110th BC Amateur Championship

July 27, 2012

Final Round Recap

Riley Fleming Captures the 110th BC Amateur Championship  

Third-round leader Carrigan drops to fourth; Jung second, Kwon third

Pitt Meadows, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-Team Canada Development Squad member Riley Fleming of Airdrie, Alberta claims the 110th BC Amateur Championship at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club, becoming the first non-British Columbian to capture the title since Fred Couples in 1979.

Playing on a special exemption into the Championship, the recent Sunlife Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur champion went two-for-two on provincial championships, coming from behind to have his name etched on the Bostock Trophy as champion.

Fleming started the day one-stroke back of Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan who has gunning for a wire-to-wire victory at the difficult Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club.

Unfortunately for Carrigan, it was not to be as he got off to a poor start on the second hole, carding a bogey and bringing him into a tie with Fleming.

Fleming was quiet on his first two holes before making an important birdie on the par 3, 188-yard third hole.

“I was able to get my round off to a good start with a birdie on three,” said Fleming. “Even though I was behind to start, I wasn’t really concerned with birdies and bogey’s. I knew I needed to try and get to at least eight-under-par because Kevin is such a great player.”

Fleming helped his quest for eight-under when he made nothing but par’s for twelve straight holes, including one on the par 5, 551-yard 14th, a hole he thought he should have birdied.

“Making par on that hole really felt like a bogey. It was playing forward so I missed a shot there,” stated Fleming.

He would preserve what was only his second career bogey-free competitive round of golf with a putt for par on the 15th that was described by someone in the gallery as “a putt he had no business making”.

Building off that momentum and hanging on to a two-shot lead over a charging Brian Jung of Coquitlam who birdied 14, Fleming would stick his gap wedge on the par 3, 124-yard 16th to five feet and make birdie. Jung could not capitalize on his birdie putt, bringing the lead to three-strokes going into the final two holes.

While Carrigan was going the wrong way on the leaderboard, Fleming continued to excel, making a second-straight birdie on the par 4, 388-yard 17th after an incredible approach shot that released just past the hole.

“I was really only trying to get that putt close,” said Fleming of his 20-foot downhiller. “I definitely wasn’t trying to make it.”

It was a good thing he did as Jung would not relent on his charge, pouring a birdie in moments after Fleming made his putt to keep things interesting before both players would close with a par to finish the Championship and end any sort of kick-start drama.

Fleming’s four-round -8, 280 total (69-71-71-69) gave him a three-shot cushion over Jung at -5 (74-71-68-70-283). Sliding into fourth place after a closing-round 76 was Carrigan who would finish the Championship at -2 (67-71-72-76-286).

Quietly climbing the leaderboard and doing his best to make a run at Fleming was his Team Canada teammate Kevin Kwon of Pitt Meadows and member at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club.

If it wasn’t for an opening round 75, Kwon might have duked it out with Fleming for top honours as he closed the Championship with three-straight two-under-par 70’s, topping Carrigan by a single shot for third at -3 (75-70-70-70-285). Fleming stayed at the Kwon’s family home throughout the week and thanked them graciously during the prize presentation.

“A special thanks goes to the Kwon’s for letting me stay with them all week. They were so great it felt like I was playing in my own backyard.”

“It must have been the breakfast mom gave him,” joked Kwon after his round.

When asked on what it feels like to win the BC Amateur, Fleming couldn’t contain his excitement.

“I am very happy with winning this Championship. To have my name on the same trophy as a legend like Doug Roxburgh who has won this 13-times is a true honour.”

Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club was unlike the courses Fleming is used to playing in Alberta.

“The greens crew did an outstanding job at getting this course ready after the rain it saw on Monday. You don’t get courses this lush back home so it was an excellent venue to play at and I want to thank everyone from the club, volunteers and British Columbia Golf for putting on a great event.”

As a member of Team Canada and non-British Columbian, Fleming cannot be a member of Team BC heading to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Camelot G&CC and Club de golf Outaouais in Cumberland, Ontario August 7-10,2012. By way of finishing second, third and fourth, Jung, Kwon and Carrigan will be the interprovincial team.

For more information on final round results, please click here

Round Three Recap

Kevin Carrigan Eyes Wire-to-Wire Win at 110th BC Amateur Championship 

Alberta’s Riley Fleming one back; Jung fires 68 to sit three back

Pitt Meadows, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan takes a one-stroke lead into the final round of the 110th BC Amateur Championship in his bid for a wire-to-wire victory.

Starting the day two-strokes ahead of his nearest competitors at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club, Carrigan got off to a wicked start, going three-under-par through seven holes, thanks in large part to a 40-foot eagle putt on the par 4, 288-yard 6th hole. Carrigan was able to nestle his tee shot onto the putting surface and capitalize on his uphill, relatively straight putt. He would then follow that up with a birdie on the next hole.

Possibly feeling the pressure of holding a four-stroke lead at that point, Carrigan would make bogeys on 9, 10 and 12 to bring his round back to even-par. He would make one more birdie and bogey on his way in to post an even-par 72, -6 total (67-71-72-210).

Playing alongside him in his group was Team Canada Development Squad member Riley Fleming of Airdrie, Alberta who was able to post a red number on the day at 71 and get Carrigan’s lead going into the final round to a single stroke. Fleming’s three round total of -5, 211 (69-71-71-211) has him alone in second. If Fleming were to capture the 110th BC Amateur, that would give him both the BC and Alberta Amateur’s in the same year, an impressive feat to attach to ones name.

Sitting only three-strokes back of the lead and in third is Coquitlam’s Brian Jung at -3. Jung spring boarded himself into Championship contention with a third round four-under-par 68, 213 total (74-71-68). Jung carded six birdies and two bogeys on a course that favours accuracy off the tee rather than power.

Quietly creeping up the leaderboard after an opening round 75 is Team Canada Development Squad member Kevin Kwon of Pitt Meadows, also a member at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club. Kwon posted his second straight two-under-par 70 to get his three-round total to 215 (75-70-70), only five back of Carrigan’s pace.

Going the opposite direction on day three were North Vancouver’s Bryan Lichimo and Chemanius’ Dustin Yeager who both shot +3 and have identical three-round lines at 215 (68-72-75), -1 overall.

The final round of the 110th BC Amateur Championship is set to begin tomorrow at 7:30am using a split tee start.

Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend the event. Entrance is free of charge.

For more information on round three results and final round tee times, please click here

 

Round Two Recap

Kevin Carrigan Ahead of the Pack by Two at 110th BC Amateur Championship
Cut set at 156; Zone 5 claims Zone Championship

Pitt Meadows, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)—After round two, Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan stretches his lead to two strokes at the 110th BC Amateur Championship at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club.

Following an opening round 67, Carrigan started his round shaky, going out in three-over-par 39 before turning on the heat for his back nine. Carrigan made four birdies on his inward half, starting on the par 5, 535-yard 10th hole. He would post a one-under-par 71, good enough for a -6 total (67-71-138).

Sitting in a log-jam at tied for second are Chemanius’ Dustin Yeager, North Vancouver’s Bryan Lichimo and Team Canada Development Squad member Riley Fleming of Airdie, Alberta.

Yeager and Lichimo both finished their second rounds with an even-par 72’s bringing their two-round totals to -4 (68-72-140). Fleming started the day one back of Lichimo and Yeager, forcing him to post a one-under-par 71, one of eleven scores under par on the day. Fleming, who recently won the Sunlife Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur, has now shot rounds of 69-71.

Sitting in fifth place and five back of Carrigan after an even-par 72 second round is Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh. The 13-time BC Amateur champion has a two-day total of 143, -1 (71-72).

Rounds of the day go to Penticton’s Cory Hilditch and Yohann Vora who both shot blistering five-under-par 67’s, trampolining them back into relative contention for the Championship.

The Zone Championship was decided following round two as the team from Zone 5 won by a ten-shot margin over Zone 4. Representing Zone 5 is a trio from Victoria in Alex Cartwright, Bryan Toth and Paul Hansen as well as Yeager.

The field at the 110th BC Amateur Championship was cut to the low 70 players and ties who sit at 156 or better.

For more information on round two results and third round starting times, please click here

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Round One Recap

Supplemental Qualifier

110th BC Amateur Championship Field is Set After Supplemental Qualifier

Connor Richey claims medalist honour

Pitt Meadows, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-The 110th BC Amateur Championship field has been set after an 18-hole supplemental qualifier held on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club.

Twenty one players earned a birth in the 72-hole Championship by way of an 18-hole supplemental qualifier held yesterday at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club.

Taking medalist honours was Connor Richey of Roberts Creek thanks to a two-under-par 70. Reigning B.C. Juvenile Boys’ champion Trevor Yu of Vancouver also qualified after shooting a one-under-par 71, along with Delta’s Yohann Vora at the same score. Seventeen other players shot 78 or better, leaving a group of eight players at 79 to duke it out for the remaining three positions in the Championship.

After a sudden-death playoff that concluded just before dark, Burnaby’s Antonio Caolo, Coquitlam’s Jun Kang and Richmond’s Brian Harrison slid into the Championship as the final three.

The BC Amateur is a 157-player, 72-hole stroke play competition open to male and female golfers who have qualified by way of their zone, exemptions or the supplemental qualifier.

During rounds one and two of the Championship, the Zone Team and Club Team competitions will be contested.

The top-3 competitors from the BC Amateur Championship will represent British Columbia on Team BC at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be held August 7-10, 2012 at the Camelot Golf and Country Club and the Club de golf Outaouais in Cumberland, Ontario.

Play is set to begin on Tuesday, July 24th at 7:30am and the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties following second round play.

Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend the event. Entrance is free of charge.

For more information on supplemental qualifying results, please click here

For media guide, please click here

Preview

110th BC Amateur Championship To Be Played July 24-27 at Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club

Richmond, British Columbia (BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF)-The 110th BC Amateur Championship will be hosted by the Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club on July 24-27, 2012.

The par 72, 7,000-yard facility will challenge the skills of the 156-player field with its demanding layout and undulating greens. True to the test of past BC Amateur Championships, Swan-e-set Bay Resort and Country Club will be in pristine condition and demand nothing but perfection from the players in the field.

Unable to defend his 2011 BC Amateur title is West Vancouver’s David Rose who received an invitation to the coveted Pacific Coast Amateur slated during the same time frame at Bandon Dunes GC in Bandon, Ore.

As a result of his inability to defend, the 110th BC Amateur will have a guaranteed fresh face in the winner’s circle. The 2011 BC Amateur runner-up and 2012 Mid-Amateur champion Kevin Carrigan of Victoria would like to add an Amateur title to his trophy case. His fellow competitors from Victoria in Bryan Toth (2006 champion) and Bryan Scott, might object and would certainly like to be the ones hoisting the Bostock Trophy on day four as champion.

Team Canada Development Squad member and Pitt Meadows resident Kevin Kwon is a likely favourite on his home course but fellow teammates Adam Svensson of Surrey (2010 champion) and Airdrie, Alberta native Riley Fleming might have something to say about a Kwon victory. All three Team Canada members have been playing strong golf in the 2012 campaign to date.

Also a leaderboard notable and fresh off his debut in the British Columbia Senior Men’s Championship is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver. Roxburgh would no doubt like to add to his already unprecedented 13 BC Amateur titles by winning another one in the Lower Mainland.

The BC Amateur is a 156-player, 72-hole stroke play competition open to male and female golfers who have qualified by way of their zone or through exemptions. A supplemental qualifier will take place on Sunday, July 22 for players who could not make their zones or are actively seeking a second chance at getting into the field.

During rounds one and two, the Zone Team and Club Team competitions will be contested.

The top-3 competitors from the BC Amateur Championship will represent British Columbia on Team BC at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be held August 7-10, 2012 at the Camelot Golf and Country Club and the Club de golf Outaouais in Cumberland, Ontario.

Play is set to begin on Tuesday, July 24th at 7:30am and the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties following second round play.

Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend the event. Entrance is free of charge.

For more information on starting times, players and results, please click here

For media guide, please click here

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