To say that Dan McCarthy鈥檚 first win on the Mackenzie Tour was a popular one would be a huge understatement.
One of the elder statesmen on PGA Tour sa国际传媒, McCarthy tapped in for birdie on the final hole on Sunday to claim the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver 鈥� his first win in his 39th career start on the tour.
Patience paid off for the 30-year-old, who has more than earned his stripes on tour as a member from 2009-10 and since 2014, coming close to victories on several occasions.
鈥淚鈥檝e won on a lot of other tours, won a lot of events, but that was the first one in sa国际传媒. I鈥檝e been in the hunt a few other times, but it鈥檚 nice to close one out,鈥� said McCarthy, who recorded rounds of 68-66-69-70 for a 15-under total, one stroke better than Tyler McCumber.
McCarthy would love nothing more than to stretch his lead on the PGA Tour sa国际传媒 Order of Merit after earning $31,500 for the victory. The top money earner on the 2016 season will earn full exemption onto the Web.com Tour for 2017.
Winning the first two tournaments on tour is a tall order and no one knows that more than McCarthy, who tees it up on Thursday at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by the sa国际传媒 at Uplands Golf Club.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to go out with any expectations. That鈥檚 kind of how I played last week. This is obviously a different golf course with different challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to formulate a game plan here over the next couple of days and try and stick to it. If I have a chance to win again on Sunday, I would feel very fortunate.鈥�
The Syracuse, New York, native, who played at Le Moyne College, was tied for second best in the field last week at Point Grey with a 77.8 per cent success ratio in greens in regulation.
McCarthy had Web.com Tour status in 2013 before falling back to the Mackenzie Tour, which was taken over by PGA Tour sa国际传媒.
鈥淚鈥檓 30, but I don鈥檛 feel that old. A lot of these guys are younger and just coming out of college in their early 20s. I鈥檝e been around and had Web status in 2013. I鈥檝e played just about anywhere and everywhere you can play in North America, so I guess that gives me some veteran status,鈥� he said with a smile.
He now spends a lot of time in Florida in the off-season working on his game, which has paid off early this season.
鈥淲inning early in the year, I鈥檓 not going to say takes pressure off, but it is a great way to start the year,鈥� he added. 鈥淚f you play decent the rest of the year and handle your business, you should be OK.鈥�
CHIP SHOTS: Kevin Carrigan of Royal Colwood leads the sa国际传媒 Men鈥檚 Mid-Amateur at Nanaimo Golf Club after a 4-under 68 on Tuesday. He has a five-shot lead on six players, including veteran Sandy Harper of Nanaimo, Brent Wilson of Gorge Vale and Scott Kral of Olympic View. Victoria Golf Club鈥檚 Alison Murdoch leads the women鈥檚 event after a 6-over 78. Port Alberni鈥檚 Christina Proteau is tied for third at 81 and Nanoose Bay鈥檚 Shelly Stouffer is tied for fifth with Nanaimo鈥檚 Kim Evans at 82.
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
