TST #7 Boldt’s Breakthrough in the Heat
The heat never let go. From the first tee shot to the last putt, the Okanagan’s August sun pressed down on Salmon Arm Golf Club, wrapping the fairways in a thick, humid haze. By the turn, you could see it on faces and in swings — a slow drain of energy, a creeping heaviness in the legs. And on a course this tight, fatigue wasn’t just uncomfortable. It was dangerous.
Salmon Arm is a study in restraint. Every hole framed by dense evergreens, fairways that look like ribbons between walls of green, angles that punish greed. The greens were soft and a shade slower than usual, but the challenge was never about speed. On a day like this, keeping the ball in play was as valuable as flushing it.
And no one managed that better than Stewart Boldt. Calm. Methodical. Untouchable. He became the first player this season to win both Gross and Net in the same event — an even-par Gross and Net -5 — built on fairways found, putts poured in, and clutch recoveries when needed. On 15, from the sand, he clipped one that caught the flagstick before settling five feet away. He holed that, too. By the time he reached 18, the two-shot cushion made it feel like a victory march.
But Boldt didn’t run away entirely unchallenged. Gary Stadnek made his own charge, finishing second in Gross and third in Net. His round was punctuated by an albatross on the par-5 4th — his second career albatross — sparking the old debate: what’s rarer, the double eagle or the ace? Gary’s length and composure kept him within sight of Boldt for most of the afternoon.
In Net, Matt Stefan was the surprise of the day. His road there was chaos: he first drove to the wrong course — next event’s venue, Spallumcheen — and in his rush to make it to Salmon Arm on time, he left his clubs sitting back at Spallumcheen. With no time to retrieve them, he rented a set from the proshop — thanks to Kevin, the day’s unsung hero — and still fought his way to second in Net. For most players, the day would’ve been a write-off before the first tee. For Matt, it turned into his best result of the season.
The standings picture didn’t shift dramatically. Bryson Marshall still holds the Gross lead despite an off day; Bruce Kristinson, battling a bad knee, finished well back. Fred Winters skipped the event for his Club Championship. Chris Myers, Evan Koppa, and Mark Johnson each climbed a spot. In Net, Evan kept the lead steady, with Mark up to third and Matt leaping from 11th to 5th.
The day had its share of side fireworks. On the par-4 3rd, Ken Cocker jarred his second from 80 yards for eagle, setting the tone for a round that would end with a 4th-place Net finish. It was the kind of early jolt that can turn a walk into a charge. The Yaromich family brought a full lineup to Salmon Arm, though the tight fairways proved unforgiving. David led the clan with a T12 in Gross, while Vitaly and the others fought to keep their swings between the trees.
Now the tour heads to Spallumcheen — the season’s final Major, and the last chance for NGL points in 2025. It’s a venue that rewards power and precision in equal measure, and with season standings still within reach in both divisions, one big day could rewrite the entire race. For some, it’s the chance to lock in a title. For others, it’s the last swing at glory before the clock runs out.
