David Bradshaw opened a massive lead at PGA Tour Canada’s British Columbia Qualifying Tournament on Wednesday, firing a 10-under 62 at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community to lead by 10 shots through 36 holes.
Bradshaw’s 62 represents a course record at Crown Isle and gave him a 17-under par total, following his opening 65 in Tuesday’s first round. Summerland, B.C.'s Greg Machtaler was in solo second at 7-under after a second round 69.
“I was hitting it great and putting really well. I had one little blip when I three-putted nine, but I made everything I looked at,” said Bradshaw, who carded 11 birdies on Wednesday. The 31-year old from Encinitas, Calif. said any thoughts of shooting 59 were dashed after three-putting the ninth hole – a turn of events that Bradshaw said actually helped him on the back nine.
“When I got to 5-under on eight, it occurred to me that I could do it,” said Bradshaw of the potential for a sub-60 round. “But when I three-putted nine, it kind of relaxed me because I knew it was done with and I could just focus on the next shot.”
With a double-digit lead heading into Thursday’s third round, Bradshaw said he’s going to focus on the tasks at hand as much as possible.
“Golf’s a weird game. It seems like the more you focus on the individual shot, the better they total at the end,” said Bradshaw, who is coming off an appearance two weeks ago at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he Monday Qualified to play on the PGA Tour for the fourth time in his career.
Machtaler carded five birdies to offset a double bogey and give him a 3-under 69, his second straight sub-60 round for the week.
“I’m really happy with where I am and how I’ve played,” said Machtaler, who said he’s looking forward to the challenge of two more Q-School rounds. “They’re definitely not comfortable rounds, so I couldn’t ask for more to be where I am right now.”
The two Vancouver Island golfers in the field have struggled this week. Adam Nice of Campbell River withdrew after shooting rounds of 82-86 while Victoria's Ryan Guigan was tied for 125th at 19-over 163 (82-81) through Wednesday.
Cornelson looking to take renewed focus to Tour
After finishing 81st on the Order of Merit last season and losing his status on PGA Tour Canada, Adam Cornelson knew he had a tough pill to swallow. The Langley, B.C. resident came to Q-School this week with a renewed focus, however, and said losing his card ultimately helped him get better as a player.
“It stung losing my card,” said Cornelson, “but I had to make some changes to get better. You have to improve every year.”
The lesson has paid off so far for Cornelson, who came into the week straight off a five-shot win at the Vancouver Golf Tour’s Chilliwack Open. With rounds of 68-71 at Crown Isle, the 27-year old was tied for seventh through 36 holes and in solid position to return to PGA Tour Canada this season.
“I think it was a maturity level and putting four days together in a tournament,” said Cornelson of his struggles in 2013, when he tied a career best with a T-16 finish in Victoria but made just three of nine cuts. “I had a lot of good two- or three-day tournaments but struggled to put together four good rounds.”
Cornelson said his new-found maturity paid off on Wednesday, when he salvaged an under par round after a poor start. After bogeying two of his first three holes, Cornelson rallied to make five birdies, including four in six holes on the back nine to shoot a 1-under 71.
“Maybe a year or two ago I would have pressed, being 2-over. But I knew that if I kept hitting good shots I’d get some looks and hopefully roll a few in,” said Cornelson. “This is a long tournament. I was proud of my patience. I stuck to my game plan and at the end they came for me.”
McCartin comes to Canada in search of Web.com Tour status
Raleigh, North Carolina’s Chris McCartin shot his second straight 3-under 69 to sit tied for third through 36 holes, halfway to his goal of earning the opportunity to play for Web.com Tour status this year on PGA Tour Canada.
The 28-year old said it was a natural move for him to come to try and play in Canada this season with the opportunity to move up to the Web.com Tour while seeing parts of the world he had never seen before.
“Anybody in my position is looking to advance to the next level, and the opportunity to finish in the top five or the top ten on that Order of Merit would be great,” said the Wake Forest University grad. “It would be cool to keep going around Canada, too.”
Card Watch
With the top 18 players this week earning exempt status and rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status for 2014, 20 players were at 3-under or better and in position for full cards, while 47 players were at even or better and in position for conditional status.
– PGA Tour Canada