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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Walker Captures Early Bird Title
May 22, 2006 | Men's Golf
May 22, 2006
ST. THOMAS, Ont. - Jace Walker, a member of the Bowling Green State University men's golf team, carded a 70-78, at the Early Bird tournament in St. Thomas, Ontario, to capture individual honors. The current sophomore recorded birdies on the final two holes for a one-stroke victory.
This is not the first time a Falcon has won this tournament. Last season Dan McIntyre captured the tournament crown, and back in 1993 current head coach Garry Winger earned medalist honors.
Trevor Spathelf, also a current member of the men's golf team, finished in a tie for third.
Complete Story from the London Free Press By JOHN HERBERT, FREE PRESS GOLF REPORTER
Jace Walker is more than just a chip off the old block. The 20-year-old St. Thomas golfer yesterday became the first member of the Walker family to win the Early Bird golf tournament and he did it in spectacular fashion with birdies on the final two holes.
"Would it be improper to say I'm proud?" offered grandfather Doug Walker Sr.
"I'm extremely thrilled and proud," said father Doug Walker Jr., the tournament's chairperson. "It's something he wanted big-time."
Walker, who attends Bowling Green State University in Ohio, shot 70-78 for a four-over-par total of 148 on a cold and windy afternoon at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club -- his home course. He won by a shot over Scott Hickerson of Mississauaga.
A former University of Western Ontario team member, Hickerson played in the final threesome with Walker -- shooting 74-75 for 149. Nick Kenney of Islington, Mark Sommerfeld of Waterloo and Trevor Spathelf shared third place at 151.
The Walker family has a judge (Doug Sr.); a crown attorney (Doug Jr.) and now an Early Bird champion.
Doug, Sr. has played in the Early Bird since the early 1950s.
Doug Jr. has come close over the years with second, third and fourth-place finishes. Yesterday, Doug Jr. played in the B flight for 3-4 handicappers and finished second to Randy Robbins.
The entire Walker family was in the gallery yesterday watching Jace become the first hometown players to win the Early Bird since Jim Waite in 1971. Don Anderson, Don Pullen and Bill Finlay are the other hometown champs.
What the Walkers witnessed was a miraculous finish.
The Bowling Green golfer overcame a collapse on the par-three 13th hole when he fired a shot out of bounds by inches.
Club pro Dan Campbell was unable to tell if the shot was out-of-bounds and used a rope strung between two white out-of-bounds posts to make his ruling. Jace Walker said he made a mistake trying "to cut" a four wood into the green. The ball drifted with strong winds.
Walker contained his emotions and that, he felt, was a key part of his winning.
"I felt pretty down, but there was no point in breaking clubs until after the round," he said.
One by one the challengers stumbled down the backstretch -- including Ontario Amateur champ Graham Hill, who made back-to-back double-bogey sevens on the 14th and 15th holes -- as Jace Walker stepped up his game. After the double bogey on the 13th, he rallied on the par-three 17th, moving into a tie making a 10-foot birdie putt while Hickerson made a bogey. Walker took the lead when he made a 15-footer on the 18th.
"This is my favourite tournament," Walker said. "I'd rather win this than anything else."
Last year he caddied in a playoff for Bowling Green teammate Dan McIntyre, the defending champion, and said that was almost as thrilling.
McIntyre, who shot 82-75 for 157 this year, was on the hill next to the 18th green as Walker won.
"It's awesome," McIntyre said. "I think I'm happier this year than last year."
