2013 CHILLIWACK OPEN
July 6, 7th
Final Round: Chilliwack Golf Club | 6,330 yards, Par 71
Chilliwack, BC,
Purse: $10,000 | Winner’s share: $2,000
Weather: 28 degrees Celsius, 20-30 Km/hr. winds in afternoon
Tournament in Review
Two of Canada’s Top Professionals Battle it out in Sudden Death Playoff in Chilliwack Open
PGA of Canada’s #1 Player Bryn Parry Holds off Web.com’s Adam Hadwin for Record 5th Chilliwack Open Win!
It couldn’t have been scripted any better for a made-for-TV special this weekend in Chilliwack. Rising WEB.COM TOUR star Adam Hadwin comes into the Chilliwack Open field last minute on a week off, coming off one his best finish on the WEB.COM this year (5th place). To the chagrin of a few local pros when they heard the announcement (happy to see Nick Taylor out of town…..then this??), Adam Hadwin was a remarkable addition to the Chilliwack Open field for many reasons. The experience alone for those paired with him would be enough to make it worth-while for many local pros getting to see just what it takes to make it out there on the big stage.
But it was much bigger than that. Hadwin’s presence draws galleries! His Hollywood looks and swagger are probably enough to bring the crowds out in droves alone. But his achievements the past 3 years as unquestionably BC’s hottest golfer are what makes local golf fans get excited to come and watch Canada’s next PGA TOUR hopeful!
On Saturday, Hadwin tee’d off at 7:40am and was greeted with a gallery of almost 100 people who set their alarm clocks especially early when they heard he was in the field. He admitted himself that his 69 was not his best performance, but other than a couple of 3-putts, and one or two loose shots, he had put together a fairly decent 1st round.
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But one of the other emerging stories in BC Golf as of late has been the re-dedication of a 40 year old PGA Professional from North Van, Bryn Parry. His track record in local golf (5x VGT Order of Merit winner) and multiple time Canadian Assistant Pro and BC PGA Champion would make one think there’s no need to change what’s working, right?
Well, not in Bryn Parry’s mind. For as much as he has done the last 15 years on and off the Canadian Tour, Web.com and local VGT and PGA of BC/Canada circuits, Bryn Parry is a man on a mission. One goal: Continue to get better and play on a MAJOR TOUR and WIN!!
So that’s what Parry set out to do this fall. And the biggest weakness in his game (he would admit to) would be his physical conditioning. Multiple attempts down at PGA Tour Qualifying School, a couple of near misses at getting his card and getting to final stage and Parry said ENOUGH. “If I’m going to keep up to (younger) players like Adam Hadwin and many others like him out on tour, I’m going to need to get into better shape”, stated Parry. And he has done just that. Re-dedicated himself to a workout routine courtesy of a good friend and PGA Professional specializing in Golf Conditioning, Kendal Yonemoto. But more importantly, it was Parry’s COMMITMENT to that routine that has seen him not only drop 20-25 pounds in 8 months, but change the physical endurance level and even more importantly his mental acuity when it comes to a rigorous playing and teaching schedule (Yes, he still teaches golf full-time!!).
Parry was quick to comment that he would never have won the PGA of CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP 2 weeks ago if it hadn’t been for being in such great condition. “Playing 2 practice rounds and then 6 tournament rounds in 4 days would have wiped me out last year. But I had to admit that it was really fun feeling that I could have gone for a 10km jog after any of my rounds when I knew my opponents were laboring somewhat, especially on the last 2 days where we played 36 holes/day. This was a huge advantage for me and big reason why I won the title. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing at Glen Abbey in a couple of weeks’ time at the RBC Canadian Open”.
Parry continued to show his physical and mental toughness out at the Chilliwack Open this weekend. Reeling off 8 birdies on his last 13 holes on day one for a course-record tying round of 63 showed us all one thing: That he was not willing to be pushed out of the spotlight by Adam Hadwin! Parry was in very good company on day one, as two of Chilliwack Golf Club’s own Professionals Brad Clapp and Luke Bogdan carded rounds of 64 themselves. Rounding out the final day pairing would be Parry’s colleague at Seymour Creek, Dave Zibrik who opened up with a first round of 66 (-5).
With day 2 freshening in the afternoon, scoring would be much more of a challenge. Firmer greens, swirly winds always making club selection a problem with Chilliwack’s greens being so small and the rough nice and lush! Hadwin would need almost a miracle to make up 6 shots over the 18 holes, so it would have appeared the winner would come out of one of the final 2 groups who were 4 shots or less off the pace.
BUT…….What would the Chilliwack Open be without a great comeback story? In fact for a while, it appeared it could have been any number of players who would challenge Parry for the coveted trophy. First it was PGA Tour Canada’s Oliver Tubb, who got out of the gates nicely on the front nine with a 2-under par 35, then birdied #10 go get within 1 of the lead. But Tubb wasn’t able to continue the pressure on the back nine, making bogeys on 11, 16 and 18 to finish in a 3-way tie for 4th at -4. West Van’s Seann Harlingten also looked like he was in contention, playing steadily at -2 thru 9 to also get within 1 shot thru 15 when Parry bogeyed the 14th. But he just couldn’t find a birdie when he needed it coming in, and with a bogey on 17 he would finish at -5 and 3rd place alone, good for an $1,100 cheque.
Hadwin got off to a decent start on his front nine, birdying 1 , 2, and 4 with a bogey sandwiched in between on the 3rd. This moved him to -4 for the tournament and only 3 back when Parry bogeyed the short par 5 first hole. But an errant drive on #6 made for a difficult par, and a missed short par putt on 7 put Hadwin back to 5 out of the lead (Parry had made some ground himself with birdies on 2 and 5 to get to -9 for the event).
But it seems like Hadwin has the flare for the dramatics (remember the back 9 charge in ’11 RBC Canadian Open at Shaughnessy). And so he went about his magic, birdying 10 to get into a pack at -5. Solid pars on 11-14 kept him at -5 and he would only be 3 back when Parry bogeyed the 10th when his approach kicked over the green. Hadwin continued to creep up the board when he went for the green on 15 and pitched it up to tap-in range. He was now -6 with 3 difficult holes to play and with Parry struggling on the tough 14th making bogey, it made this event now a one shot margin with 4 holes to play for Parry and 3 to play for Hadwin.
But with the many years of experience he has, Parry laid up on the drive-able 15th and hit a beautiful wedge shot to 4 feet in front of 200 fans in the grandstands. When he rolled it in for birdie, he got a great reception and everyone at that point felt it was his tournament to win (or lose) with a 2 shot advantage with 3 to play.
But Hadwin was not giving in. He made 2 solid pars on 16 and 17 and then stuffed an iron from 150 out and made it for birdie to post 7-under par in the clubhouse. Parry made par on 16 himself, but struggled with 17 and missed a make-able par putt to drop him back to 7-under and all of a sudden we had a tie at the top!
Now Parry faced Chilliwack’s most difficult hole on the card, the long and tight par 4 – 18th hole. Length and accuracy are a premium on this hole, otherwise a great shot from the rough, or right side of fairway would be needed just to sniff the green. After 2 shots, Parry had found his ball left of the green, facing an almost impossible up and down for par. But he proved us all wrong when he hit a simply remarkable pitch shot to just 4 feet. And when his par putt found the hole, we were heading for sudden death playoff and more excitement for the swarming gallery.
PLAYOFF RE-CAP
As in the past, the Chilliwack Open has created some great Champions and great theatre. This year’s was one of the best! Hadwin and Parry went back to the 15th hole where fans could watch the action from behind the drive-able green. Parry drew the straw to tee-off first and laid up once again right into the middle of the fairway. Hadwin chose a 3-metal to go for the green and he hit a beauty just right and short of the green. Parry hit a beauty of a wedge shot to 4 feet for a likely birdie. Then it was Hadwin’s turn to give the fans some excitement as his pitch shot checked and spun right at the hole before lipping-out! Tap in for birdie! Parry stepped up with confidence and drained his birdie putt and onto hole 16 we went!
Parry hit first, a bit left into the rough but he would have a shot to the green. But he would not be able to go for the tucked left pin due to the greens firming up. So he hit out to the back center part of the green and would make a great 2-putt for par. Hadwin’s drive was absolutely launched down there to 100 yards out, perfectly placed on the right side of the fairway. He hit a beauty shot into 12 feet, but raced his birdie putt 4 feet by…he would tap in for par and on we went to the 17th.
Parry’s iron shot veered into the left bunker, leaving him one very difficult up and down. Hadwin put his shot just where he needed to with Parry in trouble – out to 20 feet right of the pin. But Parry was not going down without a fight! He made a clutch sand shot to 5 feet and made his putt! Hadwin’s birdie attempt came up just shy and onto 18 we went!
Parry once again over-hooked his drive down 18 and would face an extremely challenging 2nd shot. But the talented player he is, he played a beauty of a shot around the trees up just off the back portion of the green. Hadwin striped his drive, but just down the right side of the fairway and would now have to contend with the overhanging maple so many players have faced in the past at Chilliwack GC. When his approach shot didn’t fade back, he would now face a very difficult lob shot to the pin.
With fans surrounding the 18th green, Parry chipped it down the slope magically, dribbling it down to 2 feet from the cup. Hadwin hit a beauty of a shot, but it just wouldn’t stop by the hole and he now faced 8 feet for his par. He studied it with care, but hit his put just through the break, and would tap in for bogey. All eyes were now on Parry’s 2-footer for the win. And when he drained it, applause came over the crowd and Parry was declared the Chilliwack Open Champion for a record 5th time!!
Parry and Hadwin were greeted with some amazing support from the local galleries who were very appreciative of some great golf from these 2 Champions. Parry’s win earned him a $2,000 cheque and 2,500 points on the CLEVELAND/SRIXON ORDER OF MERIT on the VGT. Hadwin picked up $1,400 for his 2nd place finish. With Order of Merit Leader Nick Taylor making headlines out on the PGA TOUR Canada himself (T2nd place finish), Parry picked up some ground on Taylor on the VGT Order of Merit. The winner will collect a $2,500 Bonus cheque to the Q-school of their choice!
In the Amateur side of the tournament, local Chilliwack member Dan Mitchell carded rounds of 75, 71 to win by 3 shots over Mark Heinrich and Greg Bismeyer. While on the Overall Net side of the tournament, Justin Reid of BC Player’s Club was declared the winner at 5-under 137 after RCGA retrogression over Gil Semet and Dan Murphy, also 137 (-5).
Click Here For Complete Results
Congratulations go out to the Chilliwack Golf Club for hosting one of the most memorable Chilliwack Opens in its 50+ year history! The amazing amount of work and efforts from each and every one of the Chilliwack Golf Club’s Committee and Event Team did not go un-noticed! Thank-you Bryan Ewart – GM, Jared Rempel and your Pro-shop staff, and the whole clubhouse team for all you do to make this event very special!!
A fabulous atmosphere was provided for all players and spectators alike, including gourmet food on Saturday night, cool refreshments and warm hospitality, matched with first class course conditions, thanks to Head Superintendent Duane Grosart.
Special thanks to all Chilliwack Golf Course volunteers and the whole VGT Team who make the Live Leaderboards so much fun for the fans to see throughout the whole weekend!
From all of us at the Vancouver Golf Tour, we look forward to another first class event with Chilliwack Golf Club in 2014!
Sincerely,
Fraser Mulholland
Commissioner
Vancouver Golf Tour
PRIZE LIST
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