Hearn, Gunn, Spittle Great week for Canucks..

David Hearn is back on tour and Jon Mills may follow, Rod Spittle from Niagara Falls a perennial Monday qualifier on the Champions Tour won this week and Graham Gunn finished a shot off the win in Sicily on the European Sr Tour...

Their stories are next..

David Hearn finished 4th at the Tour Championship moving him to 21st on the Money List and a place on tour next year. He was on tour in 2005 and has been trying to get back since.. We exchanged texts yesterday and I asked him what will be  different on tour this time ?

" Looking forward to next year, I have a better plan in place so I know I will be more successful this time and by the way Jon will get his card "

Jon Mills must now go to the final stage of Q school to get his card.. He texted me " I am going home for a bit now"

David joins Weir Ames and DeLaet and possibly Baryla next year on Tour...


Rod Spittle

What a great story for any of us who have the guts in our mid lives to get out of your comfort zone and pursue your dream..

Rod was an outstanding amateur golfer when he was young, he's from Niagara Falls, winning the Canadian Amateur in '77 and '78. He went to Ohio State, but rather than turn pro he decided on having a family first, being a Dad and a husband.. I played with the great Gary Cowan at the Abbey last year and he talked about how much the pro game has changed from his amateur days with big big money now on both sides of the Atlantic and a Nationwide Tour to groom your game. That wasn't the case for Canadian amateurs in the 60's and 70's, so they became working stiffs like the rest of us.. In Rod's case he sold insurance..

So when he turned 50 he and his wife sold everything, quit their jobs and with a little sponsorship chased his dream of making it to the Champions tour... It is a route that Jimmy Nelford and Jim Rutledge are pursuing and it involves Monday qualifiers that have anywhere from one - four spots available for that week's event.

Dave Barr damn near won the '85 US Open, but never accrued enough cash to be eligible as a regular on this old boys club and he has to do the same thing, and by the way Q school here only has half a dozen spots, if that, available as well..

Rod hit the jackpot on Sunday, beating Jeff Sluman in a playoff to win the AT&T Championship, a cheque for over $260,000 and most important a year's exemption ( not 2 like the PGA tour).

Like I said what a great weekend for Canucks..

Graham Gunn

Two weekends ago I reported a great finish in the Sicilian Open on the European Sr Tour by another Canuck, Graham Gunn, who just lost by a shot, but moved up to 66th on their money list which would get him straight into the final stage of Q school if he decides to go..

Watch here tomorrow for his story

Bryan Angus  bryanangus4@gmail.com