Greg Koster sits four shots off the pace after the first round of play in the British Columbia Men's Mid-Amateur Championship.
The Sunnydale Golf Club member and defending Master-40 division champion, shot a three-over 73 on Tuesday at the Ledgeview Golf Club. His round included three birdies and six bogeys.
Kris Yardley leads by one stroke over Norm Bradley. Yardley, a Zone 3 Public Players' Club member from Maple Ridge, posted an up-and-down, one-under-par 69 in warm, breezy conditions at the 6,131-yard, par-70 course in Abbotsford that boasts such alumni as Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor and James Lepp.
Yardley started hot out of the gates with five birdies and a bogey on his front half only to lose momentum on his back nine, carding four bogeys and a single birdie for the only under par round of the day.
Bradley, of Kelowna, carded four bogeys and four birdies, including an unfortunate three-putt on the final hole to head into round two sitting at even par 70.
There are seven players sitting tied for third after first-round 71s including Surrey's Steve Savage, Vancouver's Steve Barry and Ryan Brooks of Pitt Meadows. Yardley is leading both the overall Mid-Amateur division and the Master-40 division due to his age.
Koster is in a six-way tie for 12th and tees off today in the second round. The third and final round goes Thursday. Robert McLellan of Courtenay is in 93rd place after an opening round 87.
The Men's Mid-Amateur Championship features two divisions: The Mid-Amateur division for those between the ages 25-39 and the Master-40 division for those over 40.
All players compete in the overall individual competition. There will be a cut following the second round to the low 70 and ties.
For complete day one results and day two starting times, visit bcga.bluegolf.com. To follow along on social media, use the official hashtag #BCMidAm.
– British Columbia Golf