CRISOLOGO COY ON NEXT MOVE
Mackenzie Tour showing positive, but no word on turning pro yet
School will soon be back in session for Chris Crisologo, while a major career decision looms in the nottoo-distant future.
Crisologo, who hails from Richmond, is preparing for a return to the Simon Fraser University men’s golf team as a senior this upcoming season, with hopes of not only a strong final year but being able to pass on his experience this spring and summer to younger players on the school squad.
That experience includes a tie for 20th on the first stop of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada schedule at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in June. As a local representing the school colours of the SFU Clan, Crisologo finished the tournament at 7-under par and 2-under par for his final round — an up-and-down final day by his own admission, salvaged by a pair of late birdies in front of friends and family.
He was the top amateur in the field and tied with Matt Hill and Blair Hamilton as the top Canadians.
His showing earlier in the spring in Vancouver and his status as a senior lead to an obvious but natural question: Will he turn professional following this school year?
“We’ll see how it goes. I don’t want to give too many hints out there,” said Crisologo, who is majoring in psychology.
So, playing it coy. For now, anyway.
“Those guys are the top amateurs from the past. They turned pro, and they start on the Mackenzie Tour. So I’m competing with the guys and trying to see where I am,” he said.
“I stacked up pretty well. Just looking back on it, my experience from (the Freedom 55 Financial Open) helps me play in even just a college event now, or even the U.S. Amateur.”
Of course, the biggest difference between Crisologo and the majority of the field on the Mackenzie Tour that week in Vancouver — and throughout the year — is money.
The professionals on the tour are always battling it out for the weekend purse in order to put together enough money to reach the top five in the order of merit and gain Web.com Tour status.
That he wasn’t in line to win (or lose) money as an amateur based on his placement was, in a sense, liberating to how he approached the course and the event. Turning professional may some day bring about an adjustment to that outlook, when results account for dollars and possible promotions through the PGA Tour’s feeder circuits.
“If you’re not playing for money ... you don’t have too much pressure on you,” he said.
“So you can kind of just go out there and play your own game, instead of starting to force things. That’s what I take from it. You don’t have to force things out there.”
Most recently, Crisologo competed at the U.S. Amateur Championship in California.
He survived an unconventional playoff at the conclusion of stroke play, with 13 golfers vying for the final eight spots as the tournament transitioned to its match play format, making it to the Round of 64 before getting eliminated by No. 1-ranked Hayden Wood.
Crisologo managed to secure the final spot available in match play, thanks to a birdie on the second playoff hole.
But he also didn’t feel he was deserving of the opportunity to move on.
“Honestly, throughout the week I put myself in really bad positions,” he said.
Those guys are the top amateurs from the past. They turned pro, and they start on the Mackenzie Tour.
CHIP SHOTS
John Shin of Northview Golf ■
Academy captured the PGA of B.C. Championship on Friday, edging Brady Stead on the second playoff hole at Capilano Golf and Country Club.
Bryn Parry of Point Grey Golf and Country Club led following Thursday’s opening round after going 3-under par, but was informed Friday morning he had been disqualified for not signing his scorecard at the end of the first day.
It’s a disappointing way to finish the week for Parry, who has enjoyed another impressive season with a second-place finish at the PGA Championship of Canada and a spot earned in the field for the 2017 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club a month ago.
He missed the cut at that PGA Tour event by a single stroke, but still finished at 3-under par through two rounds.
Canadian golfer Graham DeLaet ■ withdrew from The Northern Trust at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, N.Y., following his first round Thursday.
The news was announced by the PGA Tour on Friday morning, prompting a rather interesting exchange on Twitter between someone apparently upset — and willing to voice their displeasure — about the impact DeLaet’s withdrawal would have on his fantasy golf lineup and DeLaet, himself.
“I don’t care about your fantasy golf. I care about my health. Get a life,” wrote DeLaet in response from his verified Twitter account, quoting the earlier tweet from the fan.
Isn’t Twitter just the greatest?