TST #8 No Easy Sundays at Spallumcheen
Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club did not welcome Twlv Stix with open arms. It bared its teeth. The commissioner had chosen the black tees, and Spallumcheen seemed to take that as a challenge it intended to punish. Blocks were stretched as far back as they could go, turning already narrow fairways into tightrope corridors. The sun pressed down without mercy—carts darted from shade to shade in retreat. Already punched, the greens slowed to a crawl on the back nine after a mechanical hiccup, leaving players second-guessing their touch.
Through all that, Reid McIntyre made a statement. His front nine was pure control—two under at the turn while others scrambled to keep their scorecards intact. The back nine fought back, but Reid steadied himself and closed at +2. It was enough for the win, a climb from 10th to 7th in the Gross standings, and proof that even with fewer starts, he’s the dark horse nobody should ignore. Guest Tyler Johnson matched Reid’s +2 but wasn’t eligible for the purse. Still, his effort deserved more than a handshake—he left with a champion’s hoodie, proof that sometimes respect matters as much as points.
Right behind, Fred Winters held his nerve when the course asked for it. Even par across the back nine, when conditions only grew tougher, gave him the Net victory at -2 while also finishing second in Gross. That double impact vaulted him into second place in the Net standings and reminded everyone he’s more than just a handicap threat—he’s becoming a factor on both leaderboards.
For much of the day it looked like Kenny Lindsey might steal the spotlight in the Net division. A rock-solid front nine had him pacing the field, and he carried that lead deep into the round. But Spallumcheen saves its cruelties for the finish. Doubles on both 17 and 18 sent Kenny tumbling, dropping him into a three-way tie for second Net with Reid McIntyre and Ryan Beach. Beach, too, saw his chance slip away with a bogey on the 18th, the closing hole claiming one more victim before the day was done. Still, Kenny’s performance locked up the National Golf League leaderboard, earning him a Provincial Qualifier spot at Predator Ridge this October. He’ll choose a Twlv Stix partner to join him, while Evan Koppa and Chris Myer, who tied for second in the NGL standings, will team up for their own run at glory. On the line is a ticket to the BDO National Golf League Championship next May at the RBC Canadian Open venue—inside the ropes, under the grandstands, playing like the pros.
Reid may have taken the trophy, but he didn’t have the stage to himself. Vitaly Yaromich quietly answered back with a +4, good enough for third and a reminder that Salmon Arm was a stumble, not a slide. He wasn’t alone in giving Spallumcheen its due—James Duckworth delivered the shot of the day on the 240-yard 3rd, landing an iron with pinpoint accuracy on a hole that humbled nearly everyone else. And then there was Vaughn Rodwell’s detour to Chappy’s Island. His tee ball found Chappy’s Island, that sliver of turf marooned in the pond, forcing him down the narrow causeway to take his second. He struck it well enough to give himself a look, missed the par, and walked off with bogey. It wasn’t a birdie, but it was the kind of adventure only golf can script.
Meanwhile, the season picture only grew tighter. Chris Myer’s recent form has reeled Bryson Marshall in, turning what was once Bryson’s clear lead into a virtual deadlock at the top of the Gross race. Bruce Kristinson refuses to fade from the picture, and Mark Johnson keeps pressing, waiting for his moment to break through. In the Net race, Evan still holds the top spot, but Fred is charging hard, Bruce hangs around, and the pack waits for any slip.
And yet, for all the storylines, the day itself belonged to the course. Spallumcheen set the terms, stretched out to its very edges, burning under the August sun. It punished anyone who hesitated and rewarded only the most stubborn. Reid, Fred, Vitaly, Kenny—they all had their moments, but Spallumcheen reminded everyone who really runs the show. The standings tightened, the drama grew, and the season lurched toward its finish. There are no easy Sundays left.
