Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Top-20 for Taylor at Riviera; Rivalry Series scuttled; Svensson gets 2021 season started

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

TOP-20 FOR TAYLOR: Nick Taylor closed with a two-under 69 on Sunday to record a top-20 finish at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Taylor finished the event at three-under par and tied for 20th. That was nine shots behind winner Max Homa, who beat Tony Finau in a playoff. It was Taylor’s best finish in seven starts at Riviera. He earned $101,835.

Fellow Abbotsford product Adam Hadwin also played well on a demanding Riviera layout. After making the cut on the number, Hadwin closed with two weekend rounds of 70 to tie for 26th at two-under par. Hadwin, who has not missed the cut in seven starts at Riviera, made $67,890.

Hadwin and Taylor are both taking this week off. Merritt’s Roger Sloan is playing in this week’s Puerto Rico Open, which is being held opposite a World Golf Championships event, the Workday Championship at The Concession, in Bradenton, Fla.

KORN FERRY KICKOFF: Surrey’s Adam Svensson tied for 34th at the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Beach, Fla. Svensson finished the tour’s first event of 2021 at four-under par, nine shots behind winner Hayden Buckley. He dropped two spots on the points list to 42nd.

Former B.C. resident Albin Choi, who got into the tournament as a Monday qualifier, tied for 14th at eight-under par. That guarantees Choi at start in the next Korn Ferry Tour event, the Chitimacha Louisiana Open which goes March 18-21.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., tied for 23rd at seven-under. Pendrith, who is currently second on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, has a spot in this week’s Puerto Rico Open.

SERIES SCUTTLED: The B.C. Rivalry Series, which was set to conclude this spring following a successful fall series of events, has been sidelined due to COVID-19 restrictions. UBC, University of the Fraser Valley and UBC-Okanagan competed in eight one-day events that were held in the fall. Langara College also participated in some events.

The hope was to have the Rivalry Series continue this month, but the latest COVID-19 restrictions imposed by Dr. Bonnie Henry has prevented that.

UBC golf coach Chris Macdonald created the Rivalry Series when the regular collegiate golf season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

CHIP SHOTS: The PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour circuit is holding its first of seven spring qualifying schools this week in Weston, Fla. Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay is scheduled to hold the final Q-School in late May. . .Jesse Crowe, who did a wonderful job the past seven years as head professional at Salmon Arm Golf Course, is now director of golf operations and head professional at the Overlander Golf & Events Centre (formerly Royal York Golf club) in Armstrong.