Gligic sets the pace in hot pursuit of $ 10,000 VGT jackpot

Last year, it was an American, Chris Epperson, who won the Vancouver Open. This year, it’s Ontario resident Michael Gligic who is threatening to win the Vancouver Golf Tour’s marquee event.

A three- under 69 in Friday’s second round at Swaneset Bay in Pitt Meadows moved Gligic to eight- under par and the 24- year- old PGA Tour Canada regular from Burlington will carry a one- shot lead into today’s final round.

There is no shortage of local players chasing Gligic. Firstround leader Cory Renfrew of Victoria is alone in second place at seven- under after his even- par 72 on Friday, while Langley’s Adam Cornelson is third at six- under following an impressive 67 on Friday. West Vancouver’s Seann Harlingten is fourth at fiveunder.

Abbotsford’s James Lepp, who once won a Canadian Tour event as an amateur at Swaneset, moved into a tie for fifth place at four- under after shooting a 68 on Friday. Today’s winner will earn $ 10,000. PAYNE- FUL MEMORIES: There has been lots of talk about the late Payne Stewart at this week’s U. S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where Stewart won the 1999 U. S. Open just four months before his death in an airplane accident.

And that has rekindled memories of the contribution Stewart made to the former Greater Vancouver Open/ Air Canada Championship at Northview Golf Club in Surrey.

Stewart played in the event three straight years from 1997 to 1999. He tied for sixth in 1997, finished second to Brandel Chamblee in 1998 and tied for fourth in 1999. Former tournament chair Mike Carroll, a Vancouver lawyer and former Golf Canada president, says Stewart helped give the fledgling event credibility.

“It meant everything to the event that we had a marquee player like Payne,” Carroll said this week. “He was a great person for us to have.”

But Carroll disclosed that it took a favour to convince Stewart to return to play in 1999 after his U. S. Open win. “Moose Wammock, who was the tournament director, called me and said, ‘ Mike, we have a problem. Payne is deliberating and thinks he might not come. He is planning to take some time off and be with his family.’ ”

Wammock also mentioned that Stewart’s brother- in- law, Mike Ferguson, was a pro from Australia.

“I got together with our guys and I said, ‘ boys, we either get Mike Ferguson into the event or we can have Payne not show up as the newly minted U. S. Open champion.’ So we immediately voted to give Mike Ferguson an exemption.”

Ferguson, the brother of Stewart’s wife, Tracey, shot rounds of 77 and 79 at Northview and tied for last in the 156- man field.

Northview owner Chick Stewart recognized Stewart’s contribution to the tournament by re- naming the entryway into the course Payne Stewart Drive. PONDEROSA PROBLEMS: The departure of Douglas Goubault as general manager is just the latest bad news for the troubled Ponderosa resort in Peachland. Goubault is leaving Ponderosa to become general manager of JV Driver Investments in Edmonton. Work on the Greg Norman- designed golf course at Ponderosa has been stalled for the last year as the resort’s owners seek new financing.

ON TO THE FINAL: Langley’s Adam Cornelson, Alex Francois of Burnaby, Kevin Stinson of Mission and Ryan Williams of Vancouver were among eight players who advanced to final qualifying from the RBC Canadian Open’s regional B. C. qualifier at Marine Drive Golf Club earlier this week. The final qualifier goes July 21 at Club de Golf St- Raphael in Ile Bizard, Que.