LOCAL BOYS GET TASTE OF THE PRO LIFE
Byrne, DeMarco gain experience despite missing cut at Windsor Championship
Locals David Byrne and Thomas DeMarco went from participants to spectators Friday at the Mackenzie Tour — PGA Tour Canada’s Windsor Championship.
The two players, who were given exemptions to compete at the event at Ambassador Golf Course, failed to make the cut among the top 60, which wound up being a stunning 6 under par.
“It was just one of those days,” the 30-year-old Byrne said. “It’s frustrating when I’m on the golf course on a sponsor’s exemption. You feel obligated to play well and post a big number.
“You prepare one week and these guys are doing it every week. You have to put it in perspective, but I’m disappointed for sure.”
It was a roller-coaster ride for two days for Byrne. He was 2 under par with two holes to play early Friday as he prepared to finish out his opening round from Thursday, which had been delayed by weather.
But Byrne finished with back-toback bogeys to finish his first round at even-par 71.
Quickly back on the course to start his second round, Byrne was back to 3 under par after seven holes, but hit back-to-back bogeys on No. 11 and No. 12. He gained a stroke with a birdie on No. 13, but could get no closer to the cut line, finishing with a 2-under 69 for the round and at 2-under 140 over 36 holes, missing the cut by four. “I had chances,” Byrne said. “Nothing really fell. Still, I appreciate everyone coming out to watch. It’s been nice to have the support.” It was the same for the 21-yearold DeMarco. Like Byrne, he had to finish his first round Friday morning and a bogey on his final hole left him at even-par 71.
Three birdies in his second round could not offset four bogeys and he finished with a two-day total of 1-over-par 143. “It was good,” DeMarco said. “It was fun. I hit the ball well. It just seemed the same as (Thursday). I couldn’t get the putter going.”
DeMarco was one of two amateurs in the tournament along with NHL referee Garrett Rank, who also did not make the cut after finishing at 3-under-par 139. Heading into his senior season at Northern Illinois University, DeMarco hopes to one day play pro golf. This was the first event where he got to measure himself against professionals.
“My main goal was to see where my game’s at playing in a tournament like this with the big boys,” DeMarco said. “I did more than I thought.
“If, on good day, I had my A game, I could have competed, but I still
think I played well. I just couldn’t get any momentum going, but my game’s in a good spot.”
After shooting a sizzling 9-under-par 62 Thursday to share the lead, Canadian Taylor Pendrith cooled a little Friday. Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, shot 3-under-par 68 and now sits one shot back of American Mark Anguiano, who holds the lead heading into Saturday’s third round at 13-under-par 129.
“It was a grind, but I got in at 3 under, so I’m pleased,” said the 27-year-old Pendrith, who sits at 12-under-par 130.
“I’m just happy to be out here on the first page of the leaderboard and I know what to expect for the weekend and I’m just going to keep plugging away and see where I stack up at the end.”
A Canadian hasn’t won on the tour in nearly two years and Burlington’s Michael Gligic is also in range. He fired a 3-under-par 68 Friday and is three shots back of Anguiano at 10-under-par 132. “I’m just trying to win every week, honestly,” Pendrith said. “We’ve got a lot of Canadians out here now and almost all of them are capable of winning. It’d be nice to get a win for myself mostly, but to get a Canadian flag up there would be awesome.”
Nothing really fell. Still, I appreciate everyone coming out to watch. It’s been nice to have the support.