Moose Jaw's Bradley claims provincial seniors golf title

The Yorkton weather certainly wasn't consistent this week at the senior men's and ladies' provincial golf championships, but Ken Bradley's play was rock steady.
The Moose Jaw golfer won his first senior men's title as the tournaments wrapped up Thursday, the first day of decent weather.
"I played really well," said Bradley. "I played really solidly again today, similar to the way I played yesterday in the rain. I guess that was enough."
With totals of 76-74-75 (225) over the three-day event, Bradley clearly didn't pay the forecast any mind. In fact, on nine of the holes at the Deer Park Municipal Golf Club, Mr. Consistency recorded the same score every day - all of them pars.
The last time a Moose Jaw golfer won the provincial senior's title was George Tuxford's victory in 1930, according to Bradley.
A birdie on the fourth hole was the only non-par score on Bradley's Thursday front nine. But a brief rain shower may have been to blame for double-bogeys on 10 and 11, after which it was smooth sailing, including a birdie on the 15th hole.
"That probably was the difference," said Bradley. "The rest of the game was just (about) getting it into the house with pars."
Well, not quite - a bogey on the 17th hole kept Bradley from tying his previous day's score. But it wasn't enough for Delisle's Percy Murray to catch up. Murray finished second with a total of 228, while Moose Jaw's Daryl Herchuk wound up fourth with 234.
On the ladies' side, four-time-straight senior provincial champ Lorie Boyle couldn't find a way to capture Number Five. The Moose Jaw golfer finished third, seven strokes back of winner Jo-Anne Schiller of Lloydminster.
After standing third on Wednesday, Boyle predicted she would need "birdies, birdies, birdies" to catch up.
"It wasn't that simple, but I played really well up until the 17th hole. We were still neck-and-neck," she said. "I played good golf. There's nothing I can do about it."
On the 17th hole, Boyle took a practice swing as her ball lay in some tall grass, and accidentally moved the ball, taking a penalty.
She would go on to record a triple-bogey on both that and the final hole to finish with 84 - her lowest day of the event, following two scores of 89.
"I was trying my hardest. It didn't turn out, but that's okay," she said. "I haven't worked on my game this year and I'm still nursing a broken ankle. I just didn't feel ready for golf this year and it showed up in my score."
Despite the loss of her title, Boyle said she had a great time on the course this week - even in the wind and rain.
"My groups this week were awesome," she said. "Couldn't ask for better groups. Had a great time each round."
Though she won't be joining them, she wishes her friends all the best on the provincial team, who will be competing in Victoria September 1-3.
"They're all going to nationals and I'm wishing them all the best."
Bradley, meanwhile, will be attending as part of the provincial team - which has always been his focus at this tournament.
"I don't know if I could say this was a goal of mine," he said. "I always made my goal to try and make the team, never thinking I would have the chance to win it one time. I'm extremely happy with the way I played.
But the win doesn't change his outlook at the national tournament.
"My goal when I go to nationals. . . is just to make the cut. I've done it the last two times and I'm looking forward to trying again."

Taylor Lambert can be reached at 691-1260