A teenager topped the field at the Mackenzie Tour qualifying school at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay.
Aaron Wise played beyond his 19 years as the University of Oregon sophomore and the No. 6-ranked amateur in the world proved why, capping his four rounds with an even-par 72 on Friday.
The Lake Elisnore, California, native 鈥� who鈥檒l turn pro June 1 following the NCAA finals 鈥� finished at 14-under 274 after rounds of 65-68-69-72, two strokes up on fellow Americans Conrad Shindler (69-69-68-70) and Jonathan Garrick (68-69-70-69). Garick is the No. 40-ranked amateur in the world.
Wise earns full playing privileges for the Mackenzie Tour in the 2016 PGA Tour sa国际传媒 season which begins May 26 with the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver before shifting to Victoria for the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by sa国际传媒 on June 2.
鈥淚t feels awesome,鈥� Wise told tour officials afterward and admitted victory had eluded him in recent weeks competing for the Oregon Ducks. 鈥淭he last four events coming into this one, all four were top-10s and three of them were top-3s and I didn鈥檛 quite win one. I knew I had a great opportunity after the first three rounds I played, and I did well to finish this one off.鈥�
Brendan Dillon of Port Moody was the top Canadian, tied for sixth (70-74-68-70) as the second- to 16th-place finishers received exemption through the first four events on the tour, before a re-shuffle through earnings.
Thomas Hay (70-69-72-72) and Adam Cornelson (67-74-72-70), both of Langley, finished tied for ninth and Aaron Cockerill (68-76-70-70), of Gunton, Man., was 15th to also fit into that category.
The 17th- to 40th-place finishers receive conditional status.
