Prince Albert golfer new champ

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The 1991 Indian Canadian Golf Champion is Prince Albert's Bill Cameron, who beat Regina's Ken Sinclair by one stroke, with a four-over par score of 220.

The Murray Memorial Golf Course in Regina was the site of the championship games.

Top prizes went to the top four players in the Championship flight. Placing fourth was John Dorion from Cumberland House and third was Mitch Buffalo from Hobbema, Alberta.

The tournament was hosted by Peepeekisis Indian Reserve in memory of the late "Doc" Swanson, who was an active recreational promoter on the reserve. He could always be counted on to take part in every sporting event held. His widow, Mrs. Swanson, presented champion Cameron with a trophy and a painting by Indian artist George Swanson Daywalker painting.

The tournament opened with the qualifying rounds on Friday, July 10, and continued through Sunday in what could only be described by tournament organizer

Don Ross this way: "The golf gods are with us this weekend.

"You won't get better weather for golfing."

The days were clear with very little wind. Humidity was high because of occasional showers, mostly overnight, and the temperature hovered around 20C during the prime golfing times from noon to late afternoon. Because of the generally cool, wet weather this year, the greens were in excellent shape. Golfers had to putt with authority and the pin placements were challenging. On the 18th hole, the green is mostly off to the left at the end of the fairway and, for the final round Sunday, the flag was hidden behind a pine, practically invisible until you were within 50 yards. Those pines cost Ken Sinclair an extra stroke as he was coming in for the final, tied with Bill Cameron.

Indian golfers came from all over Western Canada. Some 76 men, 11 women and 15 junior golfers took part. Lloyd Gauthier, originally from the Regina area, drove all the way from his home in B.C. On Saturday, Chief Enock Poitras hosted a round of golf for special guests - Willie Littlechild, MP from Wetaskiwin, Bob Mitchell, Saskatchewan Minister of Justice, and Keith Goulet, NDP-MLA for Cumberland in Saskatchewan.

Besides the incentive to win some of the more than $10,000 in prizes, golfers

were competing to become members of the Canadian Indian team that goes to play in Warm Springs, Oregon for the CanAm Indian Golf Tournament in October. The top

10 golfers and one alternate were determined Sunday. Dutch Lerat, second Vice-Chief

of the Federal Saskatchewan Indian Nations, was master of ceremonies for the prize presentation, assisted by Mrs. "Doc" Swanson.

Top junior golfer was Gustin Albert from Saskatoon. He walked away with a

fine new set of custom clubs for his efforts. Top women's golfer was Linda Poitras from Peepeekisis, winning the trophy and another painting by Daywalker. King Tuck, the winner in the Tuck (short for t'ka) flight was Louis Wolverine from Buffalo Narrows.

Don Ross, tournament organizer, announced the 10-man team going to the CanAm: Bill Cameron; Ken Sinclair; Regina, Sask.; Mitch Buffalo, Hobbema, Alberta; John Dorion, Cumberland House, Sask; Lloyd Gauthier, B.C.; Joe Straightnose, Kamsak, Sask; Roy Goodwill; Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask; Graham Murdoch, Regina; Roy Cote, Cole Reserve, Sask; and Guy Lonechild, White Bear Reserve, Sask. Alternate member is Linden Lerat, Regina.

Enock Poitras, host chief and an avid golfer, would like to see it become an annual event. Next year's tournament will be at White Bear, near Carlyle, Sask. and will be held July 18-20.