The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 64

GOLF FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 Future of tour events a question of 'optics' AB4 I SPORTS I THEPROVINCE.COM PTOSES IliCBEASi: But Surrey Invitational will only be saved if it finds sponsor may surprise some of you recently converted fans, but there i is more going on in golf than the Kent Gilchrist address Surrey's future will be sometime in January. "I would love to have tournaments in all three, Victoria, Vancouver and the Okanagan," said Janes. "I congratulate the commissioner and the Canadian Tour for being able to increase purses," said Stuart, "but 1 unless we can find a title sponsor, the City of Surrey Invitational will not be on the 2010 schedule." Stuart would like to have Hazelmere play host to spring qualifying school at the end of May so he can keep is 1 volunteer base intact. BARYLA MOVES UP AT SCHOOL Vernon's Chris Baryla jumped 51 spots Thursday in the second round of PGA Tour School at Bear Lakes in West Palm Beach, Fla. with a three-under 69.

He moved from 105th to 54th and sits at one-over 145. Edmonton's Barrett Jarosch shot a six-under 66 for the second best round of the day in the 170-player field, moving into eighth place at five under 139, in a group that includes another Canadian, Julian Trudeau. Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, runner-up to Mike Grob last year at Surrey, is at three under and tied for 16th after a second-round 71. hkgilchristyahoo.com A i I I Hi1. mii i Mike Grob tees off at the 18th on his way to winning the Surrey Invitational in June.

The event's future is now in doubt, ric ernst province files latest Tiger Woods revelation. While the bad news from the Canadian Tour revealed this week may not be as titillating, at least it was positively offset by healthy purse increases for five tournaments in 2010. The bad news involves the shaky future of the City of Surrey Invitational, which will only be saved if a new title sponsor is found quickly, and the fact that the ATB Financial Classic has fled Calgary. Interestingly, Canadian Tour commissioner Rick Janes and Mike Stuart, president of West Coast Golf Group which has donated Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club for the Surrey event both used the word "optics" to describe the state of the pro tour business. In the past, six businesses in Surrey have contributed $25,000 each toward the $150,000 purse for the tournament but the "optics" of a SPORTS COMMENT couple of them having to lay off staff in the current economic climate has caused them to reconsider their participation in 2010.

Janes, meanwhile, said: "The optics of increased purses on present and future sponsors and advertisers show we have a very solid sports league. The balance sheet is the best it's ever been." Victoria's Times Colonist Open, which will be at Uplands in June, is getting a increase of $50,000 to $250,000, while the Saskatchewan Open in Saskatoon has been bumped by $100,000 to $250,000, the Players Cup in Winnipeg from $200,000 to $300,000 and the Canadian Tour Championship by $75,000 to $325,000. However, the ATB Financial Clas- sic has relocated to Edmonton and will merge with the Telus Edmonton Open. Telus will remain the sponsor and the purse will increase to $250,000, but it amounts to a net loss of $50,000 as both events had $150,000 purses each. Janes says the Tour is close to closing a deal for a new tournament in oil-rich Fort McMurray but it is still listed as tentative on the schedule, the same as a possible new event in the Okanagan.

In fact, there are many tournaments on the present schedule including showcase events such as the Players Cup and Canadian Tour Championship without a home course listed as yet. Janes had been hoping to discuss the Surrey issue with Stuart, but is going in for hip surgery next week. The earliest anything will be done to A 2 5 mm w- fJ ri ft I im mm 1U Al a i I 3 Person Carbon Fibre Sauna Lrf- 'S-rJ -StereoCD player -I-'a 'X 'v 3 Person Carbon Fibre Sauna StereoCD player 1 2 Person Ceramic Sauna StereoCD player Extended light Canadian Hemlock Wood Ceramic Heater RM.fS496NOW $1395 External light Canadian Hemlock Wood Reg. $4995 NOW $2795 2 Person Promo Sauna StereoCD player Extended light Canadian Hemlock Wood 2 Person Carbon Sauna StereoCD player External light Canadian Hemlock Wood Reg. $3995 NOW $2495 Reg.

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