GOLF STAR ON THE HORIZON
Du Toit finalist for Nelson Award
In the end he didn’t win. But just to be mentioned in the same breath as one of golf’s all-time greats is proof that Calgary-born birdie-machine Jared du Toit must be doing something right. In this case, a lot of things right. The surprise story at the 2016 R BC Canadian Open and a stand out for the Arizona State Sun Devils, du Toit was one of five finalists for the collegiate-level Byron Nelson Award, presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the on- and off-course qualities of the World Golf Hall-of-Famer.
Stanford’s Maverick McNealy, running second in the world amateur golf rankings, was announced on Good Friday as the latest recipient of the prestigious prize.
“As soon as I saw McNealy on the list too, I knew that it was going to be a pretty tall order for me,” du Toit said. “But honestly, just being a finalist was very cool. The more I researched the award and the man, the more honoured I felt to be nominated for it.”
The late, great Nelson had a reputation as one of the true gentlemen in golf. He was a five-time major champion and owns a PGA Tour record that will never be broken — a string of 11 straight tournament triumphs in 1945.
Du Toit will soon embark on his own professional career, likely sometime this summer or fall.
The 21-year-old made headlines last July when he contended for the title at the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey and has since enjoyed a splendid senior season at Arizona State, topping the individual leaderboard at The Prestige at PGA West in February and losing in a playoff at another event.
He is now perched at No. 14 in the world amateur rankings — tops among Canadians — and also maintains a GPA in the 3.5 range.
“The award covers three different things — academics, athletics and then citizenship,” du Toit explained. “You can be a great golfer and a terrible guy, but when you’re solid in school and solid on the golf course and then a good guy off the course, that’s very cool that people think that.
“I had a lot of people in my life growing up that really emphasized the importance of being wellrounded, not spreading yourself too thin in different areas. So to be doing well in all three is something I definitely take pride in.”
Raised in Kimberley, B.C., and a member of Golf Canada’s national amateur squad, du Toit plans to hang around Calgary again this summer as an intermediate member at Glencoe Golf & Country Club.
He has a few biggies on his todo list before then. Next up on the Sun Devils’ schedule is the PAC-12 Championship on the final weekend of April, followed by NCAA Regionals and the national championship showdown.
The game plan for this Flames fan is pretty simple. “If it was hockey, the answer would be: ‘Leave everything on the ice,’ ” du Toit said. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do, whether that’s waking up early to get practice in or just doing everything I can to have a great chance of finishing my college career the way I want to. I want to go out strong.” CHIP SHOTS: Bill McNaughton notched the first ace of the season at Glencoe, leaving his putter in the bag after a 137-yard pin-seeker on the finishing assignment on the Bridges 9 ... Robert Cochrane made short work of No. 12 at D’Arcy Ranch, getting the job done with a sweet 7-iron from 150 yards away.