Riley Wheeldon wins Battle of the Bear
Mackenzie Tour pro from Comox wins Vancouver Golf Tour’s first major
Riley Wheeldon could get used to this.
The Comox pro hauled off his second straight Battle at The Bear title on the Vancouver Golf Tour, hauling in the trophy and $2,500 top prize Monday at Bear Mountain Resort, the course that just so happens to sponsor the PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour player.
“To be able to win at a place that sponsors me and a place that I love is great. It’s a great feeling and I’m happy for them [Bear Mountain officials]. It’s nice to give them something I think they were rooting for and it’s nice to know I protected my home track,” said Wheeldon after recording a 4-under 66 to finish at 137 over the two-day event, the first VGT major of the year.
Wheeldon finished one stroke up on Seann Harlingten of West Vancouver, another Mackenzie Tour player getting set for the PGA Tour Canada season.
The second annual VGT event was a reversal from last season in that Day 1 was a windy affair in which Wheeldon relied on local course knowledge, as he did last year.
“I know the course as well as anybody out here — know where you can attack and where you have to be a little more conservative,” he admitted. “I was lucky that a few of the guys fell back today.”
Kevin Stinson, of Mission, had the first-round lead after an impressive opening 4-under 67 on the Valley Course on Sunday afternoon. He failed to hang on as he made the turn in 6-over on Monday on the Mountain Course and finished at 4-over 74 on the day.
His 141 total left him fourth, two shots better than locals Cory Renfrew and Darren Hupfer, who both went 73-70. Brendon Williams of Victoria (70-74) and Thomas Hay of Langley (73-71) were tied for seventh.
Wheeldon recorded four birdies on the day and no bogeys.
“It was smooth, pretty stress free. I think there was one time where I stressed for par, making an 8-footer on No. 8. There were a lot of greens and a lot of 10-12 footers,” said Wheeldon.
He will play the VGT’s second major this weekend at Chilliwack, then prepare for the Freedom 55 Financial at Point Grey in Vancouver, which launches the Mackenzie Tour season.
Harlingten is in the same boat as Wheeldon and defeated him in a playoff at the VGT Mission Golf Classic last month.
“I got off to a rough start today with a double on No. 5, then I birdied Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10 and that got me right back into it,” said Harlingten, who turned in rounds of even-par 71 and 3-under 67. “I think I made 20-footers on all four of those.
“I made another birdie on 18, finished 3-under on the tournament and felt like I played pretty good. It was close. Riley is a good buddy and I would love to have been in a playoff with him, but he got me by the one,” said Harlingten, who made $1,500 for second.
Charles Boyechko of Winnipeg was third at 70-70 and hauled in $1,100, one shot up on Stinson.
Jacob Vanderpas of Marine Drive won the amateur event after a pair of 71s, four shots better than Royal Colwood’s Keaton Gudz (75-71), who is having a good start to his season as a junior.