Jeff Luccock says Phil Mickelson became his favourite player because lefties tend to be kindred spirits. Jon Stovell liked the freshness Rory Mcllroy and Rickie Fowler brought to the sport when they were emerging a few years ago.
Whoever they root for, Lower Mainlanders Luccock and Stovell are united in their love of golf. They have secured the future of the Island’s annual $200,000 pro tournament for at least the next three years with the announcement Monday the event will be known as the Royal Beach Victoria Open, presented by the Times Colonist, through 2024.
Stovell is the president and CEO of Reliance Properties and Luccock president of Seacliff Properties, which have partnered on the $1.2-billion Royal Beach residential and commercial development in Colwood to be built out over 15 years.
Stovell came on board last year as a co-title sponsor of the then-named Reliance Properties DCBank Victoria Open.
“We were more into sponsoring arts and culture than sports,” said Stovell.
“But sponsoring the golf tournament for the first time last year opened our eyes. We think this dovetails well with the outdoor active Victoria lifestyle.”
The Victoria tournament was founded in 1981 and is part of the PGA Tour Canada, which leads to the Korn Ferry Tour, which in turn is the entry point to the PGA Tour. Numerous former Victoria Open players have gone onto the PGA Tour from Steve Stricker, Stuart Appleby, Scott McCarron and Kirk Triplett to Tony Finau and Mackenzie Hughes. Sometimes the rise is steep and short — the 2019 Victoria Open champion and runner-up, Paul Barjon and Doc Redman, are both now on the PGA Tour.
Because of the pandemic, the 2020 Victoria tournament was cancelled and the 2021 event scaled down and pushed back to the fall. The event will revert to its regular stature and spring time slot this year from June 2-5 at Uplands.
“There will be less acorns to clear off and more daylight,” said Uplands master superintendent Brian Youell.
The Victoria tournament has raised more than $600,000 for Island charities since 2013. That includes $125,000 raised for the Salvation Army last year, which will remain the charity of choice for the event. A portion of the charity proceeds will go to a new Salvation Army program to help children from low-income families access the sport of golf.
The family-owned Reliance Properties was established more than 60 year ago and is known for its extensive rehabilitation of heritage buildings across Western Canada, including in Victoria with The Janion, Fairfield Block and Board of Trade Building. Its other sites in Victoria include the Northern Junk buildings, 780 Blanshard Street and the seven-acre Capital Iron lands.
The Seacliff Group, through its former subsidiary Dominion Construction, built GM Place (now known as Rogers Arena) and the Richmond Olympic Oval.
Luccock said he sees sport as powerfully cohesive: “Just look at the national reaction to our Canadian soccer team in World Cup qualifying. And events such as this golf tournament help a community thrive.”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
