub.com
