Busy summer awaits Bourque, including stops in Canada

Portland Press Herald (Maine) 03-21-2004

Byline: Tom Chard staff writer
Edition: FINAL
Section: Sports
Column: Golf
Memo: "I was 5 under going into the last round. I was in eighth or ninth place. It was fun seeing my name on the leaderboard. It was a neat experience." Casey Bourque

Casey Bourque, a Maine Amateur champion at 18 in 1995, is playing on the Canadian PGA tour.

Bourque, a former Biddeford High standout, qualified through the winter qualifying school in Florida in early February.
He missed the cut in the first tourney of the year, then finished tied for 23rd in the second, earning $1,409.

Bourque, living in West Palm Beach, Fla., has about a month off before heading to Sacramento, Calif., for back-to-back tournaments: the Greater Sacramento Open, then the Central Valley Classic.

Bourque figured since he was planning to spend the winter in Florida, why not try to qualify for the Canadian tour?

He has received financial backing from the owner and members of Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club in Wolfeboro, N.H., where he is an assistant pro.

"I'm single and as free as I'm ever going to be," Bourque said. "If I was going to try something like this, this would be the time to do it.

"The owner of Lake Winnipesaukee has been great. He's told me I can work as much as I want at the course or as little as I want this summer."

Bourque said he hopes to play in all 14 of the Canadian tour tournaments, "as long as I keep going forward."

He qualified as a conditional member of the tour, but after making the cut in the second tournament two weeks ago improved his ranking, which he said means he'll likely get into all the tournaments.

The first two tournaments were at Austin, Texas, but on different courses. The Austin Challenge was shortened to 54 holes because of rain. Bourque shot 67-68-71.

"I was 5 under going into the last round," said Bourque. "I was in eighth or ninth place. It was fun seeing my name on the leaderboard. It was a neat experience."

Most Canadian tour events are 72 holes with 144 players, although Bourque said the last tourney had 135. The events are televised on the Golf Channel.

"First-place money (in Austin) was $24,000," he said. "There are a couple that are around $35,000."

After California, the tour goes to Mexico for two tournaments, then hits Virginia for another before heading to Canada for the summer, starting the third week of June in Victoria, British Columbia.

Between competing on the tour, working at Lake Winnipesaukee and playing in a few New England state opens, it will be a busy season for Bourque.

"I play and practice every day. I work at The Fountains in West Palm (Beach). It's great because I get all the playing and practicing privileges that I want," he said.

"My swing has changed a lot since I won the Maine Amateur. Basically it's just grown up a lot. I don't have one person that I go to for my swing. There are plenty of guys around to ask for help if you feel you need it."

Bourque plans to play in some mini-tour events in Florida before the next tour tournament.

Bourque also has completed his requirements to be a Class A-8 professional.

"I couldn't have had a better mentor than John Brown, who was the director of golf at Lake Winnipesaukee," he said. "I did a little bit of everything working at the course."

Brown, who was director of golf at The Woodlands in Falmouth a few years ago, is working at Haig Point near Hilton Head, S.C.

Bourque graduated from Florida Southern with a degree in marketing and finance.

TEE TO GREEN: Replacing Brown as director of golf at Lake Winnipesaukee will be Kevin Roberts, formerly of The Woodlands. Roberts won awards for his work with junior golfers.

Patrick Badcock has been hired as head pro and general manager at Brunswick Golf Club. Badcock, a native of England, has been a pro since he was 17. He came to the U.S. in 2000 and was an assistant pro, then head pro at Point Sebago in Casco. For the past two seasons, Badcock has been director of golf at Sable Oaks.

Dan Falcone, the former Riverside assistant pro, is the new teaching pro and tournament director at Paris Hill in South Paris.

The Blue and White Classic Golf Committee, in partnership with the Morse High class of 1954 and the Bath High Alumni Association, will hold the third annual "Blue and White Classic" on June 11 at the Bath Country Club. The tournament will kick off class reunion weekend as well as the Centennial Celebration of Morse High. A field of 85 alumni and friends is expected with proceeds benefiting the Morse High scholarship fund. Last year the tournament raised $24,693. There are limited openings. Interested teams should contact the committee chairman, Brud Stover, or a committee member. Stover's telephone number is 442-7336 or e-mail: brud@gwi.net.

The fifth annual Hon. Edward W. Rogers memorial tournament will take place June 23 at Poland Spring. Proceeds will benefit the Maine's Children Cancer Program. There will be 7 a.m. and noon tee times. A dinner and silent auction will follow at approximately 5 p.m. The entry fee is $125 per person or $500 for a foursome.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Copyright 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.