2005 Bay Mills Open: August 22nd - August 28th 2005

Sunday August 29, 2004
Wisler Cruises To Win At Bay Mills Open Players' Championship

Chris Wisler Photo by Fred Newman/Soo Evening News

BRIMLEY, Mich.-- Chris Wisler put an exclamation point on his third career Canadian Tour title Sunday with a runaway win at the season-ending Bay Mills Open Players' Championship.

Carrying a comfortable four shot lead into the final round, the 24-year-old Delaware native carded a final-round 2-under 70, finishing four trips around the challenging Wild Bluff Golf Club with a 12-under 276 total, five shots clear of Ottawa's Scott Hawley, Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont. and Americans Dirk Ayers and Clint Jensen.

Hawley fired a final round 66 and earned $13,725. More importantly, the payday guaranteed he will retain his playing card for 2005. Prior to this week, Hawley had earned just over $3,000 this year but his late kick Sunday means he finishes the season 39th on the money list.

Michigan amateur champion Jeff Cuzzort and South African David Faught tied for sixth, seven shots off the pace.

The five-shot margin of victory was the largest on the Canadian Tour this season.

Wisler began the day with a comfortable cushion and left no doubt that Sunday would be his day, increasing the lead to six shots at the turn with a front-side 33. Even bogeys on two of his final three holes couldn't change the outcome as Wisler collected the $36,000 winner's cheque, the largest of the season.

In each of his previous two wins, Wisler almost let healthy leads slip away in the final round. At the 2001 Lewis Chitengwa Memorial Championship, he led by six after 54 holes and ended up winning by two. Earlier this season, Wisler let a three-stroke edge get away before holding off Canadian Adam Short by one.

"I admit I was a little bit nervous on the first tee today. Anytime you have a four-shot lead in the final round, you should be able to play well enough to win," admitted Wisler. "In my other two wins I almost lost the lead, so it was a different feeling knowing I could play and just enjoy the final day."

"On the final tee, I think I was enjoying the moment a little too much and I just lost focus for a minute. Then again, with a six-shot lead, I knew I could probably use my putter on the tee and still win the tournament."

With his second win of the season, Wisler moved from 15th on the money list into third with $65,165, $31 dollars more than Brad Sutterfield and good enough for a spot in the Bell Canadian Open.

But Wisler will have to take a rain check for the 100th Canadian national championship to be staged in Oakville, Ont. in two weeks. Two close friends are getting married that weekend, and Wisler will keep his promise and be a member of the wedding party.

With the Canadian Tour season now in the books, Wisler says he will focus on trying to qualify for Nationwide Tour events in a final tune-up before PGA Tour Qualifying School gets underway later this fall. This week, he will team with Brennan Webb to take part in the Charlevoix Cup, an unofficial match-play event pitting Canadian Tour twosomes against teams from the Quebec PGA. A year ago, Wisler and Webb won the Tour bracket before losing in the championship final.

"I want to stay in game-shape for Q-School, so after this week I will try to qualify for some Nationwide events," added Wisler. "This win will give me a lot of confidence going into the fall. There are a lot of great players that haven't won once out here, so to do it three times is pretty special. Hopefully, I can be one of the next guys from the Canadian Tour to take it to the next level."

Americans Erik Compton and Stephen Woodard, who both won a pair of titles this season, will be exempted into the second stage of the three-tired PGA qualifying tournament thanks to their 1-2 finish on the money list. Compton played a Nationwide Tour event in Utah this weekend but still managed to take home $85,876 in eight Canadian Tour starts, while Woodard finished with just over $83,000. Reigning Victoria Open champion David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., who played his way onto the Nationwide Tour with a victory at the Alberta Classic last weekend, was fifth with $58,461.

Saturday August 28, 2004
The Wind And Chris Were Whistling At The Bluff

Chris Wisler leaves scoring tent with Media Manager Larry Adderley on his way to Press Tent.

With a cool brisk Lake Superior wind facing the players, it must have seemed like a walk in the park for Chris Wisler in Saturday's third round of the Bay Mills Open. With birdies on holes # 1, # 3 and # 9 on the front nine, Chris fired an outgoing 33. He went on to birdie # 10 and #11 and nearly had a 4 birdie stretch when is 10 foot birdie on #12 slid by. The only set-back on the day occurred on the most difficult hole in the tournament, # 15 where Wisler made is lone bogey on route to a 4 under par 68 and a 4 shot lead over a group of 4 players. The 24 year old veteran of two seasons on the Canadian Tour is from Dover Deleware and is a two time winner on the tour. He has the lead and the experience so he will be tough to beat said Tournament Director Mike Husby.

Play begins on Sunday at 7:50 with players beginning on both # 1 and # 10 tee to accommodate the live broadcast on The Golf Channel that begins on 1:00 PM EST.

Friday August 27th
Cuzzort Looks Like He Belongs

Jeff Cuzzort

Playing in is first professional golf tournament, Jeff Cuzzort from Grosse Isle, Michigan shot the round of his life. With one lone bogey and seven birdies, Cuzzort shot nines of 33 for a first round 66 and earned himself a tie for the lead with Dirk Ayers.

"I was nervous all day," Cuzzort told reports following the round. The nineteen year old is the 2004 Michigan Amateur Champion and is playing as a special invitee the season ending ìPlayers Championshipî on the Canadian Tour.

Play resumes at Wild Bluff at 7:30 AM. Today

Wednesday August 25th
Scott Ready And Able

Steve Scott

Steve Scott played in the Callaway Pro-Am on Tuesday and saw Wild Bluff for the first time. His game is ready, said Mike Husby Tournament Director. I watched his action and he has plenty of game to tame Wild Bluff Husby went on to say. Scott sits in 7th place on the Order of Merit, the season long battle for the top money spot. He has won twice on the Canadian Tour, was also runner-up in the U. S. Amateur and also a two time member of the American Walker Cup Team.

Steve tees on at 12:45 PM on number on Thursday.

Monday August 23, 2004
Steve Woodard Is In Position

Steve Woodard

With one event to go Steve Woodard finds himself in 2nd place on the season long "Order of Merit". The top two players are exempt through the first round of PGA Qualifying School this fall. The task of finishing in the top two was made a little easier when David Herm (4) and Eric Compton (1) both withdrew today from the Bay Mills Open because of their success in last weeks Nationwide Tour Event in Alberta, Canada. Herm won and Compton finished in 16th place. Both have decided to stay on the Nationwide Tour this week where there performance earned them exemptions. With both players out, Woodard has a golden opportunity to advance to the top. He is a little more then $6,000 from claiming the top spot and is $13,000 a head of third place Brad Satterfield.

Play begins Thursday at 7:30 AM

Sunday August 22, 2004
Hultman Looking To Go Low At Wild Bluff

Ander Hultman

In the 2003 Bay Mills Open, Ander Hultman, the two time Swedish National Champion played with consistency that earned him a top 15 finish. He fired steady rounds of 72-73-73-71 for a one over par 287. He was a member of the Oklahoma State golf team in 2000 when they won the NCAA Championship. The three time All-American just needs to post a couple low rounds and keep the other solid rounds and he could contend this year Tournament Director, Mike Husby said.

Hultman is 43rd on the money list in 2004.

Saturday August 21st
Tiziani is Tough in Twin Soo's

Mario Tiziani

Mario Tiziani must be looking forward to returning to the Sault Ste. Marie area again next week. In June of 2002, he was runner-up in the Bay Mills Open held in Brimley, Michigan, just 15 minutes from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In June of 2003, he won the Northern Ontario Open in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Later that year he returned to Bay Mills where he finished tied for 5th in the Canadian Tours Players Championship. "Mario is a crowd favorite" says Tournament Director Mike Husby. "He handles himself real well, and the staff is picking him to be there late Sunday", Husby went on to say.

The four-day, 72 hole tournament starts Thursday with tee times beginning at 7:30 A.M.

Friday August 20th
"Two Canadian Tour Players Playing Well in Alberta"

David Hern

Eric Compton

David Hern from Brandford, Ontario and Eric Compton frorm Miami, Florida find themselves both in the top four after 36 holes in this week's Nationwide Tour Event. Hern is leading the tournament with rounds of 70-65for a total of 135 while Compton is two shots back in fourth place at 137 with rounds of 65-72.

Both players are slated to play this week in the season's final event on the 2004 Canadian Tour schedule; the Bay Mills Open.

Compton and Hern are in a group of players that are in great position to secure the two exemptions through the first round of PGA Tour Qualifying School that are awarded to the top two players on the official Order of Merit. The season long point system finds Compton in first with Hern in the 4th position.

August 16, 2004

Jeff Cuzzort

Michigan Amateur Champion To Play

Jeff Cuzzort from Grosse Isle, Michigan, the reigning State Amateur Champion today accepted his invitation to play in the 2004 Bay Mills Open August 26th-29th. Jeff is a freshman this year at Eastern Michigan University. He won the Amateur Championship at Grosse Isle Country Club in June were Jeff works as a caddy. He can not turn down this opportunity Jeff told Tournament Director, Mike Husby.

Rodney Butcher 2003 Bay Mills Open

Rodney To Defend

2004 Champion, Rodney Butcher, will be back at Bay Mills Resort, the site of his big win on the Canadian Tour in 2003. Rodney has been competing this season on both the Nationwide Tour and Canadian Tour.  "Consistency was the key to Rodney's performance in 2003" said Tournament Director, Mike Husby. He posted rounds of 69-72-67-70 on his way to a 10 under par 278. He earned $37,600 for his victory.

Canadian Tour & Golf Channel Return

The Bay Mills Indian Community will again host the Players Championship on the Canadian Tour. The tournament will be carried live by The Golf Channel all four days of the Championship. The 2002 event was won by former U.S. Amateur Champion, Jeff Quinney from Eugene, Oregon with the 2003 event being captured by Rodney Butcher who moved from Port Richey to Tampa, Florida. Both players have since gained their tour cards on the Nationwide Tour.

The Bay Mills Open again provides the final points in the Canadian Tour ìOrder Of Meritî. The top two players at season's end are granted exemptions through the first round of the PGA Tour Qualifying School.

The Bay Mills Open is the largest purse this year on the Canadian Tour with the winner expected to net over $35,000.

"Three Time Michigan High School State Champion Ryan Brehm To Play"

Mike Husby, Tournament Director, confirmed today that Michigan's best high school golfer in recent years has accepted a "Special Exemption" to play in the 2004 Bay Mills Open. "Ryan is long, straight, and a solid player" Husby said. "He is ready for this level and I'm confident he will turn the eyes of many of the golf professionals playing this year".

Ryan's family have been in golf for years. He has grown up on the family golf course in Mt. Pleasant, The Polecat. "He is regarded as the top college golf prospect to come out of Michigan in the past 20 years" said Fred Stabley Jr., Director of Sports Information at nearby Central Michigan University.

When reached in Mt. Pleasant, Ryan said, " I watched this tournament on TV last year, now I have a chance to compete against players of this caliber, this is going to be great".

Ryan Brehm's results can be followed on http://www.baymillopen.com

Dan Halldorson

"Former PGA Tour Winner Playing At Bay Mills"

"Great news today" Tournament Director Mike Husby said. Dan Halldorson who has won on the PGA Tour and was selected to represent Canada six times in the World Cup has agreed to make his first appearance in the "Players Championship" for the Canadian Tour. "Dan has excellent credentials. I hope all our Canadian neighbors in Sault Ste. Marie come across the bridge to support one of the best players in Canadian history" Husby said. Dan joined the PGA Tour in 1975 out of Winnipeg, Canada. He is now competing on the Champions Tour as well. "I will be arriving early during tournament week in an effort to learn the ins and outs of Wild Bluff" "I hear the wind blows pretty good, being so close to Lake Superior. I need to get a few rounds under my belt before Thursday's opening round" Dan said.

For more information regarding Dan Halldorson: http://www.pgatour.com/players/bio/149711