In mainstream media, the British Open has been followed with admiration since 1860. In some of the toughest conditions on narrow, rugged fairways, hard greens like pool tables meet the best in the world and they can crash at any time. moment or, if not, achieve unforgettable exploits.
Among seniors, those aged 50 and over, we give the chance to all professionals who wish to try to make the cut as they say. Five hundred players from all over the world and spread over four courts will try to play 72, the minimum score to qualify for the big competition.
Jean Laforce, 63, pro at the Montcalm club (Saint-Liguori) is a regular. He participated ten times. And this year, he showed up with two colleagues, also friends: Serge Bernier, professional at Vaudreuil, and Ben Boudreault, professional at the Cerfs de Longueuil for 32 years now.
For them it’s a big challenge, but at the same time it’s practically a fantasy to play in the atmosphere of the oldest golf tournament in the world. For the big British Open the total purse was $14 million this year. For seniors, two million.
THE BIG STAGE
In old Scotland, Serge, Jean and Ben were like children in a toy store. Even if they don’t play on the five courts of the best in the world, they try similar ones around, links on the edge of the sea, and they can also approach and walk where the Woods, Nicklaus, Trevino, Player, Watson, Jones and other formidable champions have “scored”.
For those who love golf, the experience is wonderful and unforgettable. It is here, in the United Kingdom, that we find the deepest roots of golf. Our golfers certainly have sponsors, but they also pay out of pocket to get closer to their dream. They really enjoy themselves.
However, an unexpected event will occur. First, Serge Bernier reported an 81 card and might not qualify. Jean Laforce played 76, also disqualified, and, in addition, Jean announced at the end of his match that he was retiring from competition.
And Ben Boudreault? Shortly before the qualifying round, he suffered a sudden stomach upset. He no longer visits and decides to rest at the hotel. It’s better, but not for long. The next day, Ben suffers a devastating heart attack, alone in his room. He will himself call the ambulance which will take more than an hour to get to the hospital.
SEE YOU TOMORROW
Rest assured. Ben, always calm and smiling, is better and should return to Montreal tomorrow following undergoing a battery of tests. An artery, in particular, is blocked at 49%, but it has been medicated.
His good friend Jean Laforce extended his stay to stay with him. Ben regained his good humor following being scared to death.
A question we all ask ourselves.
Yes, Ben was well insured with the Blue Cross and he will be back soon at the Cerf de Longueuil to tell you that he did indeed play on the links from Scotland, but he was never able to attempt to qualify for the British Open Senior. Next year maybe.
From the enclave
- Champagne, beer and so on. Everything happened in the Stanley Cup and, last week, the defender Jack Johnson of the Avalanche fulfilled the promise to his three children. They and their friends ate the ice cream that filled the big bowl at the head of the trophy to the brim.
- Pier-Alexandre Poulin is the champion’s brother Marie-Philip Poulin who has just been hired as a development consultant at the Canadiens. Pier-Alexandre has just been hired as an amateur scout by the Vancouver Canucks.
- Leylah Fernandez is wild in his Subway commercials. When you’ve got it, Elvis Gratton would say.
- Hayden Latendresse 14 years old, 6 feet and 1 inch and three-quarters tall. Accuracy is important because he misses a quarter of an inch to reach his father Guillaume.
- The Taverne Moderne St-Paul (La Prairie) given ball team now has a record of 8 wins and only one loss in the Jap’s league. Must say that the instructor Anthony O’Malley is extremely severe.
- Patrice Bergeron party today. The old man is 37 years old and he still has a lot of juice left in the tank. What an athlete! Drafted in the second round, 45eby Boston in 2003. Forward to 10e rank, Montreal had selected Andrei Kostitsyne and, hold on tight, in 40e echelon Cory Urquhart who has never played a game in the NHL.
- Wayne Gretzky coached the Coyotes for four years and never made the playoffs behind the bench.
- The very first “Women’s” Tour de France begins today.
- Condolences to Annie Pelletier who suffered the pain of losing her mother last week.
- The Boston Bruins’ new coach, Jim Montgomery, already coached new Canadian Mike Matheson in Dubuque (Ohio) in 2011-2012 when the Pointe-Claire defender was only 17 years old.
