Chen accepting the Les Howard Trophy from Zone 4 Seniors Chair Lexx Potter and Donna Simpson, Les Howard’s daughter.

As several of our recent Senior champions illustrate, there are many ways to get very, very good at golf.

Our latest winner, for example, traces his involvement with the sport back to 1996, when he was 33 and happened to watch Tiger Woods win his third U.S. Amateur at Oregon’s Pumpkin Ridge. “I looked at that and said, this is fun,” says Peter Chen. “So I went to a driving range.”

The rest, if not exactly history, is certainly a story that will resonate with many. Hooked big time, Chen took out a membership at Mayfair Lakes and worked hard to develop his game, but then largely abandoned the sport again after a son was born, only to take it up again with even greater enthusiasm when the time crunch eased. Today he balances a position as CFO of a company currently angling toward going public with part-time work in the golf industry, at equipment retailer Par-Tee Golf.

Chen got off to a great start during the first round of the championship at Delta’s Beach Grove, shooting a three-over 74 to tie for the 18-hole lead despite winds of 50 kph, with gusts much higher. “I’m a high-ball hitter,” says Chen. “But I’ve learned to hit it low.” Mostly, he concentrated on avoiding big scores. “The highlight of the day was saving bogeys. I just tried to hit the middle of the green.”

Round two at arguably tougher Richmond Golf and Country Club was a different story, with lovely weather and overall better scoring. “I do get nervous,” says Chen, “because I don’t play tournament golf.” He tried to give himself some scoring chances, while also needing his share of bogey saves. Fortunately, he’s a long hitter. “I made birdie on all four par-5s, which saved me,” he says. Only two players bettered his one-over 73 on the day.

The winner of the Les Howard Trophy will be joined on Zone 4’s provincial championship team by Steven Savage and Mike Kennedy, who each finished one stroke behind Chen. We wish them the best of luck. —Jim Sutherland

- Jim Sutherland