THUNDER BAY – The Kam Cup will spend the next year alongside the river for which it's named.
The team from Whitewater Golf Course won seven of 10 singles matches on Sunday, playing on their home turf, to take the inaugural edition of the Ryder Cup-style event 9.5 to 5.5 over the team from Fort William Country Club.
It's a great feeling to take home the championship, said Whitewater's Jeff Hunter, who knocked off opponent Kevin Ariano 3&2.
Playing at home probably gave them an edge, he added.
“It's a difficult course and a lot of us play a few times a week, so it's definitely a big advantage when you come to play a course like this and you're comfortable with it,” Hunter said.
It was club champion versus club champion, not much to choose between the two golfers.
“I played really well and Kevin played really well. Trading wins with birdies is fun,” Hunter said.
Barry Caland, one of the most decorated local golfers, also came out with a point for the winning side, downing organizer Robbie Untinen 3&2.
For Caland, used to playing against the field, playing in a team event was different -- but delivered as advertised.
“It was competition, but it was more about camaraderie than animosity or anything like that,” said Caland, a seven-time winner of the Strathcona Invitational.
Home-course advantage helped, but not that much, he added.
“We're lucky we can play here all the time and get the nuances of the course, but at the same time, you're hitting the golf ball. If you're anything like me, that hamster gets spinning the wrong way a few times, you hit a few bad shots and you get down in your match,” he said.
Teammate Trevor Lafreniere edged Fort William's Mark Backor 2&1, putting away the final match on the course on the second-to-last hole.
It was fun, he said, something to build on for future years.
“It was a little bit of a battle out there today, but I played well,” Lafreniere said. “My playing partner and I battled all day. It came down to the 17th and I was fortunate enough to sink a seven-footer for birdie to end the day.”
He's already looking forward to next year.
“I think any of us who play golf realize the significance of the Ryder Cup format and the camarderie and the pride of trying to win for your country. For us, it's more winning for your course. Definitely it's nice to win the first one,” Lafreniere said.
The Fort William Country Club team weren't all that distraught at the lopsided singles results, which came after they battled back on Saturday at their own course to halve the day at 2.5 points apiece.
Jeremy Kirk, who fell 4&2 to Whitewater's Evan Littlefield, said it was great to be out on the course.
“I ended up losing the match, but both Evan and I hit the ball well. Evan hit the ball especially well on the back nine and he deserved the win,” Kirk said.
“It was great. We all know each other and the rivalry is alive. I'm sure there will be many matches to come.”
Whitewater's other wins came from Albert Drake, who downed Jackie Palmer 4&3, Chris Gardner, who edged Mike Throm 2&1, and Walter Keating Jr., who stopped Fletcher Anderson 5&4.
Fort William's wins were delivered by Nicholas Throm, who finished off Nathan Mercier 2-up, Kevin Jackson, who closed out Connor Carr 3&2 and Don Zatti, who beat Mark Colosimo 2&1.
Participants for next year's event will be chosen on a points-based system.
