Blaine Tessier took the championship in the One Club Wonder golf tournament this past Saturday with a four stroke victory over Vic Istchenko. 

Tessier, previously a winner in 2006 and 2007, failed to match his 2007 tournament record of 80 but found an 82 quite adequate to displace Istchenko, last year's victor, who carded an 86.

The difference came on the greens where Tessier was competent with 30 putts and Istchenko ballooned to 35 putts from his 2008 total of 25.

As is often the case, the aging process shows up first in an inability to manage the flat stick or, in this tournament, the seven iron on the greens. 

Tessier, ever a quiet, thoughtful and self-effacing individual, allowed as to how last year's humiliating defeat had led to some self reflection and that he had come to the current event knowing that, "It's in the bag.”

Speaking of bags, fellow competitors were left wondering if Barry Davidson, who repeated as the low net winner with a net score of 75, isn't carrying one filled with sand.

Davidson is becoming a fixture at the event and, if he continues to improve his game, will soon be challenging for the overall championship. His gross score of 87 gave him a third place finish in that regard.

Again, like Tessier, a very humble individual who is sparing with the words, Davidson ventured the thought that , "If this keeps up, I'll soon be owning those trophies.”  

Be that as it may, he will have to keep an eye on his ample rear for an ambitious younger crew including the likes of Gareth Howells, Ken Taylor, Hugh Carruthers and Buster Davy who carded scores of 88, 89, 90 and 91.  They are clearly within shouting distance of the current front runners and have the eyes of the odds makers on them for 2010.

Howells, in particular, is becoming a force to be reckoned with as he improved his position this year to fourth place for low gross and to second place for low net.

It leads observers to wonder how long he will be satisfied with bussing his sibling. 

This was the 13th annual One Club Wonder and, in the style of a pro-am event, featured a record 33 players with handicaps ranging from 3 to 31.

As its title suggests, participants are restricted to one club which must be used for every purpose - driving, iron shots, putting and, if necessary, as a bottle opener.

The tournament also has some venerated traditions such as the donning of the insidious yellow sweater by its champion.

This moment is as treasured as that with the green jacket at the Masters.  In recent years the sweater has virtually become a permanent fixture in the back closets of Messrs, Tessier and Istchenko.

Since 2003, they have each lugged it home three times with the sole interruption being in 2005 when Buster Davy lifted it from their grasp. 

The tournament, which was first played on the back nine by seven players in 1996 has grown to the current 33 players playing the full 18 holes.

The gross and net scores have not changed markedly over that time with the 2009 averages of 102 and 86 being reflective of the eight year averages of 103 and 87.

Excellence of play is difficult to measure with the percentage of players breaking 100 varying from 14 per cent in 2004 to 50 per cent in 2007. It was 39 per cent in this year's event.

As has been mentioned, the record score of 80 was posted by Blaine Tessier in 2007.

The record net score, which has taken on a slightly mythological edge, was the 67 put up by Matthew Sills in 2005.

Sills has become a bit of a legend in this respect as no one else has ever recorded a net score below par let alone at such a superior level.

To demonstrate the enormity of his achievement, the second best net score was the 75 entered by Jim Harris in 2007 and by Barry Davidson this year. 

The number of putts have not been recorded for quite as long but the tendency appears to be to have one or two golfers come in at under 30 putts and someone, who good taste demands remain nameless, to require more than 40.

This year the stellar putter and winner of a substantial cash prize was John Spicer who made his way through the day with only 28 putts.

Organizers paid special thanks to the Mountain View golf course and its employees and, in particular, the club's director of golf, Jeff Wiggins, and the club superintendent, Derek Wirth, for the cooperation and good humour they exhibited throughout both the planning and the playing of the tournament. Further appreciation was expressed by all participants to Derek Wirth and his crew for the superb condition of the course during the entire 2009 season. 

So as not to protect the innocent, the complete results, showing gross and net scores, were:

Blaine Tessier      82(79)

Vic Istchenko       86(79)

Barry Davidson    87(75)

Gareth Howells   88(78)

Ken Taylor      89(79)

Hugh Carruthers   90(82)

Buster Davy     91(81)

Wayne McLennan  93(79)

Tony Gaw       93(79)

Gord Zealand      96(83)

Colin Dawe       97(82)

Mark Pike      99(82)

Michael Brooks     99(87)

Gary Potter     101(83)

Derek Wirth     101(85)

Mark Stephens     103(85)

Matt Sills     104(80)

Barry Mole     104(91)

Robb Dunn     104(91)

Patrick Michael    106(85)

Russ Smoler      107(81)

Dave Griffiths    107(91)

Clint Carpentier    107(96)

John Spicer      108(86)

Dean Mackay      108(88)

Stu Mackay     108(93)

Steve Fraser      111(93)

Terry Bidniak     112(96)

Al Fozard     113(93)

Wally Hidinger     114(89)

Roy Slade     114(92)

Richard Zral     116(85)

Gary Acorn     116(102)

A special report filed by Nat Stremy.