Buster Davy made his return to the One-club Wonder golf tournament a memorable one this past Sunday, as he carved out a two-stroke victory over defending champion Vic Istchenko.

Davy's round of 85 is believed by those responsible for organizing the tournament to be the lowest in its nine year history.

Playing with a six iron named after a city in Ohio, Davy's smooth southpaw swing brought him through the opening nine holes with a very respectable 44. He closed the round out in style by fashioning a 41 on the backside.

Ever the perfectionist, Davy, winner of this tournament in 1997 and 2001, was reluctant to bask in the glow of his victory but, rather, was heard to bemoan a pathetic effort to drain a 16-inch putt on the thirteenth hole.

The day was marked by beautiful weather and wonderful conditions on the storied Mountain View links. Play was close, with Davy finding himself joined in the rarified 80s by fellow sandbaggers Istchenko (87), Rob Dunn (89), Don Morrison (89) and Greg Wagstaff (89).

There were other names in the game some large like Michael and Malcolm and others small like Al, Dave and Ron. Perhaps the most remarkable among them was Matthew Sills, who rode his seven iron to a 94 and, with it, a net score of 67.

No one else came within a whisper of Sills as the next lowest net scores, turned in by Davy and Dunn, were a full nine strokes back.

This caused much comment among his fellow One-club Wonder competitors, since Sills is far more familiar with scorecards in the triple digits and that's when he's carrying a full bag of clubs.

Tournament officials are mindful of the wonderful tradition of this event, and are not easily swayed when suggestions for change are received. As always, there are suggestions made on the periphery that consideration be given, to allowing competitors to use a putter on the course's greens.

The chair of the rules committee, when apprised of this chatter, responded thoughtfully, 'No, it is not going to happen. It is a one-club tournament.

'What part of the word one' are they having difficulty understanding?'

Also, the rather cold fact of the matter is that 90 per cent of the participants record better putting results when only carrying one club, than when they have access to the usual flat stick.

There were five players who recorded 30 putts for the round and only one who had over 39.

A putt-off took place between the low-enders, and Michael Brooks bested the rest to assume bragging rights for the year ahead.

The day closed on a high note, as the inaugural yellow sweater was brought out and presented to the new champion, Davy, by past the champion, Istchenko.

Tournament organizers hope that establishing a rite such as that found at the Masters, with the green jacket, will help elevate their event to a new level.

So, as not to protect the innocent, the complete results, showing gross and net scores (in brackets), are as follows:

Buster Davy, 85(76)

Vic Istchenko, 87(83)

Rob Dunn, 89(76)

Don Morrison, 89(78)

Greg Wagstaff, 89(81)

Glen Slonski, 91(82)

Eric Stang, 91(82)

Michael Brooks, 92(82)

Matthew Sills, 94(67)

Patrick Michael, 94(77)

Emile Aubichon, 97(85)

Sean Campbell, 97(88)

Hugh Carruthers, 98(86)

Chris Dunn, 99(86)

Peter McPeake, 100(84)

Gary Hewitt, 101(77)

Jim Pollack, 101(77)

Wayne McLennan, 102(93)

Dave Griffiths, 102(90)

Kent Davy, 104(77)

Malcolm McLellan, 104(90)

Russ Smoler, 104(77)

John Spicer, 105(82)

Barry Mole, 106(93)

Mark Pike, 109(92)

Wally Hidinger, 111(88)

Arden Meyer, 112(89)

Al Fozard, 114(94)

Ron Gorrell, 116(94)

Albert Rock, 125(98)