Golf is all in the family for the Lancasters
Mike Pearson
Published on
Jul 04, 2008
They're a triple threat to win virtually any tournament they enter.
Mike, 16, twins Chris and Cam Lancaster, 14, are brothers who love to golf.
Last weekend the trio hit the links at the Bick Financial Junior Golf Tour at Chedoke Golf Club.
The Bick Financial Junior Golf Tour determines the Junior Boys, Junior Girls and Bantam division champions in Southern Ontario. The Lancasters are believed to be the first brother trio ever to compete at the tournament.
At the tour's first event, Saturday June 28, Mike shot a 75, Chris scored a 77 and Cam recorded a score of 80.
By age seven all three brothers took up the sport. Today they hone their skills as members of Glendale Golf and Country Club in Stoney Creek. Recently, the family has installed an artificial putting green in their backyard, giving the boys a place to perfect their short game.
"We've been putting on it like crazy," said Cam.
The boys credit Oak Gables golf teacher Ralph Bauer, who has helped to improve their game. Last fall, the boys led the Bishop Tonnos Titans high school golf team to the 2007 Hamilton Catholic championship. They comprised three quarters of the team.
"We won the city championship," Mike said with pride.
Their parents, Ken and Deb are also avid golfers. Ken boasts a healthy three-handicap.
The brother trio also played June 27 at the Golf Association of Ontario Junior/Juvenile Qualifier in Port Colborne. The tournament is the qualifying round for the 2008 Ontario Junior/Juvenile Championship scheduled later this month at Toronto's Whitevale Golf Club.
Mike won the tournament with a 4-under 68.
Cam and Chris both shot 77 and finished tied for 15th.
Mike is perhaps the busiest player among the trio. On June 30, in Troy, N.Y., he attempted to qualify for the United States Golf Association's 2008 Junior Golf Championship.
It's a grueling test of endurance, with two rounds in the same day.
In the 36-hole qualifier, Mike shot rounds of 74 and 76 to finish in fifth position.
As it turned out, he missed qualifying by just one stroke.
Mike was exempt from the 2008 Bick tour qualifying based on his 2007 finish of seventh place. Cam and Chris had to qualify for the 2008 tour. Cam advanced with a round of 73 and Chris followed with a 74. Heading into the first stop on the tournament, the boys all hoped to place in the top 10, or win outright.
It could be the start of a sibling rivalry.
"I want to win it, or at least try to beat him," said Cam, pointing to his older brother, Mike.
In March the brother trio competed at the Ontario Junior Masters Series at Myrtle Beach, SC., and Mike captured the six round tournament title.
One of Mike's proudest accomplishments is last month's 20th place finish at the Royal Canadian Golf Association's CN Future Links Ontario Championship in Stratford, Ont.
With continued hard work and development, the boys hope to parlay their success on the links into a golf scholarship somewhere south of the border.