Golf instructor hopes he’s healthy enough for Shaw Charity
Darryl James is shooting to qualify for the Shaw Charity Classic. That is, if he can swing. James has already teed it up twice against the PGA Tour Champions stars and is hoping to experience it all over again as the senior birdie-machines return to Canyon Meadows, but the 55-year-old has been bothered by a lower-back injury since being rear-ended in a traffic accident late last week.
As the clock ticks toward Tuesday’s final tournament qualifier at Hamptons, the local is hoping for a speedy recovery.
“My doctor said, ‘I can’t tell you not to play, but the chances of you playing to your ability are probably not that good.’ But he said, ‘If you can swing, go try,’ ” James said. “I would hate to have to stand on the first tee or on the range and say, ‘Guys, I just can’t swing. I can’t do it.’ If I can’t hit it, I’m not going to go out there because it’s not fair to the guys I’m playing with. They’re out there trying to earn a spot themselves.
“But if I can hit it, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”
James is one of three locals in the 33-man field for Tuesday’s qualifier, with Scott Allred (Elbow Springs) and Gord Courage (Hamptons) also hoping to join the legendary likes of John Daly and Tom Watson on the fairways and greens at Canyon Meadows.
An instructor at National Golf Academy at Shaganappi, James was among the success stories at the qualifier in 2014 and received an exemption last summer.
Even with a bunch of former PGA Tour pros on Tuesday’s tee-sheet, he feels good about his chances ... if his back co-operates.
“I think that I’m a good enough player that I can put the number on the board that I need to,” James said. “Guys probably thought that I wasn’t going to do it two years ago, and I played well enough to get my way into the tournament.
“If I’m healthy enough and I can focus, I think I can get through again.”
AROUND THE FAIRWAYS
By now, you’ve probably heard about Ethan Choi’s remarkable round at the Alberta Bantam Championship at River’s Edge, where the 14-year-old from Pincher Creek shot a scorching 12-under 59. It was also a memorable day for Calgary’s Annabelle Ackroyd (Silver Springs), who successfully defended her crown. Both Ackroyd and Choi are now back-to-back winners at the bantam provincials ... The McLennan Ross Junior Golf Tour Championship is on tee Monday at Wolf Creek, featuring some of the most talented up-andcomers from around the Wild Rose Province. Jaclyn Lee (Glencoe) won the girls’ title four years ago and impressed this week in her LPGA Tour debut at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open ... Dustin Risdon (National Golf Academy at McCall Lake) managed a 1-under 71 in miserable conditions to win the weather-shortened PGA of Alberta Championship at Edmonton Petroleum Club. The 35-year-old has now captured that crown in consecutive years ... Darryl Stayura (Country Hills) fired an evenpar 71 to scratch out a one-stroke victory at the Calgary Golf Association’s Southern Messenger City Interclub at Highwood.
HOLE-IN- ONE REPORT
When the bell rings on back-toschool, Brett Jones will have a heck of a story to share with his classmates. The 10-year-old notched a hole-in-one on No. 6 at River’s Edge in Okotoks, picking a perfect line with a 6-iron from the 117-yard blocks. David Bertram, No. 11 at Pinebrook — 201 yards, 5-iron Ernie Bratyna, No. 6 at Carnmoney Lauren Cheng, No. 17 at Silver Springs — 148 yards, 5-iron. Len Christensen, No. 14 at Shaganappi Point — 114 yards, 7-iron. Steve Cloutier, No. 11 at Pinebrook — 156 yards, 7-iron. Dennis Cocks, No. 8 at Links of Gleneagles — 140 yards, 9-iron. Claire Edwards, No. 5 at Canyon Meadows — 137 yards, 8-iron. Brian Esopenko, No. 12 at Shaganappi Point — 98 yards, 9-iron. Lorie Flynn, No. 6 at Willow Park — 130 yards, seven-wood. Susan Gibson, No. 11 at Shaganappi Point — 110 yards, 9-iron. Pavle Lasic, No. 5 at Shaganappi Point — 126 yards, 9-iron. Scott McKnight, No. 12 at D’Arcy Ranch — 136 yards, pitching wedge. Jimi Scherer, No. 14 at Shaganappi Pointe — 107 yards, 8-iron. Reg Schneidmiller, No. 2 at Inglewood — 148 yards, 6-iron. Randy Ward, No. 5 on Slopes at Glencoe — 161 yards. Ken Whitely, No. 5 on Slopes at Glencoe — 161 yards.