With just over three weeks to go, it鈥檚 all systems go for the 2016 Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by sa国际传媒.
Local organizers announced Wednesday that a junior pro-am will be held at Cordova Bay Golf Course on May 31. It joins the list of scheduled events for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 stop, which will officially begin June 2 at Uplands Golf Club.
The Victoria stop is the second event on the tour鈥檚 slate, which begins May 26-29 with the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey in Vancouver.
鈥淔rankly, every year it鈥檚 bigger and better, and I can鈥檛 see anything but bigger and better for this year, too,鈥� said local organizer Keith Dagg.
鈥淪ponsorship, I sold it out easier than I ever have, which is awesome because it鈥檚 now $500,000 to run this thing 鈥� so the community is buying in to support it,鈥� Dagg said.
鈥淭he turnout for charity last year was the best ever. We raised $36,000 for charity and I expect it to be much the same this year. When you see the calibre of golfer, which we鈥檙e currently witnessing in [the tour] qualifying school scores at Crown Isle, it鈥檚 phenomenal golf.鈥�
The Children鈥檚 Health Foundation of Vancouver Island is the main benefactor of the four-day tournament, which includes such local talent as Cory Renfrew, who will be back after having successful results on the Pepsi and Gateway minor tours south of the border.
鈥淚鈥檓 slowly getting back into it,鈥� the 30-year-old said of his return from Arizona. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to grind every single day just yet, but get the enjoyment of playing back. With a week and a half or so to go I鈥檒l amp up, maybe go to Vancouver early.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying not to put pressure on myself right now, but when it鈥檚 game time, I want to be ready to go,鈥� added Renfrew, who will compete in the Battle at The Bear tournament on Sunday and Monday at Bear Mountain Golf Resort.
Dagg looks forward to the community support again this year, as does tour president Jeff Monday.
鈥淭he support the community has shown for the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by sa国际传媒 for more than 30 years has been nothing short of tremendous, and we are looking forward to another great event this year,鈥� Monday said in a statement.
The event also includes several Thrifty Foods youth golf clinics.
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