Keith Martin brought the front nine at Bear Mountain鈥檚 Valley Course to its knees during the RBC Canadian Open regional qualifier on Monday.
The Kelowna resident, who works on the grounds crew at the Harvest Golf Club, opened with a 5-under-par 30 on the front nine, including an impressive eagle on the par-4 ninth hole. He then cruised in with an even-par 36 on the back to share the low round of the day at 66 with Derek Barron of Lakewood, Washington.
Lucas Herbert of Melbourne, Aust., was next at 69 followed by Horacio Leon of Chile, Danny Sahl of Sherwood Park, Alta., and Riley Wheeldon of Comox, all tied with 1-under 70s. The six advance to Monday qualifying for the RBC Canadian Open, July 24-30, at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
鈥淚t was 173 [yards] from the centre of the fairway. I hit a 7-iron and pulled it a bit. It hit the side bank and it rolled straight into the hole,鈥� Martin said of the eagle on No. 9. 鈥淚t was pretty cool. I just threw my arms up into the air. It was pretty fun.鈥�
It followed a birdie at No. 8 and he also gained strokes at Nos. 3 and 4 for the 30 start.
鈥淭hen I had a rough few holes,鈥� he said of his back nine. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 hitting many greens and made a couple of bogeys. But I made a birdie on No. 15 and made a good hole-out from the back of the green on 17.鈥�
Martin was coming off a disappointing showing at Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour sa国际传媒 qualifying school last week at Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay. His tie for 71st finish there means he will now have to attempt to Monday qualify at PGA Tour sa国际传媒 stops at Point Grey, Victoria, Kelowna, Edmonton and Calgary as he hopes to make his way as a playing pro.
The 28-year-old found his game on Monday.
鈥淭his was cool. It鈥檚 the first time I played in this tournament and I wasn鈥檛 expecting a lot. I hit the ball well at Q-school last week, but I wasn鈥檛 putting well and the short game was crap. But today I putted it well,鈥� sad Martin, who will travel east to attempt to qualify for Glen Abbey. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for that.鈥�
Leon, meanwhile, was the medallist at last week鈥檚 PGA Tour sa国际传媒 qualifying school, collecting a five-stroke win and earning full playing privileges on the Mackenzie Tour. Sahl is still trying to find his way as a pro after graduating from Kent State University. He also toiled as Mike Weir鈥檚 caddy for several years.
Wheeldon finished sixth last week and on Monday made at tap-in birdie at No. 18 to make the cut on a sun-soaked day at a course he knows well. Sahl and Wheeldon played in the same threesome as Brad Clapp of Chilliwack who struggled to a 75 and failed to make the grade.
The top five and ties would move on as 32 players teed it up at Bear Mountain. Had the event drawn the mandatory 100 participants, the overall winner would have advanced straight to the PGA event at Glen Abbey and not have to Monday qualify.
鈥淚 was obviously disappointed to miss out at Q-school last week,鈥� said Herbert after his 69. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to bounce back and get some confidence here.鈥�
The Aussie had finished tied for 24th at Crown Isle and did earn conditional status, where he can Monday qualify across the Canadian tour which begins at Point Grey the first week of June.
鈥淚t just didn鈥檛 happen for me there. I got some good preparation in [Sunday] in the practice round here though,鈥� he said of his bounce-back.
It was the 21-year-old鈥檚 third time in sa国际传媒 and last year he Monday qualified for one event on the PGA Tour sa国际传媒 at the ATB Financial Classic in Calgary.
