Uplands Golf Club is laying out a welcome mat for several Vancouver Island players at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by the Times Colonist.
Among them will be highly touted amateur Kevin Carrigan, who will tee it up in his third PGA Tour Canada (formerly Canadian Tour) event starting today, and Cory Renfrew, who has had his share of success with ties for second and eighth place in the Victoria tournament the last two years, respectively.
There’s a sense of comfort for the locals, but also some pressure.
“I’d say it’s more comfort for sure, just my results the last couple of years show that,” said Renfrew, who tees it up at 1:10 p.m. today. “I’ve been nervous, but excited nervous and feeding off that. I’d say there’s more comfort than pressure out here.
“The course suits my eye.
“I feel comfortable hitting all the tee shots and as soon as you see some putts go in you get some confidence and try and keep it rolling.”
He had that confidence going in Round 1 of the PC Financial Open at Point Grey in Vancouver last week in the PGA Tour Canada opener, getting it to 3-under before making a bogey on the last hole. On Day 2 he missed the cut by a single stroke.
“I’m excited, even though last week wasn’t the best. I was close, I just didn’t get anything going. Hopefully, things click a bit better here,” said Renfrew.
“I have the highest expectations here. I think I can contend and I would not feel out of place if I was around the lead going into the last day. I’m excited to build on those first two years here, especially that first year where I finished second.”
As for Carrigan, the No. 4 rated amateur in the country, he is also setting high goals, despite missing the cut in his first two PGA Tour Canada events.
“It’s easy for me because I’m an amateur and there aren’t those high expectations, but at the same time you always want to perform in front of your friends and family,” said Carrigan, who starts today at 9:30 a.m.
“I’d like to finish Top 20. I’d like to say I could put myself in contention at some point in the week. Get the feeling of what it would be like to be in contention with some of the best players in the country.
“I try not to put too much pressure on it though. It’s always nice playing in front of the hometown crowd and we always get a good turnout, especially when I play with someone else who is local,” he added. “I’m just looking forward to playing my game and not getting outside myself.”
Carrigan missed the cut at Uplands last year by one shot as he three-putted his final hole.
Both Victorians have already been cast into the media spotlight as two of seven Islanders to be teeing it up, joining Riley Wheeldon of Comox and Stu Anderson of Sooke, both of whom could win this event, Olympic View head pro Kevin Maxwell, former UVic Vike Mitch Evanecz and Uplands club champion Brock Olson.
“I’m getting more used to it,” Renfrew said of the media spotlight. “It was an adjustment of putting time where it needs to be. We all understand as players that it’s something you have to do, but you end up wanting to do it, too, because it’s fun and it’s exposure.”
CHIP SHOTS: The field is set at 156 players including defending champion Stephen Gangluff and Clayton Rask and Zac Blair, who qualified for the U.S. Open next week at Pinehurst. Of the 156, 32 are Canadian. … Morning tee times begin at 7:30 with afternoon starts at 12:30 p.m. off the first and 10th tees. … The total purse is $150,000 with $27,000 going to the winner. … Tickets are $10 a day or $30 for the tournament, which ends Sunday.
