Tom Moran takes his first swing of the tournament on Saturday at the Osoyoos Golf Club’s annual Rattlesnake Open. A full field of 200 golfers participated in this year’s event. (Trevor Nichols photo)
A talented Kelowna golfer who will be trying to earn the right to play professionally on the Canadian Professional Golf Association (CPGA) tour this season has added the Osoyoos Golf Club’s Rattlesnake Open to his impressive trophy chest.
William Deck, 24, captured the Rattlesnake Open championship on Sunday afternoon at the Osoyoos Golf Club as he defeated Greg Bismeyer of Mission in a sudden-death playoff.
A full field of 200 golfers registered for the popular tournament, that draws golfers from across all of B.C. as well as several from Alberta and Washington State.
Deck managed to par the 18th hole at the Park Meadow course in the extra hole, while Bismeyer couldn’t recover from a wayward drive that landed in the trees and ended up with a bogey.
Deck, who plays and is a member of the grounds crew at the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, said he thoroughly enjoyed playing in his first Rattlesnake Open in Osoyoos.
“It was my first time in Osoyoos and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “The course was in great shape and the competition was really good.”
Deck fired an opening round 74 on the Desert Gold course on Saturday and followed that up with a one-under par 71 on Sunday.
He was leading by a stroke heading into the final hole, but didn’t hit a good drive and ended up with bogey, forcing the sudden-death playoff against Bismeyer.
Deck has already proven himself to be one of the best young golfers in the Okanagan Valley as he has captured several big tournaments, including the Ogopogo Open in Kelowna last year.
He was selected as the student-athlete of the year at the University of British Columbia Okanagan two years ago as well as the Pac West gold medallist for low stroke average on the collegiate circuit in Western Canada.
Deck is leaving this Saturday to try and earn his professional playing card on the Canadian professional tour qualifying school tournament being held at the Crowne Isle Golf and Country Club in Comox, B.C.
“If I managed to get my card, I would be eligible to play later this year on what is now called the MacKenzie Tour of Canada, which is pretty much the Canadian equivalent of the Web.com tour that feeds the PGA tour in the United States,” he said.
At only 24 years of age, Deck said he won’t be crushed if he doesn’t qualify this weekend, but added he is bound and determined to continue working to improve his game so he will attain his dream of playing professional golf within the next two years.
If he isn’t playing professionally, Deck said he “would love to” return to Osoyoos to defend his Rattlesnake Open title next April.
“If I’m still working in this area, I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t come back,” he said. “It was a great tournament and I had a great time.”
Osoyoos golfer Rick Dundas won the trophy for low net score at this year’s Rattlesnake Open.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
