Only one will come out on top at the Invitational

Story by Beau Moyer

Everyone Wants to Win, but only one will come out on top!
The Bill Morland Men’s Invitational sponsored by 100 Georges and Molson on tap this weekend at the North Bay Golf and Country Club, only one golfer out of the field of 180 will come out victorious. For the other 179 members of the field they will have to wait for another shot at it next year after the leader makes his last putt on the 18 th green. This is what makes the game of golf so great, after the battle is complete there is only going to be one man standing. That man will be able to say he conquered the field in 2009.

For those that have won this great tournament, the moment sticks with them forever, for most it is only a dream and something they can only imagine.

With Jordie Leggett - a long time member at the NBGCC - the memory of winning is still fresh in his mind. Leggett who is the IT Cordinator at YES Employment, won the Invitational at the age of 18 in 1999.

“I was surprised, happy and honored to be on that trophy with all the big names,” stated the 2007 NGA Champion and 1-handicap.

“I expect to win this year, there are many good players and I see myself finishing in the top 5, I am playing as good as I have ever been.”

For 2007 winner Ricky Allen, winning the event came as a surprise. The Nipissing University student is one of the most talented golfers in North Bay and won the 2003 Ontario Juvenile.

Allen would love to get his name on that trophy again.

“When I won in 2007 it was like disbelief, the tournament’s field keeps getting stronger and stronger every year, I just tried to do my best and it happened,” said the 23-year-old with a 1-handicap who is working towards a degree in Accounting and Marketing.

“This weekend I just hope to play well, I only play once or twice a week.”

To a golfer such as Brandon Moffat, the thought of winning this great tournament is only a dream at this point. He has yet to achieve his goal of winning, but the thought of it has crossed his mind on many occasions.

“Winning this tournament would be a true pat on the back to do it on your home course,” said Moffat an Ontario Amateur participant and 3-handicap.

“I am hitting the ball well, to win you have to hit every shot as good as you can.”

Mark Lucenti, a good friend of Leggett's and 2008 champion Andrew Beattie, is excited for the weekend. Winning the championship is something that he feels is in his sights. After all, the North Bay lawyer is the Country Club’s course record holder when he shot 61 in 2003.

“It would be a true honor to win, to put my name associated with the greats and my good friends Jordie and Andrew,” said Lucenti who completed his law degree in Australia in 2007.

“I just hope to make the championship flight and have a chance to compete for the title on Sunday," said Lucenti who currently sits with a 7-handicap.

Playing the game of hockey at the professional level, Russ Moyer can have his mistakes protected by a teammate. This weekend, he will have no teammates and will be all on his own.

The former Ontario Junior Golf Association participant with a 3-handicap will take the same mentality he has on the ice to the green grass and slopy hills.

“To win would be a very special accomplishment. Everything I do, I try to win,” stated Moyer who will be heading overseas to further his hockey career this fall.

“Making the championship flight is my goal, once Sunday comes anything could happen.”

These golfers are all products of the North Bay Golf and Country Club junior program. Growing up they followed this tournament as caddies or members of the gallery. This weekend they will all get their chance to be crowned victorious of this great event. To stand on that 18 th green, and hearing the ovation from the balcony is a moment that they envision.