Canadian Golf Tour - First Round scores and summary from the Canadian Tour Championship
Canadian Golf Tour - First Round scores and summary from the Canadian Tour Championship
INNISFIL, Ont. - Daniel Im fired an eight under par 64 to hold a one stroke lead over James Hahn and John Ellis after the first round of the $235,000 Canadian Tour Championship at National Pines Golf Club.
Tom Stankowski and Graham DeLaet both shot 66 to share fourth spot while Dustin Risdon, Michael Wilson, Hoyt McGarity and Scott Gibson are at 67.
Wes Heffernan, Dale Vallely, Barrett Jarosch, Lee Williamson, Mike Grob, Andrew Johnson, Doug Batty, Ryan Cairns and George Bradford all shot four under 68.
“With the way I started, I thought I was going to shoot nothing today,” said Im, who was seven under through 10 holes before a bogey at No. 11 slowed him down.
“After that, I just kind of cruised my way in with a couple of birdies.”
“Eight was a big hole,” he continued. “It’s a par-3 and I pushed it right and had to chip to 10 feet. I made the putt and that kept my round going.”
“I didn’t feel that I was playing all that well but I made a lot of putts today.”
John Ellis, the tour’s leading money winner by more than $25,000, played with Im.
“It was a lot of fun out there,” said Ellis.
“We were sort of carrying each other out there and having a great time.”
Ellis was at one over through three before making eight birdies over the final 14 holes.
Whenever I talk with the media, it means I played well,” said Ellis.
Rookie James Hahn (pictured) shares second with Ellis.
“This was a good day,” said Hahn.
“I was hitting the ball into good spots off the tee and rolling the ball really well. I started off with a couple of birdies and then made my only bogey at the third.”
“The gentleman I am staying with followed me for from about the sixth hole on and he proved to be a good luck charm,” continued Hahn, who played the final 12 holes in six under par.
“I kept the momentum going and made the grinding pars when I got into some trouble.”
Hahn’s round included a chip-in birdie at No. 11.
“That was huge,” said Hahn, of his third consecutive birdie. “I hit a 9-iron from 145.
“It hit the front edge of the green and spun back about 15 feet off the green. Chipping that one in kept the round going.”
Hahn made one of his grinding pars at 18 from 15 feet after dumping his approach right and into the greenside rough.
“Yeah, that was a good one,” Hahn emphasized.
“I hit a really good 3-wood off the tee and had 155 coming in. I felt a bit of breeze and was playing a little 8-iron. I should have backed off of it because I felt like I kind of rushed the shot.
“When you’re in the middle of the fairway you expect to hit the middle of the green 90 per cent of the time. I ended up flaring it out to the right and hit a horrible, horrible chip shot.
“But the way I was putting today, I knew I had a good chance of making the left edge putt. I hit it pretty firm and it went straight in.”
Tom Stankowski had his best opening round of the season and sits two back.
“I played well today and made a lot of putts,” said Stankowski, who went out in five under 31. “I played great on the front side and was just trying to hold it together on the back side.
“It was the putting today that made the difference. I didn’t make any bombs but I made all the 8-10 footers for birdie.”
His deft touch with the flatstick included a tricky 10-footer for par at the final hole.
Stankowski split the tight fairway with his tee shot but pushed a 6-iron into the deep rough just right of the green before getting up and down.
“That was a good putt to make,” stated Stankowski. “I figured if I make bogey, I make bogey but it would have left a sour taste in my mouth after such a good round.
I’ve been playing well lately. It seems to be my modus operandi as the season goes on. Last year, I didn’t play all that well at the start and then picked it up. The same thing has happened this year.”
The projected cut is even par.
In the Clubhouse
Dustin Risdon made a hole in one at the 13th today.
Best Regards,
John Berkovich - Media Director
Canadian Tour
1331 Dorval Drive Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6M 4X7
1-877-226-8687
www.cantour.com
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