SPORTS Sports Dept. Jeff A. Gabert 365-5579 astlegar Su WEDNESDAY, September 14,1994 12A JEFF GABERT _ ‘Sun Sports Magicians are usually known for artful strokes of their wands. How- ever, there was a different kind of magician out at the Castlegar Golf and Country Club last week and he used a well-chosen selection of clubs. Scott Minni of the University Golf Club in Vancouver has firmly established himself as one of B.C. 's best golfers. All he has done is win three ive B.C.PGA Ch which has never been done before, though many have tried. After Dave Barr's victory in 1975, three each won two in a row beginning with Cec Fergu- son in 1976, Bob Cox in 1978 and Jim Rutledge in 1980. Only Fergu- son and Rutledge have won three championships. Rutledge's came in 1983 with Ray Stewart in 1982 separating him from his 1980 and 1981 victories. Ferguson's third victory happened cight years after his second in 1985. Last year, Minni won with a four stroke lead over Doug Morgan in Kelowna. This year’s championship came down to the final few holes and saw Minni slip by with a two stroke lead over Paul Dashkewytch of the Riverside Golf Chub. Minni shot an astonishing 68 in the opening round on Thursday and used his lead to post an easy 73 on Thursday in the two round championship. So what's the Minni secret? “I don't know,” said Minni, “you just play and see what happens. I was happy to play with Cec [Ferguson] though, because he's a fine player.” “IT think the key to golf is just try to make pars and that's what I did. I don't try to be flashy, just make par. Pars are great and birdies—you just let them happen.” It might seem like the PGA would be Minni's next step, but he says the tour nowadays is simply too much of a grind for him. He competes in about ten tournaments a year and he says that's more than enough for him. Cec Ferguson of Myrtle Point Golf Club tied for third with Bill Bilton of McArthur Island Golf Club. Ferguson shot two round total of 144 and is a B.C.PGA veteran. He was in the running all week but suffe a hooks on the back nine of the final round. “Generally, I fade the ball,” said Ferguson. “Two weeks ago I started doing hooks. So I got my old clubs back from my son and it seemed to Scott Bolechowsky of Point Grey Golf and Country Club finds out golf can be a lot like life. Everything looks so until it suddenly rolis right. sun starr PHOTOS WJett Gabor anv -eem tie Fin Abe é It's Minni magic This swingin’ cat ain't no mouse! Scott Minni shows off the swing that made him the only player to win three consecutive B.C.PGA Championships. fix it. Then I had two bad swings on 16 and 17 - two hooks in a row really hurt.” All the golfers were extremely pleased with the Castlegar course Even the learned to be wary of the despite its tricky greens. “T think the course is great,” said Minni, “and I'm glad they didn’t shave those greens down. Those greens can be devastating. If they had shaved those greens, we would all be dead.” Steve Johnston was the best Castlegar finisher with a fifth place fin- ish and a score of 145. It was his first ever B.C.PGA Championship but he had a slight advantage. “Local knowledge of the course is the key,” said Johnston. “You want to stay underneath the hole on some of the greens. If you get above the hole it'll cost you. It's always an advantage playing on your home court.” B.C.PGA organizer Steve Caroll was extremely pleased with the course and the event. “We chose Castlegar because we haven't had the tourncy in the Kootenays in a long time,” said Caroll. “The course was highly recom- mended to us and it turned out to be even better than expected. The sup- port from Castlegar was excellent and the Pro Am was the first ever and it went off without a hitch. The players raved about the golf course and everyone had a good time.” “Certainly, from the reception we received this week, we'd love to CO pro Anh Gal Lak tte we'll be back soon.” The Pro Am was held Wednesday with the winning team consisting of Lome Trickey, Quinto Maida, Scott Minni and Paul Daskawytch. They shot a 128. Dane Jackson hungry for the big league KAMLOOPS - Still fit; still talented; people into the boards; only 24-years-old Dane Jackson wouldn't mind being a couple of years younger. Who wouldn't? For Jackson, the issue of age is a little more gripping. As an athlete the aspiring National sf y Leaguer und there are only so many kicks at the can before somebody comes : “You only get so many chances. I don’t think my age is going to limit me but some- times they may think if a player is just as good as you and a couple of years younger, maybe they’ll go for the younger guy,” said Jackson. “They’ are the Vancouver Canucks, a team whose roster Jackson has been trying to break into since he was drafted 44th overall in 1988. Last week in Kamloops, the Castlegar, B.C. native opened his third Canucks training camp. It did not go unnoticed that Jackson appeared a little more driven, forechecked a little hard- et, skated a little stronger. This isn’t now or never just yet - then again he’s not 21 anymore “I guess a little maybe,” Jack- son said, when asked if he thinks about the end of his career. “You always kind of do somewhat. That's part of the reason I went to university because I knew hockey isn’t going to go on for- ever. But I really don't give it much thought yet. “1 feel I'm still on the upswing I'm still doing well. I think I'1] rookie right-wingers in the run- ning for one of the few open spots on the Canuck roster. While he said he didn’t do any- thing differently but train hard in the off-season, his first week in camp was an eye-opener to the Canuck brass. Rookie Vancouver coach Rick Ley was liberal in his praise of Jackson during cach of his post- scrimmage briefings with the media. And it wasn’t false Praise, because Ley wasn’t say- ing the same things every time about Jackson's competitors for the spot. Listen: Ley, after bre Wednesday's scrimmage: “I think Dane Jack- son had two pretty decent days. Obviously he's a right hand shot, plays right wing and he has a shot at making our hockey club. (Dan) Kesa is also a right hand shot but I don’t think he has disti Dane Jackson played 11 games with Vancouver last year. He'll look to do better this year. Pnow suomined coming in his first game at the himself as well as Jackson... “I’ve noticed some of the peo- ple and Jackson is one of them that are starting to realize that if they want to make this hockey club they have to stand out doing something and make us open our eyes.” Ley, after Thursday: “We've talked every day (about Jack- son). Dane’s been fine. He's working hard. He’s trying to show us he’s ready to pay the Price and he wants to play on our hockey club.” Relayed the comments, Jack- son was pleased but not con- vinced. There are still three weeks of training camp left. “It's nice to hear that. That's what I’m trying to do; I'm trying to step it up and bring my level of play up to an NHL level. I think I can do it, it’s just a matter of actu- ally going out there and trying to show them that I’ve been able to do it.” Jackson ‘did it’ for 12 games with the Canucks last season, scoring five goals, his first two Pacific Cc against the “It was just a taste but it was good. It makes you hungry to want to get there again,” he said. “One thing I got out of it was because I felt I could play at that level. Definitely I have a lot of things to improve on but I felt in my heart that I could play at that level. That was a big boost coming into this year, that I can belong.” While confident, Jackson doesn’t want to get over-confi- dent. He’s trying to maintain a level head. High hopes have fur- ther to fall. “You know (being sent down to the minors) is a possibility. It's probably as good a chance to go there as to stay almost,” said Jackson. “You don't let yourself get too excited about making it. “If I was to come into camp and had a bad camp and wasn't im shape and got sent down, then I'd be disappointed because I let myself down. Whereas you go and give it your very best, it’s something that’s out of your con- trol. You can't get too down. I know I can do it, it’s just the numbers. Maybe I'll get a chance later.” Jackson is also realistic about his ability. He is no Pavel Bure. Few players are. To make the team and keep his spot for an entire season, he understands that it will happen only through hard work. He refers to Canuck veteran Tim Hunter, a fourth-line forward whose role is to check and hit grind. “(Hunter) knows he has to do everything to be there. When you're a guy like me, it’s a necessity to have all those good things at their very peak. So if a couple of your things at the tal- ent level aren't as good as some other guy’s, (effort) will still camry you “When you're a guy like me, who's going to be a third- or fourth-liner on the fringe, you have to give them every reason to keep you around.” If this means anything, the Canucks made their first cut Sun- day. It was forward Rod Stevens. Not Jackson. Stevens, you should know, is oeees UPDATE: Jackson's progress was put on hold last Thursday after a bruised shoulder. The injury is listed as day-to-day. Jackson missed Friday's annual Black and White game but skated in practice Saturday. He was not im the line-up Sunday when the (Canucks opened their pre-season dule against the Ed: Oilers and did not dress for Mon- day’s game against the Los Ange- Kings. Sidelines 's Rockies romp in Sidney Rella's Kootenay Rockies travelled the furthest and almost went the farthest at the Slopitch Provincial ‘C’ Tournament held in Sid- ney over the Labour Day weekend. The team was 3-1 after the round robin giving them the third best record among the 20 teams competing. The top four teams were eligible to qualify for the National Championship being held in Saskatoon next year. The team came within a hair of making the final but lost a crushing defeat to the Vancouver team. After trailing Vancouver 4-0 carly in the game, the Rockies managed to come back and tie the score to force extra innings. The Rockies seefnet! to take an insurmount- able lead 7-4 in the second overtime inning but were eliminated in the bottom of the inning by four heartbreaking Vancouver runs. The final was 8-7. “I'm really proud of our team,” stated coach Emie Rella to the Trail Times. “We played really well and the tournament was absolutely superb.” Even Castlegar Baseball Is lookin’ to next year The big boys have packed up their bats and gloves for next season and the young baseball players of Castlegar have followed suit. However, our players aren't ones to argue over petty labour dis- Putes. Instead they'll argue over policies and who will assume the 1995 executive positions for the Castlegar Baseball Association. The CBA's Annual General Meeting and Election of Officials will be held Wednesday, September 21 at 7 p.m. in the Stanley Humphries High School activity room. Everyone who is involved in baseball or who would like to be involved is invited to attend. Also, players from this season are asked to please return uniforms and sox at the meeting. For more information call Doug Hickey at 365-6848. All who attend are entered to win door prizes. Crossin’ the line at Gray Creek The 20th annual Gray Creek Regatta was held in good to excellent conditions over the Labour Day Weekend at Gray Creek on the Kootenay Lake castshore. Weather conditions varied with large swells and gusty winds on the first day which tested the nerve and sailing skills of all the sailors. The second day was more relaxed but everyone needed good tactical skill and a keen eye for reading the wind. Six main races and a fun race were run over the two day event with a total of 24 boats competing. Overall winners were: Colin Johnston of Calgary in the Cruiser Class sailing a San Juan 21; Dave West of Osoyoos in the Dinghy Class sailing a Sea Spray 16; Robin Siggers of Fernie in the Laser Class; Graham Gregory of Cranbrook in the Dinghy X Class sailing a Coronado 15. Best Youth Sailor was Angela Lenz. A great time was had by all mark- ing the end of an excellent and well deserved sunny summer. Roarin' Rebels ready to rock Rossland The KUHL club in Rossland tend to think of themselves as war- Tiors.But if they plan on having a good showing they better bring their clubs - their golf clubs that is. Because the Rebels have never been known to be hospitablein their own building, it might be bet- ter if the Warriors prepare more for the golf course than the Recre- ation Complex. If you would like to see what I mean, be at the Castlegar Community Complex on Friday, September 16 at 8 p.m. and judge for yourself. It may be an exhibition match, but any game between the Rebels and Warriors usually turns into a war. Mounties drivin’ something other than cruisers The local detachment of the RCMP has always tended to be a cen- ter of attention - or at least detention. Now the police are unstrap- Ping their holsters and throwing a golf bag strap over their shoulders for the Castlegar RCMP Bursary Golf Tournament being held September 16 at the Castlegar and District Golf Club. The fun gets underway at 11 a.m. and they promise no tickets for bad golfing will be handed out - just stern warnings. The toumna- ment takes the form of a four man scramble with each team required to use four of each player's tee shots. They also must use at least three of every player's second shots except on the par three holes. Teams can have two players below a 20 handicap and only one of those can be below a 10 h For further i or to enter yourself or an entire foursome, contact the Castlegar RCMP Detachment at 365-7721. Restin’ some rambunctious rebels The Casltegar Rebels are a community hockey club that prides itself on it’s close ties to the people of Castlegar. Many players hail from this area but there are many out of town players as well. These Players need a little hometown hospitality and the Rebels hockey club is always looking for people interested in billeting some young hockey stars. The players greatly appreviate it and the people who billeted Wayne Gretzky when he was in junior are probably still bragging about it. So make room for a few rebels with a cause and support your local hockey club. For more infor- mation call Rick or Diane at 365-8174. Big Brothers can see the donation through the trees John Kazakoff, Vice Chief Ranger of the Independent Order of Foresters hands over a nice cheque to Richard Ross of Big Broth- ers and Sisters. The money came as a result of a very successful mixed golf tournament held at Valley View Golf in Winlaw. If you have a sideline, call Jeff at 365-5579 + > Wednesday, September 14, 1994 The Castlegar Sun q Page 13A Von on Diebitsch 1 and Belanger: It really isn’t all that hard to be a first class mountain biker. All you need are some mean moun- tains, a state of the art bike frame logs, a little bit of insanity. It also helps if you can keep b your tires and hungs filled with Castlegar Sats Shawn Von Diebitsch and Dave Belanger meet the mountain bike criteria and FBI psycholog: profile and have been thrashing B.C.'s mountains lately to prove it, Von Diebitsch,19, has already made a mark in the sport of mountain biking by posting a ly place finish in the Canadi- ships at the Ross- Tand Rubberhead event and a tenth in the World Cup at Ver- non. Both races were of the cross-country variety and the Rossland win makes Von Dieb ‘ hampi. in the Sportsmen class. “Knowing the [Rossland course) was the key,” said Von Diebitsch. “Most of the races I've won, I knew the course. pipe still, I was surprised with the win because I didn't know what posi- tion I was in when I was pels ° Id Bel, Shawn Von Diebitsch his bike to the finish line with the flat tire. “It was too bad because I really liked the course. There was a lot of technical downhill. In all my races, my first lap is slow and I make up time on the uphill por- tion of the second lap. I was in a good position when I flatted and I never got to take advantage of the downhill.” Both riders were a little appre- hensive before the World Cup in Vernon on Silver Star Mountain but there is nothing like the start of the race to quash any fears. “I was just hoping to finish,” said Von Diebitsch. “I wasn't looking to win because it’s the World’s. It was really cold up in races in the Novice class and raced in both Rossland o non. He is one of the hot prospects in the sport and is look- ing to move up into the Sports- men class next year. He finished 19th out of 60 in cross-country at Vernon but ran into a common problem in Rossland. “T was in fifth until I flatted out at the top and I ended up coming in 33rd out of 56,” said Belanger, who ended the race by running ~— the and it actually \, Started snowing at the‘top of the . I simply tried to race my own race and I didn't really know what position I was in. If there had been another lap I think I would have caught most of the riders.” Both Belanger and Von Diebitsch live and train in Castle- gar, which they believe is one of the best training sites in Canada. Von Diebitsch has been racing competitively for two years and Dave Belanger Belanger for only one, but both believe they have a strong future in mountain biking and will take up the sport full time as profes- sionals next season. “Mountain yh extremely Two riders who prefer the rocky road Sport which helps them maintain their equipment, They ride Spe- cialized Stump Jumpers with Von Diebitsch taking advantage of the full suspension model and Belanger riding the M2. The Sponsorships and prize money are great but the real thrill is found in the mount “You get a natural high that's just unreal,” said Belanger. “Sometimes you get above every- thing and it's almost like a run- ner’s high. After the race you get the feeling of ‘Wow, what did I “I like the speed,” said Von Diebitsch. “When you're on the bike and you're going fast, you're not really thinking about getting to the bottom but just staying alive. You just pedal. Sometimes you start thinking about weird things like what am I gonna do serious b “We've looked at ‘he numbers and talked to the people and everything seems to double every year - the money, the technology, everything. We're convinced we can make Both riders are currently being sponsored by Gericks Cycle and New double ups $500 BONANZA 2-$500 JACKPOTS DOOR PRIZES CASTLEGAR REBELS BINGO Sunday, September 18, 1994 starr’ Castlegar Arena Complex and 12 up pkgs. Early Bird 6 p.m. NO DOWN PAYMENTS NO INTEREST CHARGES NO MONTHLY PAYMENTS Tomorrow Should hold a rocky trail for both of these intrepid Castlegar riders but it seems clear tney are fully prepared and like it ‘way. Their last race of the season 8langer and Von Diebitsch are two dedicated Gaston takes place October 2 on Phoenix riders who aren't scared of a Ittle rock on a steep Mountain in Grand Forks, hill. Heck, they tend to enjoy it. SUN STAFF PHDTOS (Jeff Gabedt ON THE PURCHASE OF / FURNITURE & FURNITURE ITEMS Here are some options: CHARGE CARD at special discounts!! Ask for it. ON EVERYTHING IN THE STORE - NO MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED DAYS NO INTEREST OPTION* NOTHING DOWN NO INTEREST CHARGES NO MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED The above options based on approved credit and based on the purchase of “In-store Stock” only. Cominco Gym ° Trail, BC Thursday, October 6 at 8:00 pm Admission: 520” each / $25 day of show including GST Tickets Now on Sale at: + Floyd's Electronic World - Nelson Alpine Drug Mart - Rossland Comere - Downtown Trail & Waneta Plaza Purchase of major appliances and audio video electronics can be financed with option “B” and at our very best Note special sale discount prices. ~~ HOME GOODS HG Furniture Parehouss ET 693-2227 ae we Located Halfway Between Trail & Castlegar Floor Covering Centre Genelle ~ Fax: 693-2388 Open 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday