Canadian Open
Brooke Henderson, the 20-year-old golfing sensation from Smith Falls, Ont. played great down the stretch when she had to and became the first Canadian to win her country's (CP) Open Championship since Jocelyne Bourassa accomplished that rare and difficult feat some 45 years ago.
Regina hosted the LPGA event and after qualifying with a pair of 66s, she pulled away from the best golfers in the world on Sunday with five birdies on the back nine to shoot a scintillating 65. With the large boisterous, biased crowd fully behind her, she was in total control of her game with her choked up grip allowing her to fire at the pins on almost all holes. What a great atmosphere, what a great win! The whole country should be, and no doubt is, super proud.
When her final four-foot putt hit the bottom of the cup, tears of joy and relief overcame not only the seven-time LPGA winner but so many of her fanatic Canuck fans as she laid claim to the one elusive prize so sought after by her fellow countrywomen from the Great White North. She's a great champion, will continue to be a great champion, who with this historical win makes her the predominant face of Canadian golf, now and for the foreseeable future.
With the win, Brooke moves up to number two on the money list (at just under $1.3 million) and also number two in the Race to the CME Globe (a season long points competition with the winner taking home a cool million bucks). Not exactly the PGA's Fedex Cup money ($10 million) but still a decent hunk of change.
CFL
The many so-called Winnipeg fans who booed starting QB Matt Nichols at the last Bomber home game against Ottawa should be ashamed of themselves in more ways than one. Did he have an ugly game... yeah, but so did so many others, especially on defence. This man has carried their team on his back for so long, leading his squad to numerous victories after so many seasons being the "doormats" and "bottom feeders" in the Western Division. If you look at the facts and stats, Nichols is the number one reason why the Blue and Gold finally made the playoffs last season and if the fans don't smarten up and cut him a little slack, don't expect him to hang around much longer.
After Calgary blew them away last weekend, things won't get any easier for the Bombers this Sunday as they visit the jolly Green Machine in Regina for the first of their annual back to back games, culminating with the Banjo Bowl next weekend. The Labour Day game will definitely be exciting but it'll be a tough row to hoe, it always is, especially since both teams are currently tied for third place. The Roughies will look to win their third in a row while BB hope to end a two game skid.
Just a quick note on Redblacks' field goal kicker Lewis Ward, he's converted his last 24 FG, a record for rookies, and is 28 for 29 overall this season. Not bad for a little guy who believed in himself but unfortunately wasn't drafted by any of the nine CFL teams and had to win his job as a walk on.
Golden Bears
The Bears' football team has been strenuously working out getting ready for their upcoming season in the RMFL. The league has expanded to nine teams with the addition of the Interlake Thunder (Stonewall) who will join the Southwest Sabres, Neepawa Tigers, Moosomin Generals, Park West Outlaws, East Parkland Warriors, Swan Valley Tigers, Dauphin Clippers and of course, Da Bears.
Da Bears first game is next Friday (Sept. 7) in Shoal Lake where they'll take on the Outlaws while their first home game is the following Thursday (Sept. 13) when the Southwest Sabres (Souris) come to their den.
Until next time....
