Better late than never – just ask Len Beauchamp.

The 49-year-old Kamloops golfer didn’t decide to enter this year’s Coyote Collision men’s open tournament at the Merritt Golf and Country Club until 7 p.m. Friday night. He then proceeded to shoot the lights out for two rounds on Saturday and Sunday to handily win the event with a record-setting 36-hole score of seven-under-par 137.

“I was sitting on the fence about entering,” Beauchamp said. “My wife and I were thinking of going to our place up at Sun Peaks for the weekend, but then she had to work on Saturday, so at the last minute I decided to phone down and see if there was still room.”

Beauchamp essentially put the baby to bed early, recording a blistering 66 on the first day of competition to open a six-shot lead on the rest of the field.

“I think I’ve shot 67 once or twice before in Merritt, but never 66,” Beauchamp said. “I played extremely solid. I think I hit every green [in regulation], and maybe missed one fairway by a few feet. I had just 30 putts. It was a pretty ‘smooth’ 66.”

Beauchamp conceded that he played Sunday’s final round not to lose.

“I knew that I had a six-shot lead, so I just tried to play safe and make pars.”

Beauchamp still shot an impressive one-under 71 to win by seven strokes over Darrell Coldwell from Lillooet.

Merritt’s Jack Reynoldson took the overall low net title with a two-round score of 133.

Sunday’s round had its challenges for the eventual low gross champion. A southpaw, Beauchamp found the left-leaning pin placements on day two difficult as he tends to hit a draw off the tee.

Beauchamp also managed to slice his finger pretty good on the fifth hole – a minor injury that wouldn’t factor into many sports but can definitely affect the performance of a golfer.

“I was trying to lift my [golf] bag and cart up onto the tee box and I caught my finger,” Beauchamp explained. “I sliced it right down to the bone and took off a bunch of skin. I wrapped it up with some medical tape. Fortunately, it didn’t bother me too much.”

The fact that Beauchamp was even golfing at all this year is a story in itself. The lifetime, multi-sport athlete had hip replacement surgery exactly 12 months ago after several years of suffering through debilitating pain.

“My problems started playing hockey,” he said. “It was really taking its toll on my golf and other sporting activities. The enjoyment factor just wasn’t there.

“I finally had hip surgery done last August. The whole procedure has been amazing. I was riding the stationary bike within four weeks, and this past winter, I went downhill skiing 47 times.”

Beauchamp’s victory this year was his fourth Merritt Open title, tying him with another four-time winner, Ovee Lepine from Penticton. Beauchamp also won in 2002, 2003 and 2010.

Asked why he keeps coming back to Merritt, even at the last minute, Beauchamp said, “The number-1 thing is the staff. [Former head pro] Andy Wahnschaff and now Sydney Van Rensberg are so friendly and accommodating. They just do anything for you. The atmosphere is good, the food is awesome. For what you pay to get into the tournament, it’s a great return.”

A total of 90 golfers took part in this year’s Coyote Collsion men’s open. They came from throughout the Okanagan and southwestern B.C.