19 competitors to battle it out at 20th Sandbagger
A quick update on how things are shaping up for the 20th year of Sandbagger…
Defending champion Michel ‘Shiv” Ranger has been polishing the Pewter Mug and counting the sleeps until he has to relinquish the coveted trophy.
Champion Michel Ranger humbly acknowledges adoring crowd, 2014
For our milestone 20th year, we have one of our largest fields yet, including 8 former champions. Will this be the year for a first-time winner or will a wily veteran who understands how to deal with the incredible pressure walk away with the cherished chalice once again? (Quick bit of trivia: no one has won the Mug 3 times but four of this year’s competitors have won it twice.)
Tee times for up to 20 participants have been booked for our Saturday (Smiths Falls) and Sunday (Perth) Sandbagger rounds. With a few recent confirmations — welcome Greg Hodgins, Bruce Murdock, Jack Pantalone and Andres del Castillo — we now have the following 19 confirmed for competitive play on the weekend:
Anderson, Doug (tentatively in)
Anderson, Jim (1997 and 2008 Champion)
Arbique, Brian (2005 Champion)
Bonnar, Brian (2001 Champion)
Cunliffe, Ricky (1999 and 2009 Champion)
del Castillo, Andrés (click on name to see videos!)
Hockley, Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Jarvis, Greg (2006 and 2012 Champion)
Joe, Brian (Sunday round TBC)
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Mains, Jeff
McMahon, Steve (2004 and 2013 Champion)
Murdock, Bruce (bridesmaid revisited)
Pantalone, Jack
Posthumus, Andrew (2010 Champion)
Ranger, Michel (2015 Champion)
Riccoboni, Lou
Still to be Determined
Boychuk, Brian (2011 champion)
Oliver, Geoff (2000 Champion)
Regrettably Unavailable
Feschuk, Scott (doesn’t like us enough)
Hogeveen, Richard (2007 champion; in-laws in-country)
Laframboise, Guy (wishes us well)
Mooney, Brent (1996 Champion; European travels)
Smith, Graham (2002, 2003 champion – the only back-to-back SB winner)
Friday Round
As usual, we have a relaxed round scheduled for Friday for those who are available and in need up a tune-up. The first group will tee off at 130 pm, at Lombard Glen. The following 10 are confirmed. (Tee-times have been reserved for 12 golfers.)
Anderson, Jim
Cunliffe, Rick
del Castillo, Andres
Hockley, Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Jarvis, Greg
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Murdock, Bruce
Ranger, Michel
If you want to golf in the warm-up round but don’t see your name above, please let me know.
Please remember to keep me informed of your status (including any changes), so we can be sure to have enough tee-times, accommodation, food, bibs, alcohol, buckets, etc. We will be dividing up between the cottages of our wonderful and charming hosts Rick Cunliffe and Jeff Mains. Which reminds me…two-time winner Ricky has established two personal bests (89, then 87) this year…and Andy del Castillo registered his own personal best (an 82) on August 20.