Any golfer will tell you, you never want to walk off the last hole with a bogey on your card.
Of course, it makes it a little more bearable when you鈥檙e signing for a 6-under 64, as Surrey native and now Toronto resident Albin Choi did in Round 1 of the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by the sa国际传媒 on Thursday.
Choi, 23, turned in the tidy round to grab a share of the lead in the second event on Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 at Uplands Golf Club, right along with long-hitting Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., and American Dan Buchner.
鈥淚t鈥檚 never easy to shake it off. It always stings to end on a bad note, but that鈥檚 why golf is a four-day tournament and there鈥檚 still three days left. I鈥檓 looking forward to what鈥檚 coming up ahead,鈥� said Choi, who is looking for his first win on tour in his third season.
The 64 puts him in a good stead and a great head space to achieve that.
鈥淚 felt comfortable coming into this week,鈥� said Choi, who finished tied for 10th last week at the opening PC Financial Open in Vancouver. 鈥淚 played great last week. I feel great being in British Columbia, it being the West Coast and being from here. I had my pro debut here [in Victoria] a couple of years ago. I remember the course very well and it was nice to play well today.鈥�
Birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 (he started on the back nine) left him alone at the top at 7-under until his chip from off the fringe on the par-3 ninth fell well below the hole and he missed about an eight-footer for par.
鈥淚t sucks to finish with a bogey on nine, but overall it was a great day,鈥� Choi said.
His run captured the attention of fellow Canadian Eugene Wong of Vancouver, who finished with a 5-under 65 to sit tied for fourth, a shot back.
Wong just returned from playing PGA Tour China where he sits fifth on the Order of Merit. That tour breaks until August, so he is playing in Victoria before sprinkling in some Asian Tour stops before returning to sa国际传媒 at the end of June.
鈥淭he plan was to come and shoot as well as I can,鈥� said Wong, who admitted to feeling jet-lagged after arriving home on Tuesday in time to catch up on sleep and laundry. 鈥淚 saw Albin was 7-under when I went through 12 holes and I was like, 鈥極K, I guess I have to step it up now and make some more putts.鈥� 鈥�
For Pendrith, he picked up right where he left off last week when he tied for second in a five-way playoff at Point Grey Golf and Country Club.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have another 64 today. Two 64s in a row is always good,鈥� said Pendrith, who closed with that number in Vancouver to get him into the playoff. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased with the round today. I could have been a couple more lower, but I鈥檓 pleased with the start.
鈥淥bviously, there are a lot of positives from last week. Just being in the playoff was awesome and having a real solid last round. I鈥檓 playing real well right now. I鈥檓 trying not to think about it too much, just going out and trying to make as many birdies as I can,鈥� added Pendrith, who finished tied for second at the 2014 Canadian Men鈥檚 Amateur at Royal Colwood.
Most of the low scores came in the cooler morning, which was a surprise as the afternoon players enjoyed calm, warm conditions.
鈥淚t was one of those Victoria days you put on a postcard,鈥� said Buchner, who had the low round of the afternoon at 64.
Americans Ryan Brehm and J.J. Spaun were tied for third at 65 with Wong.
As for locals, Cory Renfrew was in a cluster of 12 players tied for 15th at 3-under 67 and amateur Kevin Carrigan of Royal Colwood was 2-under 68 (tied for 27th).
Carrigan birdied the 12th and 13th holes, chipped in for another on 15 and then birdied 17 and 18 to cap a 5-under flourish over his last seven holes to salvage his day.
鈥淚t gives you a chance to make the cut,鈥� said Carrigan.
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