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 My Site News: Masters of the Game - Jan. 2005 - Cam Emerson |
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Tuesday, February 15
Masters of the Game - Jan. 2005 - Cam Emerson
Masters of the Game - Jan. 2005 - Cam Emerson
A tribute to people involved in Masters Fastball in Ontario.
Cam Emerson - " Mr. Long Ball "
It doesn’t matter what kind of ball it is, if it is white then Cam can hit it a mile !
Cam has been hitting softballs and golf balls a long way for many years.
Cam’s fastball career started at a young age where he started playing T-Ball and progressed up the ranks
and won an O.A.S.A. Provincial Peewee Championship playing for Grimsby “ Plaza Gulf. ”
Cam played his junior ball in the early 80’s with Grimsby J.P.’s until the team folded.
After the team folded Cam and three of his teammates hooked up with the junior team in Hagersville where Cam had the pleasure of playing with Adam Smith. Adam Smith went on to win world championships with the Toronto Gators and became a member of Canada’s National Men’s Team. As he got older Cam got “ picked –up “ to play for men’s teams in Niagara Falls and Buffalo area tournaments. Cam was also flown down to Texas to play for a team from Austin Texas in the USA Regionals. Cam pitched the team to the finals where he lost 1-0 to a team from Dallas. After his golfing career ended Cam started playing for the Stoney Creek Gators Masters where he was counted on as a power hitting 3rd baseman. Cam helped the Gators win the Ontario & Eastern Canadian Championships in 2002 and a Silver Medal at the 2004 Canadian Masters Championship.
Cam was the home run leader in the round robin portion of the 2003 OASA Masters Tournament in Cobourg. Cam has won several home run derby’s and finished 2nd at the 2004 Desboro derby that had 39 participants and took 3 ½ hours to complete.
Cam’s golf career is where he really excelled at hitting it long. After high school Cam had some decisions to make, he had interest from some of the top US universities for a hockey scholarship.
Cam chose golf and attended Southwest Texas State University ( now called Texas State ) on a full golf scholarship. Cam was one of the top 2 players on his golf team in his first year at Texas State. In his final 2 years at university he really broke out with 4 wins and several 2nd & 3rd place finishes. Cam turned pro in 1988 and immediately qualified for the Canadian Professional Golf Association ( C.P.G.A. ) Tour by finishing 2nd at the C.P.G.A. “ Q ” School. Cam enjoyed some success over the years but never won on the C.P.G.A. Tour, Cam’s best finishes were a 2nd at the 1991 Windsor Charity Classic and a 3rd at the 1993 BC Open. Cam tried to qualify for the P.G.A. on 5 different occasions and every time he made it through the 1st stage and twice , in 90 & 91 made it to the final stage. In 1990 he missed his P.G.A. Card by 5 strokes after shooting 76 in the final 2 rounds at a very difficult PGA West Course in Palm Springs California. Cam played several other tours over the years including the Asian Tour, Hogan Tour ( now Nationwide Tour, ) and the North Atlantic Tour where he won 4 times including the tour championship. One of Cam’s biggest accomplishments was winning a qualifying tournament where he beat 156 golfers which enabled him to compete in the 1998 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey. Cam twice missed qualifying for the US Open by 1 stroke. Cam’s greatest strength was his driving ability. His university coach, Steve Veriato, who played on the PGA Tour in the late 70’s called Cam the longest straight hitter he’d ever seen. Cam’s lowest round ever was a 64 which he has accomplished on 6 different occasions. Every golfer’s dream is a hole in one which Cam has done 3 times.
Not only was Cam a very good golfer he excelled in the long drive championships. Although Cam was not able to win a Canadian Championship in fastball, he has the distinction of being the 1989 & 1994 Canadian Long Drive Champion. Cam was also a semi finalist in the 1989 US Long Drive Championship. Cam has won over 30 long drive titles. Cam has also traveled across Canada putting on corporate and charity exhibitions with his wide array of trick shots. Cam has met and played with many celebrities in various Pro – Am tournaments including Bobby Hull, Dennis Hull, Dick Duff, Pierre Pilotte, Trevor Linden, Ernie Whitt, Cliff Thorburn and Dan Quinn. His most memorable and interesting meeting occurred one year during the first stage of qualifying school. Heading into the final round Cam found himself right on the cut line and paired up with Jack Nicklaus Jr. Cam found himself golfing with Jack Nicklaus Jr. with father Jack Nicklaus Sr. the greatest golfer of all time on hand supporting his son. Cam was introduced to Jack Nicklaus Sr. as they walked down the first fairway. Everything was running smoothly for Cam until the 4th hole when he drove the ball through the fairway on a dogleg into some fescue. The ball was never found and Cam took a double bogey on the hole and now really had his work cut out for him. Cam played flawlessly the rest of the way picking up 4 birdies and 10 pars. While walking up the last fairway, Nicklaus Sr. said “ you’re a couple under for the day aren’t you ? ” Cam replied
“ yes ” and Jack responded “ nice comeback. ” A chronic wrist injury in the early 90’s coupled with lower back pain eventually forced him to give up his golf game in 2000. Cam is just now trying to play some competitive golf again and was forced to miss 3 months in 2004 with back problems. Today he spends his time giving lessons and running his own home renovation business.
Cam was an all around athlete playing hockey, football as well as fastball and golf.
Cam played Jr. “ B ” hockey with the Grimsby Peach Kings as a 16 year old. Cam led the team in scoring twice and was in the top 10 in league scoring. Cam averaged a goal a game and scored 5 goals in a game on 2 occasions. Cam Emerson has many nicknames, Reggie, Emer, Captain Morgan and “ Mr. Long Ball ”
Handout:
Cam Emerson Profile
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