2012 PAINE EDMONDS VANCOUVER OPEN
MEDIA DAY @ Fraserview Golf Course
Thursday, Aug.9th
Four of Canada’s rising golf stars joined a collection of Vancouver’s media at the 2012 Paine Edmonds Vancouver Open Media Day at Fraserview. This marquee group of Pro Golfers included 3-time winner on the ’12 VGT season Ryan Williams, who is having his best year out on the Canadian Tour, with two top 10 finishes in his last 5 Can Tour starts. Williams was joined by 2nd year Canadian Tour members Adam Cornelson of Langley and Kevin Stinson of Mission, both having vastly improved seasons on the Canadian Tour this year, and both are winners on the VGT this year.
Chilliwack Golf & Country Club’s Brad Clapp, who has had a remarkable 2012 (winning both the BC Assistant’s and PGA of BC Championships) rounded out this stellar field of pros.
After some opening remarks by Van Parks Golf marketing specialist Jeff Ciecko (CK Golf Solutions), Vancouver Parks’ Supervisor of Golf Operations Howard Normann spoke to the media about the valued partnership that has been forged between Vancouver Parks Golf and the VGT through the Vancouver City Open event. “It has been amazing to see where the event has come from over the past 4 years since we first started our partnership with the VGT, and we are excited to host some of Canada’s top Professional and Amateur golfers on Vancouver’s Premier City Golf Courses this year. We have had nothing but great feedback from all of the players who played the tournament the past 3 years, and that is a reflection of the hard work we have seen from our dedicated greens staff at all three courses. And of course, we can’t thank the Title Sponsor Paine Edmonds enough for their continued support of this premier golf event”.
Allison Reynolds of the First Tee Program YMCA took the microphone next, and she spoke to the recent growth of the First Tee Program in Vancouver since its inception two years ago. “We are very thankful of being chosen as the recipient charity of this year’s Vancouver Open event” stated Reynolds. It takes continued support from organizations (like the Vancouver Golf Tour) to run a program like the First Tee. We have been able to offer golf clinics and programs to over 200 juniors last year thanks to the Van Open and many other key supporters of our organization”!
Allison Reynolds of the First Tee Program YMCA
Vancouver Golf Tour’s Commissioner Fraser Mulholland spoke to the incredible support Title Sponsor Paine Edmonds and Presenting Sponsors (Augusta Resources and Saputo) have provided to make this year’s Vancouver City Open the biggest ever. “We are excited to announce a $75,000 overall cash and prize purse for this year’s event thanks to the continued support of Paine Edmonds, Augusta Resources and Saputo” stated Mulholland. “Not only are our sponsors allowing us to run the largest Annual Professional Golf Event in Vancouver, but they are making it possible for us to contribute a significant amount of money to the First Tee Program as well as offer some FREE JUNIOR CLINICS at Fraserview on morning of the final round of the Vancouver Open.
Canadian Tour Pro Ryan Williams concluded the morning speeches, addressing the nature of how he and many of his colleagues have started to see success coming through the VGT, and was quick to thank VGT, Paine Edmonds and all supporting sponsors, as well as Vancouver Parks Golf for playing host to such a great event as the Vancouver Open.
At the conclusion of morning speeches, all media, players and Van Open team members were joined for lunch on the beautiful Fraserview patio by 22 First Tee Program juniors, who had been invited to join the pros for some lunch and take part in a golf clinic. VGT’s 4 Professionals conducted a ‘Memorial – style’ clinic, each pro covering a topic (curving the ball, controlling distance, warm-up and handling pressure) and demonstrating their skills in front of the eager First Tee junior golfers. A couple of trivia questions were asked at the end of the clinic, and two lucky winners took home a limited edition Vancouver Open hat signed by all 4 pros! You should have seen their faces!
The Vancouver City Open Media day concluded with the media being treated to a round of golf with one of the featured VGT or Canadian Tour Pros on the fabulous Fraserview Golf Course. Some birdies, eagles…..and other scores were traded between the groups and everyone retreated to the patio after the round to share some ‘tall tales’ of their rounds…..what else do golfers do??
All-in-all, a great day of golf was had by all media, Van Parks Golf and VGT team members. Now all we can do is count down the days as we near another dramatic week of Vancouver Open Golf on Vancouver’s three City Golf Courses, Aug.29th to Sept.2nd at McCleery, Langara and Fraserview.
For more information on the 2012 Paine Edmonds Vancouver Open, including Championship or Charity Pro-am details, daily or weekly spectator passes, or to volunteer, click http://vancouveropen.ca.
