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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, MAY 8,2002 PAGE B5 This Week file photo MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Derek Gillespie cruised to a tliree-sliot win, his Jirst as a professional, in the Canadian Tour's Myrtle Beach Barefoot Classic. No time to savour first pro victory ' BY BRIAN LEG REE Sports Editor MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - To the victor goes the spoils, which in Derek Gillespie's case, was a six- hour drive. That's the life of a pro golfer, even a champion pro golfer. Gillespie followed up his first Canadian Tour title, the Myrtle Beach Barefoot Classic, by having having a quick shower Sunday night, packing away the trophy and $24,000 winner's winner's cheque and heading up the interstate for a Monday qualifying round for the Buy.com Tour's Richmond Open, which starts Thursday. "It feels good, I haven't really thought about it," said Gillespie, when reached Sunday night as he wound his way toward Richmond. "I've had a lot of phone calls." Gillespie carded a two- under-par 69 on the difficult difficult 7,257-yard Pete Dye layout to erase a one- stroke deficit in the final round and record a three- shot win over Australia's Scott Mend. Gillespie shot rounds of 69-72-69-69 for a five-under-par 279 total. Jason Enloe (Dallas, Tex), Michael Kirk (South Africa) and Mayson Petty (Charlotte, N.C.) wound up tied for third at one- under-par 283. Zoltan Ver- ess of Kitchener, Ont. finished finished even-par, good enough for a tie for sixth. Just five players wound up under par for the event, due in part to strong winds swirling all week. Gillespie, who started the day one shot behind Hend, look over the lead for good with a birdie and a bogey by Hend on the 344-yard, par-four opening opening hole. He then opened a four-shot cushion with birdies on the fourth and fifth. However, things got interesting when Gillespie double-bogeyed the par- four 10th hole, allowing Hend to climb to within one. But Gillespie put an end to the suspense when he canned a clutch 25-foot birdie putt from off the green on the 13th while Hend carded a bogey. "You can't go IS holes without making a mistake on that course," said Gille spie. "I hit it alright. I didn't didn't like the course to tell you the truth. If you miss a shot, you rarely have a chance to get back into play. I managed the course well and putted really well." Although he has two second place finishes in his season-and-a-half on tour, the Barefoot Classic marked the first time in Gillespie's pro career that he has held the lead during the final round. He says he wasn't fazed by the experience. experience. "1 don't know what I was thinking," he said. "I just stuck the tee in the ground and hit the ball. You start thinking out there, that's when you get in trouble." With the victory, Gillespie, Gillespie, the 2001 Canadian Tour's rookie-of-the-year, vaulted into fourth place on the Order of Merit. The top two players on the Order of Merit automatically automatically qualify for the PGA Tour's second stage of qualifying school this fall. "It's a goal, obviously, but I'm not that worried about it," says Gillespie, who has earned $41,951 in seven events thus far. With his first win under his belt, Gillespie isn't certain how it will impact the remainder of his season. season. "I'm not too sure, to tell you the truth," he said when asked if the win will alter his mindset in future tournaments. "1 don't think I'll go about my business any differently." MORE GOLF: Whitby's Whitby's Eddie Maunder shot 72- 73-71-75-291 to finish in a tie for 31st at the Barefoot Classic, earning $1,145. STILL MORE GOLF: Brooklin's Jon Mills continues continues to show fine form in his rookie season on the BUY.COM Tour in the United States. The Kent State product shot 74-68- 73- 72 to finish tied for 26th at the Virginia Beach Open, earning $3,400 (US). EVEN MORE GOLF: Oshawa's Angela Buzminksi shot 76-75- 151 at the LPGA Tour's rain shortened Chick-PiI- A Charity Classic, failing to earn a cheque. Weekend softball tournament sure to be a big hit DURHAM - The T.S.O. Challenge softball tournament goes this weekend at Durham Fields and Alexandra Park in Osliawa. A total of 24 teams will lie competing in four divisions: senior men, junior/intermediate men, midget and peewee boys. Games begin Friday at 7 pan. at both locations locations and continue Saturday. The finals are Sun day at Durham Fields. The junior final starts at 2 p.m„ followed by the peewee final at 4 p.m. and the midget final at 6 p.m. Oshawa and Mickey Finns are among the eight teams in the junior division and Oshawa also has entries in the peewee and midget divisions. divisions. The Durham Heat, one of the teams compet ing in the senior division, is ranked 13th in North America, and feature several outstanding players including former Canadian team member member Dave Hoffman and outfielder Ted Ko- sciecza, said Brad Bricknell, one of the organizers organizers of the tournament. The Heat play Saturday Saturday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Durham Fields. Just In linru.; up to 50% off ■ " Mother's LEJEND DIAMOND JEWELLERY www.lejendjewellery.com Engagement and Anniversary Rings Specialists 1 rr k Kw m * UU\\ i ' - \ ' I \ V t 1 V; \ 1414 Kino Struts! Fasti. Ourlins. 482-4 Wt 5 Hatonoas All Halenda's Stores Have Meat Cutters on Location & will gladly custom cut anything (or you! Questions or Continents email us at halendasmeats@rogers.com AU Halenda's stores have meat cutters on location & we will > custom cut for you! 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