They have been buddies since grade school. They have competed against each other in sports. They have also teamed together over the years to achieve new goals.
And now with both entering adulthood they are determined to conquer the world.
Mitch Bach, 20, and Dylan Webster, 19, are good ole Sundre lads who are on a quest together to achieve glory on the links.
The two young golfers have teamed up to play at the International Pairs Canadian Western Final at Comox, B.C. on Oct. 2 and 3. The winning team goes on to play at the world finals at the Carrick on Loch Lomond in Scotland from Oct. 16 through to Oct. 18.
“When we entered this tournament our goal was enter the world finals, even win,” said Bach.
Their journey to Comox, and hopefully to the worlds, comes with added incentive. The pair played the Sundre qualifier in 2009 and missed going to the Canadian finals by a heartbreaking one stroke.
“We realized we should have won it. We were so close,” said Bach. “We've been preparing for this year and we want to win it. I have looked at the scores over the past few years and our scores were better.”
The pair has a long history of playing in prestigious golf events, including the Alberta Junior tournament in 2010 and the high school championships in 2008.
But as they grew out of their teens, their individual games have taken different directions as their lives evolved. Bach now works in the pro shop at the Olds Golf Club while Webster is a third-year business student at the University of Calgary.
“I play more for fun now,” said Webster. “In the last couple of years I haven't gotten into it as much. I've been busy working. I haven't taken it as seriously as Mitch.”
But he vows to have his game completely back together by the time he hits the links at Comox.
As for Bach, he is determined to make golf a career, to be on the PGA tour at some stage of his life.
“I want my pro card sometime in the next three years,” said Bach.
For now though there is plenty of practice before the Comox tournament, which will be played on a two-man best ball format and a three-quarters handicap allowance. Maximum handicap for men is 24 (18 shots). Bach is a zero handicap while Webster enters the tourney with a four handicap. Because there is a three-quarters handicap allowance tournament officials take three-quarters of a player's handicap and deduct it from each competitor's final score.
And because it is a handicap tournament there are wide gaps between the quality of players competing. With their low handicaps and proven consistency at excelling in the sport the two Sundre golfers firmly believe they have an excellent chance to win and to avenge their 2009 disappointment.
“The joy of team sport is that if you screw up there is someone there to watch your back,” said Bach, who is motivated to win due to his long-standing friendship with Webster. “We have played a lot of golf together over the years. We are pretty good friends.”
