by Bohdan Kushnir

The first Ukrainian-Canadian Golf Championship was held Saturday, 8 September at the Heathlands Course of Osprey Valley, north-west of Toronto. This is the inaugural event staged by the newly formed Ukrainian Golf Association of Canada.

It was a hot, windy day as players set off in the competition. The Heathlands course was lush, (at least in the fairways where you're intended to go), and in immaculate condition. It proved to be a challenging day, particularly for those who strayed into the dense heath grasses or water hazards bordering the undulating fairways.

Thirty five men and 4 women, mostly from the Toronto area, competed in the inaugural event seeking to become the first to win the title of Ukrainian-Canadian champion. Scoring was by individual stroke play converted to points using handicaps and the modified Stableford format. Rules of golf were strictly adhered to, all putts were holed out; at bit of knee-knocking on some of the short ones. Many of these players had also previously competed at the week long Ukrainian World Golf Challenge held just this past May in Spain and had strategic scoring experience.

The rounds closed out with a BBQ hosted at the course. After some refreshment and nourishment, the scores were calculated and posted.

Closest to the hole prize was picked up by Jerry Ellis on a very short hole that nobody seemed able to hit. Jerry won a great set of kitchen knives donated by Orest Hrycak of Nella Cutlery.

The winner with most Stableford points, with handicap applied, was declared first. Terry Nedoszytko (hdcp 7) and Ray Didunyk (hdcp 24) tied at the top, each with 39 points. In the tie-breaker, the prize would have gone to Terry. But things are not that simple; a player can't win both titles. Terry Nedoszytko would also have been the clear winner of most Stableford points, based on gross score, with a remarkable total of 32 points, a full 6 points clear of the next closest score.

Ray Didunyk was declared the High Points Score champion, and Terry Nedoszytko the outstanding Low Gross champion. The champion's prizes were donated through Luba Kocur of AIM Funds Management Inc.

Our congratulations to both of these winners for the 2001 year. And look out for the growing competition next year.

It is proposed that this format be continued and the scope of competition be expanded next year. Three Toronto region tournaments are planned for the summer of 2002; a player's 2 best scores will be totaled to declare winners for the year.

It is also hoped that similar tournaments are organized at other centres across the country. In addition to the Toronto region, there are strong groups of Ukrainian golfers already known to be established in the Montreal, Ottawa, and Winnipeg regions. One of the Toronto events for next year is planned to overlap with the Montreal group for an inter-city challenge.

The hope is to make this an annual competition for Ukrainian golf in Canada, develop a working UGAC to coordinate these efforts, and expand our contacts within the Ukrainian community internationally.

With the participation of the Canadian contingent at the Ukrainian World Golf Challenge held in Spain this past May, a taste for competitive golf was developed to a new higher level. This has been further encouraged by the example of Ukrainian golf associations in Australia, Great Britain, Germany, and the United States where they are very active.

Golf competitions, such as this one, are bringing many Ukrainians from all backgrounds together around the world. Tournaments are held regularly in Australia where they have at least 6 in a calendar year over at least the past 10 years. Similarly, England also organizes 6 tournaments for their players.

At the same time the Canadian Championship event held 8 September, the Ukrainian European Golf Championships took place in Frankopole, Belgium where 3 rounds were played over a 3-day weekend. Next year the European championship is planned to be held in England.

The next international world tournament will be the week of 18 to 25 October 2003, to be staged on Maui, Hawaii. Canada will again be represented by a team to play against competitors from Australia, Team Europe (Britain, Germany, France, Ukraine), and the United States. Registrations for Hawaii are now open. Canada has been given an initial allotment of 32 players, first come, first served.

For further information or to register for any of the Ukrainian Golf Association of Canada, Ukrainian-Canadian tournaments, or Hawaii 2003, contact B. Kushnir in Toronto at 416/232-0998, or check the UGAC web site in the sports section at <ukemonde.com>.