Brantford, Ont., duo enjoy experience of lifetime at

World Final in Scotland

TORONTO (July 6, 2007) - Until this week, Don Murphy and Jack Wratten were just a couple of ordinary club golfers who never dared dream they might one day represent Canada in the game’s Scottish cradle, squaring off against the world for the title of international champion.
 Yet there they were in St. Andrews, rubbing elbows with a mosaic of competitors from around the globe as they prepared for the most important 36 holes of their golfing lives: the International Pairs World Final at St. Andrews Bay, Scotland.
The pair, from Brantford, Ont., beamed with pride and blinked away tears as they crossed the Swilcan Bridge, an icon of golf history that has borne the weight of golf’s greatest players, during the event’s opening parade down the 18th at the Old Course and up North Street, a huge Canadian flag hoisted high overhead.
After the final round was over, they spoke eloquently and emotionally about placing 12th in a field of 28 teams from 18 different countries, about their first-hand experiences with Scottish weather, and about what it’s like to get the chance of a lifetime to live a golfer’s dream.
“I’m 50 years old, and when I carried that flag over that bridge, where Nicklaus, Palmer, so many of the greats have walked, I did have tears in my eyes,” said Wratten, a two-handicap who plays with Murphy out of the Brantford Golf and Country Club.
“It was unbelievable; it’s always an honour to carry your country’s flag in any event, whether a sporting event or anything. I’m very proud to be over here representing my country in this golf tournament, which I think is a great event.”
The pair won the right to represent Canada at the World Final by winning the National Final last September at the Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Though they struggled initially with the newfound drama and pressure of international competition, Murphy and Wratten showed great grit and poise on the fairways of the Torrance and the Devlin courses as they battled to catch the leaders.
“We were very proud of their presentation here; they did very well. They didn’t win, but they represented Canada very well,” said Frank Dennis, president of International Pairs Canada.
“They are not scratch golfers; they are handicap golfers, and that’s what makes this whole competition so unique. Low handicappers to high handicappers, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime to live the dream of being a golfer in a competition with international competition. It’s amazing.”
Murphy and Wratten felt like they’d hit the jackpot long before hitting their opening tee shots.
“When a guy with a 13 handicap can play in Scotland for free, there’s nothing you can say that can beat that,” said Murphy, 46.
“If you cannot spend the $30 to get into an event like this, you’d be crazy. It’s like buying a lottery ticket, only your odds are way better.”
Under the event’s Stableford format, the Canadian pair produced a two-day total of 73 points, just eight back of the winning total of 81.
They were accompanied by a host of family members, as well as Dr. Dave Pugh, the Vice-Captain at Brantford G&CC, who earned the chance to visit Scotland by organizing the qualifying event for the winning team.
The final wrapped up in dramatic fashion, with a sudden-death playoff between three United Kingdom teams: England, Scotland and Ireland.
After the Irish pair was dispatched during the first playoff hole, the Scottish duo of Justin Aitchison and Shaun Smith claimed the title with a par and hoisted the Honey Cup _ named for tournament founder Ross Honey _ at a gala ceremony on Tuesday.
For the World Final, competitors stayed at the luxurious Fairmont St. Andrews Resort, just steps away from 36 holes of challenging coastal golf, designed by former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and PGA Tour veteran Bruce Devlin.

The 2008 International Pairs National Final is scheduled to take place Sept. 25-26 at the John Daly-designed Thundering Waters Golf Club in Niagara Falls, Ont. Qualifiers will be flown to the event courtesy of WestJet.
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of this kind of international tournament where you get the calibre of players that you do, from across not only Canada, but at an event like this, internationally; it’s pretty exciting to be a part of this for our airline,” said Duncan Bureau, WestJet’s Vice-President, Sales.
“I’d love to see a lot more golf courses across Canada participate,” Bureau said. “I think it’s such a great value proposition for golfers, and it’s a great opportunity to play in an international tournament _ playing not only in Canada at your own local course, but flying into a Canadian championship is pretty exciting _ and the calibre of golf is fantastic.”
The unique format of the International Pairs tournament is the key to its worldwide success and growing popularity in Canada. For only $30 each, players can enter a qualifying event at any participating public or private club across the country.
More information is available at http://www.internationalpairs.ca/, by calling toll-free 1-866-299-8886 or sending an e-mail to info@internationalpairs.ca.

Media Contact:
International Pairs Canada
Frank Dennis, President       
frank@internationalpairs.ca

Sonia McKeon
Director of Marketing
sonia@internationalpairs.ca

1-866-299-8886