A total of 10 Monday qualifying spots 鈥� up from the normal four 鈥� are available for the sa国际传媒 Island Savings Open, the first stop on the new PGA Tour sa国际传媒 (formerly the Canadian Tour) circuit.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the big change. In years past we鈥檝e had four spots and now we have 10, so we鈥檙e really hoping that guys who are playing well, whether they鈥檙e from sa国际传媒 or Washington state or anywhere else, come up and give it a try because there are a lot better odds,鈥� said Murray Thomas, tournament director.
The move to Gorge Vale comes at the request of PGA Tour sa国际传媒 to free up Monday for practice times at Uplands Golf Club, where the tournament will be played, and it allows a capacity of 156 players to attempt Monday qualifying.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 see that happening, but we do see an increase from the 30 to 40 players we usually get to upwards of 70 to 80,鈥� said Thomas.
The deadline for entries is May 29 for non-members of PGA Tour sa国际传媒 at a tab of $250, and members have until May 31 to register at a cost of $100.
Thomas says sponsor鈥檚 exemptions have already been distributed with Royal Colwood鈥檚 Kevin Carrigan attracting one of eight being awarded for the June 6-9 tournament at Uplands.
鈥淚 found out last Wednesday that I got in. I鈥檓 really pumped about that,鈥� said Carrigan, who will also be playing in the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour later this year. 鈥淣o Monday qualifying for me, which I鈥檓 happy about.鈥�
Carrigan 鈥� who recently helped Golf sa国际传媒 to a PNGA Cup championship in Oregon 鈥� did Monday qualify at the sa国际传媒 Open a few years ago and missed the cut in his one and only appearance.
The Zone 5 Amateur winner at the end of the month will also receive an exemption, as will the Vancouver Island Pro Tour order of merit leader by month鈥檚 end. Past champion Mike Grob will be back thanks to an exemption; American Matthew Broome; and Dave Tuttle of host Uplands, will get the others. Two will be filled by the PGA Tour sa国际传媒 through its relationship with Golf sa国际传媒.
CHIP SHOTS: PGA Tour sa国际传媒 announced Monday that it has added a ninth event to its 2013 schedule with the Wildfire Invitational taking place Aug. 26 to Sept. 1 at Wildfire Golf Club outside Peterborough, Ont.
