After course record tying 63’s on day
one, Seymour Creek’s Bryn Parry
and Victoria based Canadian Tour Pro
Stuart Anderson battled back and
forth on Sunday to decide the 2009
Guildford Open Champion in classic
style.
After round one on this newly
resurrected event, there were a total of
a dozen Professionals who carded 68 (-4)
or better. Round two was a birdie
shoot-out for those within a handful of
shots of the lead, but none were up to
the challenge of Anderson and Parry on
this day.
Going down to the final hole, Parry and
Anderson were tied at 14 under par.
After staying level with each other at
-11 at the turn, it was Anderson who
took the lead with a birdie on the par 4
- 10th. Both Parry and Anderson then
birdied the par 5 - 11th to keep
Anderson 1-up on the day and 13 under
par for the tournament. Parry was the
next to make his move with birdies on #
13 and #14 to get to -14 and a one shot
lead with 4 to play. This see-saw battle
didn’t end here however as the 31
year-old Alberta born Anderson birdied
the tough 15th to bring this tournament
dead even at -14 with three to play.
After pars on 16 and 17 by both players,
this tournament would ultimately be
decided either on the 18th or in extra
holes.
After both Anderson and Parry split the
425 yard par four fairway with their
drives, they were left with short iron
approaches to a well guarded pin,
surrounded by a gallery of 50-60 who
were privy to this excellent display of
golf. Anderson first to play, he took
dead aim and made a great shot into the
flag, some 12 feet below the hole. Parry
was next to play and his iron shot
covered the identical line as Anderson’s
and spun back to within 6 inches of
Anderson’s ball. He would be first to
play.
Parry carefully studied his 12 ½ footer
that would have put the pressure
squarely on the shoulders of Anderson if
it went in. He stroked the ball smoothly
up the hill but his putt just wouldn’t
take the break as he had expected and he
would tap in for his par at minus 14 for
the Championship. All gallery eyes now
laid on Anderson- playoff or not?
Anderson coolly stepped up and drained
his 12 footer in the heart of the hole
to win this exciting Championship by one
shot at -15 for 36 holes. Some fantastic
golf on this bogey-free tournament which
consisted of 11 birdies and 2 eagles
over the 2 days.
Anderson was interviewed after the
tournament and was quick to thank his
sponsor Laurie Guthrie of Fort
McMurry, Alberta for giving him the
opportunity to play on the Canadian Tour
and pursue his dreams of making it to
the PGA Tour. He also thanked
Guildford’s Head Professional Dan
Swanson for re-vitalizing the Guildford
Open event and partnering it with the
Vancouver Golf Tour.
Anderson has been a member of the
Canadian Tour since 2001 and he has been
getting better each year he has been out
there. His first win came in 2005 at the
Foster Farms California Classic and his
second the following year at the
Canadian Tour Championship, vaulting him
to 11th on the 2006 Rolex Order of
Merit. Since then, Anderson has become a
steady player on the Canadian Tour,
posting a number of top 5 and 10
finishes in ’07 and ’08 and continues to
show his consistency with 5 top 20
finishes this year on tour including two
top 5 finishes. Anderson’s focus will be
to continue the remainder of the Cantour
schedule which kicks off again this week
in Calgary at the ATB Financial Classic.
If his Cantour schedule will permit,
Anderson plans to re-join VGT at the
Vancouver Open Championship on
Sept.13-15th at Fraserview, Langara and
McCleery Golf Courses. He will then head
down to PGA Tour Qualifying School in
the fall.
VGT would like to congratulate Stuart
Anderson on his dramatic win at the 2009
GUILFORD OPEN as well as to all of the
other Professionals and Amateurs who
made it to the winner’s circle this
weekend. Twenty-five players in the
field broke par for 36 holes which is a
true testament to all the great golfers
that are developing on the Vancouver
Golf Tour!!
For full results and Order of Merit
Standings, please click below:
GUILDFORD OPEN IMAGES (click
middle preview for full size image)
After round one on this newly
resurrected event, there were a total of
a dozen Professionals who carded 68 (-4)
or better. Round two was a birdie
shoot-out for those within a handful of
shots of the lead, but none were up to
the challenge of Anderson and Parry on
this day.
