Oliphant heads for national senior tourney

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/08/2021 (1827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rob Oliphant is preparing to test his skills against Canada’s best.

The longtime Rossmere Country Club golfer qualified for the Canadian senior men’s Golf Championship following a third-place finish at the Golf Manitoba men’s senior tournament, held at the Steinbach Fly-In Club from Aug. 4 to 6.

The showing means Oliphant will play at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Que. from Sept. 21 to 24.

Oliphant’s spot on the provincial team was far from assured, as he put up scores of 75 and 76 over the first two rounds to find himself in a large group of contenders. Thankfully, he made up ground on the final day with a two-under-par 70, tied for the best round of the tournament.

“I actually hit it better the first two days, but I putted really well the last day,” Oliphant admitted.

As his career has progressed, Oliphant, now 56, said he’s had to pay more attention to his putting and short game, which sometimes elude him. But he shone when it counted, especially on the 15th hole during the final round when he found himself in a close competition with 2020 champion Bruce North. Oliphant hit the water but managed to save par. 

While that was the highlight Oliphant said he also made several birdie and par-saving putts that day.

Oliphant has called Rossmere home for more than 40 years and the course has been good to him. He’s won at least one club title in every decade of his life beginning in his teens and running through his 50s. Oliphant took to the game quickly after playing his first round at age nine. Along the way he earned a few more Rossmere trophies, made two Manitoba mid-amateur teams and placed fifth at the Canadian junior championships.

This latest accolade almost didn’t happen. Earlier in the summer Oliphant broke a toe, which threw off his conditioning. A few days before Rossmere’s club championships, Oliphant told club manager Scott Parker he wasn’t going to enter, but Parker made him promise to sign up if he could break par on that day’s round. Oliphant went out and shot a 67.

“Then I had to keep my word,” he said with a smile.

Going into the provincial tournament, Oliphant said he believed he could compete with the top entrants and he could vie for the title if things fell his way. While he fell short ot top spot, he is happy with the results and looking forward to playing for a Canadian title on a great course.

“It’s a beautiful golf course and it’s pretty exciting to be able to play on it,” Oliphant said.

Tony Zerucha
East Kildonan community correspondent

Tony Zerucha is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email him at tzerucha@gmail.com

   Read full biography