Low scores possible
Making birdies on par-5s at Stanhope key to good rounds
The scores could be low this week as the province’s top golfers take on the Stanhope Golf Course.
Ninety golfers will be competing in six divisions at the Cooke Insurance Amateur Golf Championship. The 54-hole competition to crown the Island’s best begins today at the par-72 course.
Veteran golfer Tim Yorke said he could see scores being from 7-under to 12-under for the threeround competition.
“There’s guys there that definitely could shoot 68 there every day,” he said.
Yorke won his fourth amateur last year at Dundarave and claimed victory in 2003 at Stanhope. Yorke said the quality of the field has improved with upwards of 10 or more guys having a strong chance to claim the amateur title. It includes mainstays like Martin O’Brien and Jason Campbell, but also locals like Robbie Younker, who won in the amateur in 2006.
“I will be a lot more aggressive,” Yorke said. “Right from the get-go, I will be trying to make birdies and shoot somewhere in the 60s for the three days.”
Yorke played the course on Tuesday, and Adam Gallant was out on Saturday. Both said the course was in great shape, and they are looking forward to getting the tournament started.
“I always love playing Stanhope and I know a lot of the guys do. It’s a fun little (layout) to play,” Gallant said.
Preparing for this week, the Summerside native has put an emphasis on his work off the tee and is focusing on scoring on the par-5s.
“You have to come out of there with birdies on the par-5s if you’re going to be near the top of that leaderboard come Sunday,” he said.
Yorke said there are also holes golfers just have to survive to put themselves in contention.
“There’s lots of birdie holes but there are about five or six holes out there that you’re just trying to make par and get out of there,” he said.