Scott Blackstock is no stranger to the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society championship trophy.
After a sizzling 65 on Sunday's second round, Blackstock added his 17th OTS championship title to his resume.
“Today was perfect. There was a little bit of a breeze to keep the humidty down so it wasn't too hot,” Blackstock said of his experience at the 60th annual tournament. “Conditions were perfect and the weather was perfect. My driver was hitting it well all day and I was hitting it kind of close. I made some good putts.”
He was fortunate enough to play the first round Friday under slightly better weather conditions than Saturday's wind tunnel. That ensured he was in the championship flight, not like he needed the help.
“Honestly, a lot of the guys that were in the championship flight were good enough that they'd be in the championship flight anyhow. They're good golfers.”
Blackstock sealed the championship for his round with a preposterous eagle on the par 5 18th hole.
“I hit such a good drive that I couldn't not go for the green in two,” he said. “I hit a beautiful shot in there about eight feet away and putted in for the eagle.”
There were 240 golfers in the event last year, and this year also had 240 registered for the 18 and 36 hole event.
“We're pretty satisfied with 240,” said Rick Rohatyn, one of the event organizers. “We were hoping things would pick up. In the past, we've had 380 golfers. It's declined somewhat. There's different players playing all the time but we just don't get many out of town players playing anymore.”
There were six or seven golfers in the championship flight that could have won, Rohatyn said. Previous winenrs like Blackstock, Brett Blackstock, Anthony Melle, Scott Dutton and Nolan Rohatyn were all in the championship flight.
Blackstock's title is his 17th overall and first since 2012, the year after the flood. But he won the event first in 1974 and put together a string of 10 titles between 1989-2001.
“I've been in the oil patch all my life,” he said. “You see guys in this tournament that you don't see all year because they come from Alberta and different parts of the province. It's great to reconnect with people you haven't seen for awhile. And it's always been a great tournament. That's what keeps you coming back and wanting to play.”
This year, Blackstock started going to Crossfit Blackrock and noticed the improvements in his strength and flexibility. A major part of the tournament's appeal is the networking and camaraderie between oil workers.
“The oil patch is like that,” Blackstock said. “It's such a great community and the whole oil patch has been through the ups and downs. We ride it out together through the highs and lows.”
