Smurlick and Divok prevail in Champions seniors events
Freedom Oak’s Sarah-Anne Smurlick won the Champions of Champions senior ladies division in a playoff over Theresa Holmes from Niagara National.
Sarah Anne Smurlick had an adventure-filled day Saturday at the 72nd Annual Walt McCollum Niagara District Champion of Champions golf tournament at Grand Niagara.
“I had a real highlight on the second hole,” the 58-year-old Dunnville resident said. “I made a hole in one, my seventh, and then I got on a bit of bogey streak. It was cold, it was slow but I ended up in a playoff and I managed. I thought on the first playoff hole that I was doomed but I survived and then I won on the second.”
Niagara National’s Theresa Holmes, who tied Smurlick after regulation play with an 84, needed a two putt from eight feet out to win but she ended up three putting and Smurlick took advantage on the next hole.
“I thought it was over but I two putted from 30 feet away and then she had a bit of misfortune on the second hole,” she said.
Smurlick wintered in Arizona so she might have had bit of advantage on some of her competitors. She returned this past Wednesday and played a few holes on her home course Thursday and Friday before coming to the event.
“I thought Barb Brown was the person to beat but I thought maybe I had a chance,” she said. “I have played this course a few times over the years with the GTA amateur tour and other different leagues.”
Smurlick almost didn’t make it to Grand Niagara Saturday, thinking the event was still being staged at Niagara National. Niagara National was supposed to host the event last year but course conditions forced the cancellation of the event.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t go to the wrong course this morning,” she said, with a laugh.
SENIOR MEN’S DIVISION
After playing in the Champion of Champions tournament a handful of times without success, Rockway Vineyards’ Derek Divok finally got his inaugural Champions title Saturday at Grand Niagara.
“It feels very good,” the 61-year-old retired salesman said. “When you can beat all your peers and your friends and stuff, it is nice.”
It is the biggest tournament Divok has won in his career, since winning an event at Pike Lake.
“It is a course north of Guelph and my dad and I used to go there all the time. They get 220 guys and I happened to win low gross one year. I have been going there for 45 years and my percentage of wins there is very low but at least I won it.”
Divok is still a long way away from catching his wife Betty in Champion of Champions victories. She has won five times, three times in the open division and twice at the senior level. Betty was supposed to play Saturday but was sidelined with a rotator cuff injury.
“Now I have to keep trying to catch her,” Derek said, with a laugh.
He had an up and down round Saturday.
“I made a couple of double bogeys which deflated me in a couple of situations but I had three birdies which was nice. The birdies always make up for the odd double.”
His putting was key to his win.
“I am not used to putting on greens that fast and it was really great. It reminded me of my old days at Hunters Pointe,” he said. “The rough was wet but if you hit it in the fairway, which I didn’t, the course was great,” the 2.8 handicapper said.
Saturday’s round was his fifth of the season.
“It’s tough to play tournament golf so early but we went to Mexico for three weeks in early March.”
SENIOR LADIES RESULTS
Sarah-Anne Smurlick, Freedom Oaks 84 (won on second playoff hole)
Theresa Holmes, Niagara National 84
Cindy Wegg, Rockway Vineyards 88
Barb Brown, Port Colborne 93
Susie Sexton, Sawmill 96
Sue MacKenzie, St. Catharines 97
Shellee Niznik, Twenty Valley 99
Julie Zulik, Bridgewater 101
Sue Labile, Niagara Falls 101
Martha Cruikshank, NOTL 102
Bev Parker, Long Beach 120
Janet Tone, Cardinal Lakes WD
Kim Bryanton, Whiskey Run WD
SENIOR MEN’S RESULTS
Derek Divok, Rockway Vineyards 76
Mike Persia, Twenty Valley 78
Rick Kozarichuk, Sawmill 78
Brian Brushett, St. Catharines 81
Michael Cottenden, Grand Niagara 83
Mark McBride, Cherry Hill 83
Roger Perry, Cardinal Lakes 84
Mike Pogor, Lookout Point 84
Harry Janzen, Niagara Falls 85
Roger Arsenault, Whiskey Run 85
Gary DesRoches, Willodell 85
Jim Panetta , Niagara-on-the-Lake 86
Fred LaSelva, Rolling Meadows 89
Mark Fleguel, Freedom Oaks 89
Gary McDonald, Niagara National 91
Bill Urquhart, Beechwood 92
Tom Briggs, Long Beach 100
PAST CHAMPIONS
SENIOR MEN’S DIVISION
1971: Joe Leigh, Dunnville
1972: Lloyd Rundle, St. Catharines
1973: Bill Dolishney, Riverview
1974: George Wiemert, Cherry Hill
1975: George Wiemert, Cherry Hill
1976: Al Derbyshire, Niagara-on-the-Lake
1977: No tournament
1978: George Wiemert, Cherry Hill
1979: George Wiemert, Cherry Hill
1980: Al Derbyshire, Niagara-on-the-Lake
1981: Al Spear, Bridgewater
1982: Frank Boychuk, Twenty Valley
1983: George Wiemert, Cherry Hill
1984: Sandy Middleton, Willodell
1985: John Watson, Twenty Valley
1986: Stan Luke, Westbrook
1987: Doug Garrett, Queenston
1988: John Benko, Highlands
1989: John Benko, Highlands
1990: John Benko, Highlands
1991: John Benko, Highlands
1992: Glen Keffer, Lookout Point
1993: Glen Keffer, Lookout Point
1994: Mike Lococo, Rockway Glen
1995: Glen Keffer, Lookout Point
1996: Gerry Pelletier, Beechwood
1997: Al Shaw, Lookout Point
1998: Bill Bockel, Bridgewater
1999: Bob Jarvis, Rockway Glen
2000: Glen Keffer, Lookout Point’
2001: Les Westlake, Hunters Pointe
2002: Don McQuaig, Bridgewater
2003: Chris Nicolaou, Welland
2004: Chris Nicolaou, Pelham Hills
2005: Woody McKaig, Lookout Point
2006: Don McQuaig, Bridgewater
2007: Tom Yurcich, St. Catharines
2008: Glenn Edmonds, Willodell
2009: Des Brady, Lookout Point
2010: Bob Goss, Port Colborne
2011: Des Brady, Lookout Point
2012: Elmer Debenedet, Willodell
2013: Des Brady, Lookout Point
2014: Tony Ravenda, Riverview
2015: Larry Anderson, Hunters Pointe
2016: Jim Briggs, Peninsula Lakes
2017: Bob Goss, Port Colborne
2018: Bernie Bodogh, St. Catharines
2019: Bernie Bodogh, St. Catharines
2020: Des Brady, Lookout Point
SENIOR LADIES DIVISION
1972: Dorothy Turner, Twenty Valley
1973: Helen Chyplik, St. Catharines
1974: Helen Chyplik, St. Catharines
1975: Fran Neufeld, Lookout Point
1976: Joan Crane, Cherry Hill
1977: No tournament
1978: Fran Neufeld, Lookout Point
1979: Fran Neufeld, Lookout Point
1980: Lolly Lenahan, Cherry Hill
1981: Lolly Lenahan, Cherry Hill
1982: Kay McNiven, Twenty Valley
1983: Lolly Lenahan, Cherry Hill
1984: Joan Crane, Cherry Hill
1985: Bobbie Evans, Port Colborne
1986: Orlean Foster, Twenty Valley
1987: Helen Chyplik, St. Catharines
1988: Simone Hutchinson, St. Catharines
1989: Lilly Thorsen, Port Colborne
1990: Lolly Lenahan, Cherry Hill
1991: Ann Campbell, Cherry Hill
1992: Lolly Lenahan, Cherry Hill
1993: Lana Sharpe, Port Colborne
1994: Lana Sharpe, Port Colborne
1995: Katie McKenzie, Peninsula Lakes
1996: Claire Moeschler, Cherry Hill
1997: Claire Moeschler, Cherry Hill
1998: Orlean Foster, Twenty Valley
1999: Claire Moeschler, Cherry Hill
2000: Olga Young, Rolling Meadows
2001: Marge Rae, Port Colborne
2002: Olga Young, Rolling Meadows
2003: Dale Lauzon, Sparrow Lakes
2004: Nancy Wilson, Port Colborne
2005: Cathy Moore, St. Catharines
2006: Linda Townsend, Lookout Point
2007: Sharon Townsend, Peninsula Lakes
2008: Marg Litalien, Pelham Hills
2009: Karen Debenedet, Peninsula Lakes
2010: Karen Debenedet, Peninsula Lakes
2011: Mary Beth Blackman, Rolling Meadows
2012: Jeanne Glavac, Lookout Point
2013: Anne Moss, Hunters Pointe
2014: Theresa Holmes, Rio Vista
2015: Betty Divok, Hunters Pointe
2016: Betty Divok, Hunters Pointe
2017: Sandra Billyard, Port Colborne
2018: Barb Brown, Port Colborne
2019: Sandra Billyard, Port Colborne
2020: Sandra Billyard, Port Colborne
