Reed On The Greens, by Jeffrey Reed
Tyson Tour Alive And Kicking
July 3, 2014
City of London head golf professional and manager, Steve Bennett, smiled a wry smile and thought for a few seconds before commenting on the dedication of today’s junior golfers. But his heart was in the right place July 3 at Thames Valley Golf Club during the second and final round of the annual Les Thomas Memorial Tournament – the kickoff for the Junior Tyson Tour.
“There’s the odd kid who has the dedication Mike Weir had when he played in this event,” said Bennett, Weir’s coach at Huron Oaks Golf Club in Sarnia when Weir won the Les Thomas tourney in 1986 and ‘87.
“A lot of that depends on what the kids want – do they set goals? We do have some hard core golfers on the Tyson Tour who want to play,” said Bennett. “And the Tyson Tour is a great grass-roots tour for competitive golf.
“But life is busy today,” said Bennett of a world much different than when Weir won back-to-back trophies. “I think when Mike won, kids were a little more focused. We didn’t have all of the technology we have today. Today, kids are focused on many, many things other than golf.”
One of those hard-core golfers Bennett spoke of, 17-year-old Graeme Brunet of Sarnia Golf and Country Club, made winning look easy as he captured the 2014 Les Thomas trophy. The Sarnia St. Patrick’s Catholic High School student posted an opening-round 71 at Fanshawe Golf Club July 2, then a closing-round 72 at Thames Valley for the overall championship.
Brunet, who finished runner-up to Seaforth Golf Club’s Paul Doig in 2013, said Weir is just as big of an inspiration to junior golfers in Sarnia today as he was when he won the Masters Tournament in 2003.
“I’m a big Mike Weir fan, and really cheered for him when he finished second (at the Byron Nelson Championship May 18),” said Brunet, who, like Weir, was once a junior golfer at Huron Oaks while Bennett was in charge.
Brunet said his goal is to “win the Tyson Tour championship” at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club August 27, and to compete well at other tournaments this summer, including Golf Association of Ontario events, and the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida July 24-29.
The Junior Tyson Tour is Canada’s longest-running developmental junior golf tour, something Bennett attests to the fact “PGA of Canada pros believe in junior golf. We know junior golf is good for the game. We know our support drives that. That’s why the Tyson Tour has had so many great years.”
The Tyson Tour was founded in 1968 by former London Free Press sports writer, Bev Tyrrell. Tyson comes from the Ty in Tyrrell; the son part comes from his twin sons, Tim and Tom.
Former Thames Valley head pro Fred Kern operated the tour from 1974 until 2002. Today, with local pros including Bennett, Mile Silver of Highland Country Club, and convenor Andy Shaw of Dorchester Golf Club all on board, the Tyson Tour is alive and well.
“Golf is not cheap for parents by today’s standards, either,” said Bennett of another detriment to growing the game of golf, “but we try hard to let the kids know what a great game it is.”
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