PGA of B.C. brings top 84 pros to Royal Colwood
Edd Boudreau recalls 2006 as if it was yesterday.
That fine summer, the current Gorge Vale Golf Club associate pro wrapped his hands around the PGA of B.C. Championship trophy at Royal Colwood, taking home the prestigious title in a two-hole playoff over Bryn Parry.
Boudreau will have a chance to duplicate that feat when 84 of the best pros in the province tee it up at Royal Colwood on Monday and Tuesday at the Taylor-Made & adidas championship presented by Axis Insurance Managers Inc.
“That was a good year for me. I played well in a few other tournaments and Colwood has always been one of my favourite courses,” said Boudreau, who was an assistant at Arbutus Ridge back in 2006, having moved to Gorge Vale five years ago.
“I remember it very vividly, coming down the stretch with Bryn, who is still one of our best players in the country. I beat him on the second hole and it made for a good walk back to the clubhouse down Nos. 2 and 1. I’m looking forward to this one for that reason.”
Also among the field are former champs Gordy Scutt of Olympic View, who won the event two years ago, and Victoria Golf Club’s Lindsay Bernakevitch, the 2011 champion at Point Grey. Parry, a three-time victor (2015, 2008 and 2000) is back to defend his crown.
Phil Jonas, who finished third at the PGA Championship of Canada at Victoria Golf Club this year, is also here. Jonas was the 2003 PGA of B.C. crown and is in the first group on Monday at 10:40 a.m. along with Boudreau and Jason Giesbrecht, director of golf at Royal Colwood. The last tee time is 3:10 p.m.
Other notables include Oliver Tubb of University Golf Club, Matt Palsenbarg and John Shin of Northview Golf Academy, who combined to win the Pro-Assistants title earlier this summer.
“It’s going to be a good field,” said Boudreau. “There’s going to be some good golf.”
The 36-hole event features a total purse of more than $34,000 with $6,000 going to the winner.
Other Island golfers in the field include Craig Young, Mac McLeod, Karl West and Rich Chlopan of the host club; Darren Griff of Morningstar; Doug Hastie and Justin Ford of Bear Mountain; Aaron Grice of Gorge Vale; Cory Betz and Jason Cordes of Eaglecrest; Winston Michell, Mark Bicknell and Justin Fram of Victoria Golf Club; Chris Wilson of Nanaimo Golf Club; Kevin Maxwell and Matt Cella of Olympic View; Bill Kelly and Brian Wise of Glacier Greens; Doug Brown of Cedar Hill Golf Course; Jim Goddard of Cordova Bay; Ross Mantell of Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club; and Damien McCabe of Cowichan Golf and Country Club.
Boudreau, who turned 50 this year, expects a tough challenge on the popular private track.
“They’re probably going to turn off the water taps off a little bit, get it a little firmer and a little faster. They were a touch soft this week,” he said of Royal Colwood. “It’s going to be a good test. It’s in great shape with the rough definitely up. There are some nasty spots.”