Thierry Martine (left) easily captured the title at the Osoyoos Golf Club’s 2015 Rattlesnake Men’s Open this past weekend. Jamin Fiest captured the Low Net trophy. Both young men play out of Fairview Golf Course in Oliver. (Photo supplied)
Getting off to a great start in a round of golf accomplishes many things. The player’s confidence grows, they feel good about their game and start thinking positive thoughts about what they can score in the round.
For Thierry Martine, a quick start meant everything this past weekend in the Rattlesnake Open, the biggest open event at the Osoyoos Golf Club each year.
“I started off with birdie-birdie yesterday (Saturday) so I was two-under right off the start. Then today (Sunday) I started off with a birdie as well,” explained Martine. “They were holes you should birdie, but it’s always nice to kick off the round with a couple of birdies right off the bat.”
Thierry’s quick start on both days propelled him to a rather comfortable victory in the prestigious tournament, which attracted more than 160 golfers from across the South Okanagan, other parts of B.C. and even a few from out of province.
Martine fired a three-under-par 68 Saturday on the par-71 Desert Gold layout, then followed up with a 69 on the par-72 Park Meadows course Sunday.
Martine’s 137 total left him seven shots ahead of runner-up Greg Bismeyer, who shot rounds of 74 and 70 for a 144 total.
“It’s a big tournament and a lot of good players come out for this,” said Martine, moments after receiving congratulations from his group and walking off the course. “It’s always a lot of fun to play some good, competitive golf against good golfers. And obviously, coming out on top is a big plus.”
Also a big plus, is having a hot putter, and Martine was very efficient on the greens all weekend. Despite shooting a sizzling 68 Saturday, Martine’s score could have been much lower considering at least three putts narrowly missed dropping.
Spring weather is nothing you can carve in stone and that was the case last weekend.
Saturday was miserable – cold and windy, and jacket weather, while Sunday provided sunshine, warmer temperatures and allowed players to test their game in perfect golf conditions.
“You can definitely start swinging a bit free-er when it’s hot like this. When it’s cold, you’ve got all the layers on and it’s tough to swing. You kind of just try to survive in weather like that,” said Martine. “Today was awesome, you were able to hit the ball wherever you wanted it, the wind wasn’t going to do too much to it. It’s always nice to be out on a day like this.”
By Sunday afternoon, the sight was reminiscent of a major tournament.
Osoyoos Golf Club’s southwestern-style clubhouse, and the grounds surrounding the 18th green, were jammed with golfers and patrons as the final group walked up 18.
By that point, the tournament’s winner was no longer in doubt.
“Today I made a few key putts early in the round. Yesterday, I was making some good putts and making some good up and downs,” said Martine, a former captain with the Osoyoos Coyotes, who led them to a Kootenay International Junior Hockey League title five years ago. “Drive for show, putt for dough. And the putter was working.”
“Champ!” called out a nearby golfer as Thierry was wrapping up his post-round interview.
It was at that point Martine developed an ear-to-ear grin. He could now relax with a Rattlesnake Open title safely tucked into his back pocket along with his golf glove.
Osoyoos Golf Club assistant pro Andrew Goncalves had rounds of 72 and 73 for a 145 total, while Taylor Callens had the fourth low-gross score with a 149 total, after rounds of 74 and 75.
Roddy Saarinen was the low net winner with rounds of 74 and 75 for a 149 low gross total, and a 141 low net, two shots better than Stewart Boldt.
The Rattlesnake Open was a qualifying event for the B.C. Men’s Mid Amateur Order of Merit.
Fairview Mountain Golf Club is getting set to host the B.C. Men’s Amateur Golf Championship in mid-July, while Osoyoos Golf Club will host the B.C. Junior Boys Championship July 7-10.
DALE CORY
Special to the Times
