Mark Valliere was in a 27-way logjam for 148th place after the first round of the 109th Canadian Men's Amateur Championship, played Tuesday at Gorge Vale Golf Club and Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria.
The Courtenay golfer and Team Canada Development squad member was at six-over 78 heading into second round play Wednesday. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., carded the low round of the day. The Team Canada National Squad member rolled in seven birdies during his opening round six-under 66 and held a three-stroke lead over a strong contingent of Canadian and international players.
Currently ranked No. 43 in the world, the Kent State University standout wasn’t surprised at his strong play on Tuesday. Having narrowly missed the cut recently at the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club, Conners stated he came to Victoria with plenty of confidence.
In Willingdon Cup Inter-Provincial Team Championship play, Team British Columbia, comprised of Charlie Hughes of Langley, Kevin Carrigan of Victoria and Team Canada Development squad member Adam Svensson of Surrey, sat one stroke ahead of Team Ontario and Team Manitoba at one-over 145 for the championship. Team Alberta and Team Quebec were only two strokes out of first heading into the final round of Inter-Provincial play Wednesday.
Team Canada’s National and Development squad programs had a strong showing Tuesday. Justin Shin of Pitt Meadows, B.C., was tied for eighth at two-under par, while Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., and Kevin Kwon of Pitt Meadows, B.C., were tied for 21st at even-par.
The 2013 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship resumed Wednesday with second-round play at Royal Colwood Golf Club and Gorge Vale Golf Club. Rounds three and four will be contested solely at Royal Colwood Golf Club with the champion being crowned on Friday, Aug. 9.
At the conclusion of play on Wednesday, the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties and Golf Canada will also crown the 2013 Canadian Men’s Amateur Inter-Provincial Team champion.
The winner of Canada’s oldest national golf championship will earn exemptions into both the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal Golf Club as well as the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Country Club at Brookline in Brookeline, Mass. Additionally, the winner is eligible to receive exemptions into the U.S. Amateur Public Links, U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur & USGA Senior Amateur Championship, if applicable.
Starting times, post-round results, full field list and live scoring are available at golfcanada.ca
– Golf Canada