Deuces definitely wild on the Canadian Tour

Two Canadian Tour events. Two leaders who can't hold on. Two playoffs. Two exciting finishes.

That's how it broke down the last two weeks with our twin CanTour stops in Modesto and Stockton. The circuit travels south this week for the Corona Mazatlan Mexican PGA Championship, an event hoping to copy the two California tournaments for late-round thrills.

Tony Barber of Los Angeles took a two-stroke lead to the final hole, Brookside Country Club's par-5 18th hole Sunday, and appeared a short walk from the title of the Stockton Sports Commission Classic.

All changed, however, when Barber drove into the hazard, blew the lead, and eventually lost a one-hole playoff to University of Oregon product John Ellis of San Jose.

If you think this sounds like a replay of what transpired the week before, you're right. Andrew Parr led Joel Kribel by six strokes and Spencer Levin by eight with nine holes to go at the Spring International, the tournament at Del Rio Country Club.

Parr still held a one-stroke lead on the final hole, only to bogey it and lose to Levin on the second playoff hole. Barber and Parr learned painful lessons the last two weeks, but they're not golfing their ball on the Canadian Tour for $16,000 winner's checks. They're coping with all the elements professional golf has to offer, including that nausea felt by all leaders on the final few holes.

Ellis placed second at both Northern California tournaments last year. He knocked on the door and, this time, was there to walk into the winner's circle.

THE SHAG BAG -- Modesto's Marc Peterson closed with a solid 70 and tied for ninth in Stockton at 12-under-par 276, good for his second check ($2,700 this time) in as many weeks. ... Matt Bettencourt of Modesto posted a 78 Sunday and tied for 48th at the Nationwide Tour competition in Athens, Ga. Levin and Atwater's Matt Hansen both missed the cut and seek to rebound this week at the Henrico County Open in Richmond, Va. ...

Congratulations to Mitch Lowe, the director of instruction at Del Rio, for shooting a 63, the course record at Rancho Murieta (South). He and Del Rio member Phil Mastagni won the Taylor Made Adidas Championship, a NorCal PGA two-man tournament last week. ... Oakdale CC members Stan Colombo, Ken Nichols, Ken Ockey and Mike Russell edged Van Buskirk for the NCGA Central Valley Zone title last month at Poppy Hills. The team went 31-under par in the format that takes the two best net scores on each hole. Both Oakdale and Van Buskirk will advance to the Zone Championship at Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill on Aug. 25-26. ...

The 26th Modesto City is scheduled for June 7-8 at Creekside and Dryden Park. Call 571-5123. ... The 33rd annual Haggin Oaks Golf Expo, arguably the nation's largest demo weekend, will attract more than 17,000 golfers to the Sacramento course Friday through Saturday. More than 150 booths touching all aspects of the golf business will be featured. Admission is free. For a list of vendors and a vendor map, visit hagginoaksgolfexpo.com. ... Local qualifying for the U.S. Open will be staged at four Northern California sites, including Del Rio on Monday, May 19. The fee is $150 for the right to qualify for the Open, set for June 12-15 at Torrey Pines. Visit ncga.org to pick up the application form. ...

Two-for-one discounts at 350 courses, including Diablo Grande, Lake Don Pedro and Mountain House, are available in the 2008 West Coast Golf ValueBook. The fee is $32.95. Call Mark Reynolds, 800-949-1415, or visit mark@2for1golf.com.

HOLES-IN-ONE -- Luis Arellano, Modesto, 128-yard first at River Oaks, Ceres, 7-iron ... Phil De La Porte, Ceres, 113-yard 17th at River Oaks, pitching wedge ... Orlando Barba, Keyes, 135-yard 11th at River Oaks, pitching wedge ... Allyson Pena, Modesto, 86-yard 16th at River Oaks, gap wedge ... Vern Smith, Copperopolis, 122-yard 12th at Mountain Springs, Sonora, 8-iron ... Nick Atkin, Kauai, Hawaii, 153-yard seventh at Mountain Springs, 7-iron. ... Jim Henslee, Delhi, 139-yard sixth at Poppy Hills, Pebble Beach, 9 iron. ... Dean McAninch, Manteca, 148-yard seventh, French Camp, 5-iron.

Bee sports columnist Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.