Blaine Tessier regained the One Club Wonder championship trophy Saturday with a record-tying round of 77 at the Mountain View Golf Club.

Tessier, 41, won the storied tournament in convincing fashion with a six-stroke victory over second place finisher and low net champion Derek Wirth.

It was a day on which Tessier could do little wrong. Armed only with his trusty eight iron, he shot par on 10 holes and recorded a birdie on both the front and back nine. The sole spot of bother occurred on the 11th hole where a mental lapse led to a double bogey and, in retrospect, a lost chance to set a new tournament record score.

This was clearly redemption writ large for Tessier, who had virtually owned the tournament in the period from 2006 to 2013. He won the championship five times during those eight years and then it all went south for him in 2014.

Vic Istchenko, a frequent weed in Tessier’s golf garden, sparkled in last year’s event, shooting a 77 that bettered Tessier’s previous record of 79.

Complacency had obviously overtaken Tessier and, as Istchenko shone in the 2014 spotlight, Tessier dithered his way through a round that left a horrific 99 recorded in the event’s annals.

Tessier, not deaf to the subsequent judgment and taunting of the chattering classes, made the recovery of himself and his golf game a priority during the past annum.

He is now in superb physical shape and, just to prove the point, ran a leg in the Klondike Road Relay only a few hours before his scheduled tee time at the unique golf tournament.

His golf game has been finely honed as is evident by the drop of three strokes from his handicap of a year ago.

He can now glory in once again displaying the tournament’s low gross championship trophy on his mantelpiece and frequently gadding about in the famed yellow sweater that is passed on to the champion each year.

This sweater, which has now been in use for 11 years, has gained a level of unstated respect similar to that of the green jackets bestowed upon the winners of the Masters (a tournament of equal repute to that of the One Club Wonder which takes place in Georgia each year).

The sole slight diminishment in the scent of this rose is the fact that Istchenko was forced to the sidelines at the last moment due to what he described as “an old hockey injury.”

Disappointment was rife in the swell of onlookers at the loss of a star attraction but that soon dissipated when it was learned that a tournament founder, Dave Griffiths, would be coming off the injury reserve list to take Istchenko’s place.

Many fans of the game also took solace in the thought that they will likely experience Tessier and Istchenko, “The Big Two” as they are commonly titled, facing off again in 2016 on the occasion of the 20th One Club Wonder.

The second star of this year’s tournament was Derek Wirth who won the low net trophy with a net score of 72.

This is a return to the victory podium for Wirth who was also the low net champion in 2010.

Wirth, the superintendent of golf at the club, avoids the radar attracted by the big stars but always seems to be within sniffing distance of the top level.

Excluding 2014, Wirth has not finished lower than sixth place since 2009 and, having achieved second place in the low gross standings this year, some of the smart money will be keeping him in the mix when it comes to setting odds on the winners in future tournaments.

Insiders note that, following Tessier’s example, Wirth has turned to using an eight iron and is obviously wielding it with genius and effect.

Looking further down on the score sheet with an eye to future challengers, prognosticators see potential in Landon Kulych and Nathan Menard.

Kulych, coming off a very successful season in other lesser Yukon golf events, was well back with a penalty plagued round of 85.

However, take off the four penalty strokes and he would have been in second place.

Menard, a newcomer to the tournament, possesses an arresting personality and has a passion for the game that will serve him well in preparing for future One Club Wonder events.

Another member of the Kulych clan – Ron Kulych – was also a newcomer and one who obviously fits in the darkhorse category.

Discerning readers of his scorecard (a 49 on the front and a 42 on the back with five pars) will understand that his overall ninth place finish was the result of a nervous beginning in a prestigious event and that he will be a challenge to handle in the future.

Lastly, it goes without saying that Jeff Wiggins, the Director of Golf/Canadian PGA Head Golf Professional at Mountain View and past champion of the One Club Wonder, is always in the mix and to be considered a threat at any time.

Moving to the second level ­– that being of prospective low net winners – it’s a bit more difficult to predict because so many of these players are yesterday’s gentlemen.

But, given that proviso, informed observers are looking favourably upon Gareth Howells, Lee Hartson, Doug Janzen, Don Coates and Russ Smoler.

The same informed observers advise no one to put any money on this advice.

For those of a statistical bent, the 36 players in the tournament played a total of 648 holes on which 143 pars and eight birdies were recorded. The par-three holes offered up the most opportunity with a total of 50 pars and four birdies.

The birdies of note are those that take place on par-four holes.

In this tournament there were three – Wiggins on the second hole and Tessier and Ken Taylor on the seventh.

Putting is a central feature of this game with all players struggling to master that art with whatever club they are carrying (usually something in the vicinity of a seven iron).

Wirth took the prize for the fewest number of putts – needing only 28.

Gord Zealand, another player of high standard, gave Wirth a run for the prize, placing second with 29 putts.

This was the 19th annual One Club Wonder and, in the style of a pro-am event, the 36 players boasted handicaps ranging from zero to 29.

As the title of the tournament suggests, participants are restricted to one club which must be used for every purpose – driving, iron shots, putting and, if necessary, bottle opening.

The tournament was first played on the back nine by seven players in 1996.

Today, the makeup of the field remains largely a Whitehorse crowd but does have an international flavour with Skagway resident Lee Hartson being a regular participant and another regular, Glen Slonski, travelling in from Atlin, B.C.

By NAT STREMY
Special to the Star