The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

) www.durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 PAGE 13 STEVE RUSSELL/Toronto Star photo Derek Gillespie tees off on the 18th hole during third round action of the Canadian Open held at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The Os- hawa resident, and Brooklin's Jon Mills, tied - with five others for 60th place. Eagles finish Young guns draw closer Derek Gillespie and Jon Mills hope to gain full-time status on PGA Tour next year BY BRIAN McNAIR Staff Editor DURHAM - The annual annual taste of PGA play has been great for Oshawa's Derek Gillespie and Brooklin's Jon Mills, but they both want the full course meal. The two 25-year-old Durham golf pros seem to be getting closer, too, as both made the cut at the PGA's Bell Canadian Open on the weekend. Invited to play against many of the top golfers in the world, Gillespie and Mills were among a group of seven who finished tied for 60th place at six strokes over par through four rounds at the Hamilton Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Although the $8,988 payday is much more generous generous than they are accustomed accustomed to for such a finish, the lessons learned were far more valuable than the money earned by the two Canadian Tour stars, who hope to make the PGA Tour their home in the not- too-distant-future. "I have to work on a few things, 1 don't think my short game is there yet," admits Gillespie, who has now made the cut in all four Canadian Open tourneys tourneys he has played in. "I watched Mike Weir on TV there and I think I was hitting the ball better than he was," Gillespie adds. "It seemed like I was hitting the ball well, I just wasn't making putts." Indeed, Gillespie outdrove outdrove Weir (309.9 yards to 296.6), was tied with him in driving accuracy (48.2 per cent), and hit more greens in regulation (62.5 per cent to 58.3 per cent), but still finished well back of the Masters champ, whose putting led him to a 10th place result. Weir was tied for 13th with an average average of 28 putts per round while Gillespie was tied for 78th at 31.3. Mills bombed the ball even farther than Gillespie, finishing eighth in driving distance at 314.9 yards, but was tied for 78th in ac curacy (39.3 per cent) and tied for 61st in putts per round (29.8). Mills, who missed the cut in his first two Canadian Opens, carded consistent rounds of 71-72-72-71, but was inconsistent within each round. He was four over par through four holes Saturday and then again through three holes Sunday before fighting back for respectable scores both times. "It definitely shows me I can play at this level," says Mills, who offset two double bogeys with two eagles during the tourney. "I made a lot of birdies (12), but too many bogeys (18) and doubles," in the tournament. Although both golfers plan to keep busy between now and late-Oc- tober, they have their sights set firm ly on the annual PGA Tour's qualifying qualifying school. Mills, by virtue of his first-place finish on the Canadian Tour this season, season, has a bye through the first stage, while Gillespie will head to California for the first 72-hole test Oct. 28-31. The second stage, also 72 holes, will be held at six different locations Nov. 19-22, and the final stage, 108 holes, is scheduled for Dec. 3-8 in Winter Garden, Fla. "Everything just leads up to Q- school, that's the focus," says Mills, who reached the final stage in his first attempt two years ago, but settled settled for conditional status on the Buy.com (now Nationwide) Tour. "I don't think I have to change things. It's just realizing what I can and can't do." CRHL Minor Midget (1988) Select Try-outs will be held on the following dates at the South Courtice Complex Pad A Thurs. Sept. 11 9:00 pm (2 hrs.) Fri. Sept. 12 9:00 pm (2 hrs.) Sat. Sept. 13 5:00 pm (2 hrs.) Sun. Sept. 14 5:00 pm (2 hrs.) Players must be registered with the CRHL prior to attending try-outs and the player must attend 3 of the 4 try-outs to be eligible for the team. Try-out cost $7.00 per hour per player. Any questions call 905-623-3001 pre-season on high note Riding four-game winning streak into season opener Friday BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor ; BOWMANVILLE With a long training camp over and exhibition games Completed, most hockey teams are champing at the bit to get the regular season under way. I That's certainly true of the Bowmanville Eagles, who are hoping a strong showing in the pre-season translates into a successful regular season season once things get going for real in the Provincial Junior A Hockey League this weekend. weekend. I After losing two of the opening three exhibition 'games, (lie Eagles closed strongly, reeling off four wins in a row to finish 5-2, {'including a pair of weekend ! wins over their rival from Os- jhawa, beating the Legion- i aires 3-2 and 5-0. j "Obviously it doesn't I mean anything in the stand- jings, but it's good to build ! some chemistry," said Curtis I Hodgins, who is returning 3 for his third straight season «behind the bench as head 'coach. * "There's great chemistry 'in the dressing room. The mew guys are really fitting in. h'hat's one of the things wc •looked for when wc brought 'guys in - character kids that twill lit in." Î Hodgins has been impressed impressed thus far with the -depth of players up front, moling a lack of forwards has Ibeen the team's 'Achilles 'heel' in past seasons, contributing contributing to sub-,500 records. ! "We would be going into iDecember and we would gel [down to eight or nine for- ■wards," because of injuries, «Sind to ii lesser extent, suspensions suspensions he said. "This year 'we are really strong up front ■tiind have a lot of depth." ! While he doesn't have the isamc depth on the blue-line, •an area of weakness he hopes 'will improve, he is satisfied .that a couple of untested 'newcomers in net will prove lo be worthy acquisitions. 1 Cory Snodden, acquired Curtis Hodgins: 'There's great chemistry in the dressing room.' from the Oshavva Legion- aires in a cash deal, was "unbelievable" "unbelievable" in Friday's 3-2 win over his former team, said Hodgins, adding, "He gained some experience last year with the Legionaires and that was a key factor in signing him." The other newcomer, Daniel Goulding, went the distance in Sunday's 5-0 shutout and has "good credentials", credentials", Hodgins said of the young netminder who played AAA midget with the Toronto Toronto Young Nats last season. "Both are going to be given every opportunity to take a lead role with the hockey club and their play will determine who gets the brunt of playing time," said general manager Perry Bowles. The battle for that coveted spot gets under way Friday, when the Eagles kick off the regular season in Bancroft against the Hawks. The home opener is Sunday, Sunday, when the defending league champion Wellington Dukes visit the Garnet 13. Rickard Recreation Complex at 6:30 p.m. THE SCOOP-The team is expected lo announce Ihe captain and assistants at tonight's (Wednesday) practice...Defenceman practice...Defenceman Steve Cornelissen is expecled back in a couple of weeks from mi injured IiiiihI mid charluy horse...The Eagles finished seventh in the East Conference Inst season with a 19-24-5-1 record ami were eliminaled in llic first round of the playoffs by the Trenton Sling. THE END IS NEAR. FORTUNATEIY, SO IS YOUR CM DEALER. LEASE DEALS END SEPTEMBER 30 TI PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS' PLUS AN EXTRA •-^rr^jaeiMiiaiWuy^.! ^ PONTIAC CHEVROLET IltlKMC C5IVI e Oidsmotile WHEN YOU BUY, FINANCE, OR LEASE VIRTUALLY ANY NEW 2003. v For Urn Intosl Inlormnllon. visit us M gmciinmln.com, drop by your locnl Cliovrolot • Oldsmobllo or Pontine • Quick • CMC Donlor or cull us nl 1-B00-GM-DniVE. YClonoral Motors will provldo Ihu ctonlur will) n cimlil ol S 1,000 incKiulvu ol nppllcnblo Inxos. Such ciudil will bo iidmlod In tho lolovanl SmamiLt asi monthly payment, ptirchnso piico or cash purchauo pilco at doalorship. f0% purchnso financing on approved GMAC credit only. Down paymunt aml/or trade may ho requited. Monthly payment and cost ol borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade Example: $10,000 at O 1 ';, APR, tho monthly payment la $100.07 1er GO months. Coat ol borrowing Is $0. Total obligation Is $10,000. Discounts or othor Incentives may ho available whom consumers opt tor a cash purchnso price oiler, Dy selecting the purchase financing oiler, consumers may bo foregoing such discounts and incentives which may result In a higher otloetlvo Interest rale, Otter does not apply to 2003 Saturn. YOlter does not apply to 2003 Sloirn/Sllvorndo Regular Cab 2500/3000 (non COP), 2003 SlorrrVSIlvomdo Extended Cab 2500/3500 (non COP). 2003 SlomVSIlvorado Crew K Chassis Cabs 2500/3500 and 2003 Sloim/Sllveiado 3500I ID Chaosla Cabs (Carryover Stylo). Y |Oltoia apply to virtually all 2003 now or demonstrator models. Oilers do not apply to 2003 models ol Saab, Isuzu, Corvette, Cadillac, Hummer, Full Slzo Savana/Expross, Express U- ŸÔÏ/Snvaiin SLT- YÔ1, Full size vans-Caige/Ciiiaway and 200-1 Grand Prix, Oilers apply to qunliliod retail customors In Canada. Dealers are Imojo sot Individual prices, Dealer hade may lie required. Limited llmo oiler which may nut bo comblr iblnod with other oilers, See your doalor for conditions and details.