Vic Istchenko returned from the golf wilderness this past Saturday to reclaim the championship trophy at the One Club Wonder Golf Tournament.

Istchenko posted an 89 for a one stroke victory over hard charging Barry Davidson and a three stroke margin over his perennial nemesis, Blaine Tessier.

Putting made the difference as Istchenko and Davidson both came in with a tournament low total of 25 putts and Tessier, the champion for the past two years, put himself out of contention needing 36 strokes to hole the ball on the undulating greens of the Mountain View Golf Course.

This was the 12th annual One Club Wonder and, in the style of a pro-am event, featured 32 players with handicaps ranging from 0 to 27.

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 yellow sweater by its champion. This moment is as treasured as that with the green jacket at the Masters.

The only substantial differences are the howls of derision that rise from the multitude at the time of the award of the yellow sweater and the sobering thought that the champion must care for it for the remainder of the year.

Tessier admitted that, although severely disappointed by the loss, the absence of the sweater from his life was not going to be greatly regretted.

Davidson did not go home empty handed as he captured the low net victory with a 78. This proved to be squeaker as Gary Potter came in with the same score and the winner had to be determined by a count back (i.e. comparing scores between the two players counting backwards from the 18th hole played until one player wins a hole).

The advantage to being the low net winner is the receipt of a much larger trophy than that given to the low gross winner and there being no tasteless additions to the wardrobe.

Returning to the grizzled veteran Istchenko, it need be noted that he first won this tournament in 1998 and returned to the podium in both 2003 and 2004.

He clearly begrudged the passing of the mantel to the younger and, seemingly, more talented Tessier and had brought himself back to a level of fitness and trimness that was but a dim memory for most of his colleagues.

Like Casey at the bat, he ventured forth with his trusty seven iron to regain the glory of those past triumphs.

That trusty seven iron, however, demonstrated signs of schizophrenia. It, at times, proved to be a source of great joy yielding birdies at Holes 14 and 6 along with four pars.

Then, as if it seemed necessary to instill some humility in the owner, it would betray him - witness the triple bogey on Hole 10 and the quadruple on Hole 3.

This made for an exciting match between he and Tessier who went out together in the final foursome.

Observers, largely made up of pine cone gathering squirrels, were treated to a day of little flow but great ebbs.

By the fifth hole Tessier had grabbed a five stroke lead. He, being of a magnanimous nature, gave it all back on the next two holes and, then, to add injury to insult, lost a stroke on each of the remaining holes on the first nine to go three down at the turn.

Continuing the generosity he carded an eight on Hole 1, the first of the back nine, and a six on Hole 2.

The result was that he was six down with seven holes to go.

Istchenko promptly looked deep into the mouth of this gift horse and donated back five strokes over the next three holes. Some of this was to the credit of Tessier who fashioned a birdie for himself on the tough fifth hole.

The TSN turning point occurred on the sixth hole which Istchenko birdied and Tessier bogeyed. They played out the remaining three holes evenly and it appeared to be all over but the bragging.

There was, however, one last piece of business and that had to do with the redoubtable Davidson who had quietly put together a tidy round of pars, bogeys and no worse than the occasional double.

Although he had suffered a five on the par three fifth hole he could see from the leader board that glory could still be his. He pulled himself together and crafted pars on the three of the last four holes bringing himself to within a stroke of the leader.

Fortune did not continue to smile on him as he could do no better than a bogey on the last hole leaving him, as the saying goes, smooching his sister.

Overall, the course seemed to be playing a bit tougher this year as only one player broke 90 and 10 others broke 100 as compared to four and 12 in 2007.

The average score leapt to 103 from last year's 100. Speculation was rampant as to the reasons for the drop in quality of play. Weather was ruled out as it was a pleasant day without excessive heat and no more than the normal wind gusts.

Also, none of the players seemed to be suffering from dehydration. Organizers have determined that further study is warranted and are beginning planning for the 13th One Club Wonder in 2009.

Organizers were greatly pleased that 32 of those registered turned out for the tournament and encourage those who didn't show to renew their supply of memory pills.

Special thanks are due to the Mountain View golf course and its employees, in particular, the club pro, Jeff Wiggins, and the club superintendent, Mick Nychka, for the cooperation and good humour they exhibited throughout both the planning and the playing of the tournament.

This special report filed directly from the Mountain View Golf Course by Nat Stremy.