Greenwood preps to challenge his elders

By Amy Geddes - Gulf Islands Driftwood - July 02, 2008

New 18-hole rule ups the competition at Blackburn Meadows Open

Seventeen-year-old Stephen Greenwood gives his fellow golfers reason to squirm this week. Easily the youngest player in the Blackburn Meadows Men’s Open in the past two years, the tanned, sandy-blonde Salt Spring teenager prepares to take on his elders once again.

Though he is self-taught, having studied televised tournaments and golf magazines since age 11, Greenwood is undefeated in this tournament; winning with a 127 (1-under-par) in 2007 and a 125 (3-under-par) in 2006. And at this year’s open scheduled for Saturday, July 5, he said he has “a pretty good chance” of winning again this year.

Only this year’s switch from a two-day, 36-hole event to a one-day, 18-hole event will put Greenwood to the test.

“It will be harder because if you have two days, if you make a mistake on the first day it’s not hard to get back. This will be more of a sprint than a marathon; you’ve got to make sure you don’t make any mistakes.”

On the flip side, Blackburn Meadows general manager Eric Beamish noted, “. . . there’s not as much endurance. You don’t have to hold yourself over two days.”

Greenwood, Beamish said, is a competitor who will be “tough to beat” this year. Brian Watson and Vassa Drobyshev are others with more golfing years behind them, he said, who will make him work for his prospective win.

In 2007, Brian Watson came second with 132 and Jordan Haenan, third with 135. And in 2006, Vassa Drobyshev came second with 126 and third was Christian Huser with 136.

Though Greenwood said there are a few who heckle him about how he “cleans up” at such a young age, most are amiable with him.

“Everyone knows he’s a terrific golfer,” Beamish said. “If he’s the one winning the tournament, he’s the one who should be.”

“Usually a younger person would have a harder time,” he said, pointing out that an older golfer comes with more years of experience. “But you see a lot more young people winning at tournaments these days. It’s great to see a younger generation [playing the sport].”

But to earn the bragging rights that accompany this tournament win, older players will have to take things up a notch from previous years to prove experience can trump youth.

Registration for Saturday’s Blackburn Meadows Men’s Open closes on Thursday, July 3. Prizes, a driving range shoot-out and dinner at the clubhouse are additional perks. Call Blackburn Meadows at 250-537-1707 to register. Flexible tee times are available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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Greenwood preps to challenge his elders

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