Choi cherishing the experience
Not even a slight lateround glitch was going to take the shine off Ethan Choi’s day. The 16-year-old golfer from Pincher Creek fired an opening round one-over 72 as the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open teed off Thursday at the Paradise Canyon Golf Resort to sit tied at 126th overall.
Golfing in the final group of the day, Choi — one of six exemptions for this weekend’s Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada event and the youngest player in the field — hovered between even par and one-under throughout his round before a double bogey on the par-3 17th hole put him at one-over for the day.
That could make it potentially tough for him to make the cut today, but the southern Alberta product was nonetheless grinning after he handed in his scorecard.
“It was awesome, just competing with these guys,” said Choi. “I was just trying to soak in every minute of it. But I just finished tough. I have to stick to my game plan still and just go out there and play tomorrow with the same game plan, just a few rough patches coming in.”
Meanwhile, on an opening day that led to optimal conditions for low scores, the American trio of Zach Wright, Paul McConnell and Cody Blick led the charge with nineunder 62s as 45 players found themselves within five strokes of the lead heading into round two today.
Choi started his round with a birdie before a bogey on six put him back at even par.
He finished off the back nine with a birdie on the eighth hole and a bogey on nine to remain even at 36.
The member of the Pincher Creek Golf Club dipped back to one under with a birdie on the par-5 13th hole, but the double bogey on the 17th hole put him at one-over after opening day.
Still, this is a golfer who posted a 59 at the 2016 Alberta Bantam Championship as a 14-year-old.
“I'll just come out relaxed and refreshed, have a good rest tonight and be back at it tomorrow and grind it out,” said Choi.
But under sunny, warm and slightly windy conditions Thursday, Choi relished the chance to be the hometown boy, his father, Sheldon, by his side as his caddy.
“It was awesome,” said Choi. “The crowds were really supportive and I'm really thankful for them to have me here. It's been an honour to represent the community and I'm looking forward to doing it tomorrow, too.”
Turning in his first bogeyfree round of the season, Wright joined McConnell and Blick atop the leaderboard.
“I played the par fives well except for 18, I kind of messed up there,” said the 24-year-old from Phoenix who has second, sixth, and second-place finishes through the first three tournaments of the year. “But I made an eagle (on the 13th hole) and then I was two-putting. So I had four there. I hit a couple close, so I just had to tap it in. The putter kind of helped me out on the back nine. I made a couple 12-footers. I just added up and I finally got a clean score card.
“I’ve been playing very well this season. I have enough confidence to come out here and I feel like I’m going to play well. I just have to keep on using that and building off of it.”
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ontario was the low Canadian in the field after the first day of action, making eagle on his ninth hole and adding birdies on four of his final six to shoot a 65 and finish the day in a tie for ninth.
Today’s tee of times begin at 7:30 a.m. with the afternoon tee times starting at 12:30 p.m.
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