Canada Wins World Cup Qualifier

The Canadian team of Graham DeLaet from Weyburn, Sask., and Victoria’s Stuart Anderson managed an even par 72 in Sunday foursomes, but it was enough to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup qualifier by two strokes over Wales.

The duo finished at 19-under-par 269 in Estonia to book a spot in the main event in China from Nov. 26–29.

Scotland fired a final round 66 to grab the third qualifying spot, three ahead of fourth place Portugal.

This is the second consecutive trip to the World Cup for DeLaet, who partnered with Calgary’s Wes Heffernan in a tie for 13th last year.

Anderson’s previous trip was in 2004 when he and Darren Griff represented Canada in Seville, Spain.

Buoyed by their victory in the qualifier, Canada were feeling confident about their chances when they tee it up at Mission Hills Golf Club in the World Cup final in November.

“When Graham and I are both on form, we can definitely contend. We played pretty well today. We had got ourselves far enough in front that we could cruise along today. It is great that we won, but our first goal was to qualify this week,” said Anderson.

DeLaet agreed. “We came here to get the job done and finish in the top three and we did it,” he said. “We are very excited to have the chance to play in China and we have a great chance to really compete when we get there.”

“It’s always exciting to put your country’s flag on your bag and stride down the fairway.

“Growing up as a kid in Canada you dream of representing your country at ice hockey. Golf is the only sport that I will have the chance to fulfill that dream with and I am really proud.”

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ROUND THREE

The Canadian duo of Graham DeLaet and Stuart Anderson fired a nine-under-par 63 in Saturday fourball to grab a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup qualifier in Estonia.

Canada is at 19-under-par 197, three ahead of Wales and five up on Portugal.

“Stu played awesome today”, said DeLaet. “He carried us today. I was able to contribute, but he shot eight of our birdies today”.

Canada’s only blemish on an otherwise perfect score card came with a bogey at the par four 14th.

“I spun my ball of the green from 100 yards and Stuart hit the green in regulation but three putted,” said DeLaet. “It always hurts to make bogey in this format, but we recovered well and made a couple more birdies.”

Although Anderson was responsible for most of the birdies, he was quick to point out how important DeLaet’s par-making had been for the team.

“Graham made the pars today and that freed me up to fire it at the flags and to be aggressive. We worked as a team and his pars were crucial. They made my birdie putts look easier,” said Anderson.

DeLaet added that it’s important for the Canadians not to get too far ahead of themselves heading into Sunday’s foursomes.

“We will have the same team order tomorrow as we did on Friday, but we might play a little more passively as we have a bit of a cushion. We aren’t thinking too much about China yet. We will take care of business tomorrow then we can be excited about the World Cup.”

The top three finishers qualify for the World Cup in China in November.

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FRIDAY FOURSOMES

Wales shot a bogey-free 66 in second round Foursomes to take a two-stroke lead over Canada at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup European Qualifier in Estonia.

We both played really well today,” said Canadian Tour player Graham DeLaet, who is representing Canada along with Victoria’s Stuart Anderson.

“We hit every green in regulation which is something you strive to do in the alternate shot format. We only missed two fairways today and even then, we were in the second cut. Our only bogey came from a three putt when I missed a two-footer for par on 14.”

Anderson reflected on the unique nature of Foursomes. “It’s an added pressure to perform with the Foursomes format. It’s a very different animal.

“It’s fun to play. You get involved in reading each other’s putts and figuring out the yardages together, so you feel much more like a team.”

The top three finishers from this event, which concludes on Sunday, qualify for the World Cup in China in November

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THURSDAY FOURBALL

The Canadian duo of Graham DeLaet and Stuart Anderson shot 65 to establish a one-stroke lead after round one of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup European Qualifier in Estonia.

The Canadians are one ahead of Welsh pairing of Stephen Dodd and Jamie Donaldson, who shot a 66 in Thursday’s opening fourball round at the Estonian Golf and Country Club.

With the top three finishers qualifying for the World Cup in China in November, DeLaet and Anderson, both regulars on the Canadian Tour, started strongly.

“We got off to a really good start, birdieing four of the first five holes. Six and seven slowed us down a bit with a three-putt par followed by a bogey, but Stuart birdied the 10th and we had birdie chances on every hole after that. We had a lull in the middle of the round, but we finished strong,” said DeLaet.

It was clear the duo had given some thought to the more challenging foursomes format that will be in play on Friday.

“We have had three days to look at the course and after the pro-am (Wednesday), we decided that Graham would tee off on the odd holes and I would take the even ones. We have a similar game, but Graham probably hits it further off the tee than I do,” said Anderson.

“We feel confident in each other and that’s huge. We trust one another and we played well so we will just have to stay aggressive and do our best.”

• images courtesy of the Canadian Tour

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