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Kevin Kwon leads 111th BCA Championship after day one
Twenty-two players shot under par during today’s first round at Copper Point and the Springs at Radium
Team Canada Development Squad member Kevin Kwon (pictured above) has jumped out to a one-stroke advantage after round one at the 111th BC Amateur Championship, co-hosted by the Springs at Radium in Radium Hot Springs and the Copper Point Golf Club in Invermere.
Kwon, a resident of Maple Ridge, continued his strong play as of late with an opening round six-under-par 66 on the par 72,6767 yard Springs at Radium Course thanks to a bogey-free round. Kwon was the 2013 CN Future Links Pacific champion earlier this year at the Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay and only recently competed in the prestigious Sahalee Players Championship where he finished T23.
“I am hitting the ball well,” stated Kwon.
“There are a lot of chances on the Springs course and I capitalized on them when I had to. The greens are tricky to read and the fact that I went bogey free was great.”
Following close behind Kwon after the first 18 holes is fellow Team Canada member Eric Banks of Truro, Nova Scotia. Banks, playing in his first BC Amateur Championship and a member of the University of Florida Gators Men’s Golf Team, shot a five-under-par 67 at the Springs. Tied with Banks after matching his 67 at the Springs are Vernon’s Brady Stead, Creston’s Kowan O’Keefe and Kevin Spooner of West Vancouver.
Pre-Championship favourite and talented amateur Charlie Hughes of Langley sits two strokes back of the lead at -4 (68) along with Victoria’s Brent Wilson. Both players recorded their scores on the Springs.
Other notables to post sub-par rounds after day one are recent British Columbia Junior Boys’ champion Jared Dutoit of Kimberley (70), defending BC Amateur champion Riley Fleming of Airdrie, Alberta (70), Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan (70) and team mate of Kwon on the Team Canada Development squad and recent Phil Mickelson Award Winner Adam Svensson of Surrey (71). Past champions David Rose of West Vancouver and Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh both shot two-over-par 74’s to sit eight back of Kwon.
Posting the low round of the day at the Copper Point Golf Course was Calgary’s Scott Lowe. Lowe was only one of three players to break 70 on the par 70, 6807 yard Copper Point on the day. Lowe sits in a tie for eighth place along with six others.
Day one results for other regional golfers: Kevin Dereniwsky of Kimberley (-1/tied 15th); Harry Ferguson of Invermere (E/tied 24th); Billy Neilson of Golden, (+3/ tied 54th); Trevor Smith of Kimberley, (+4/ tied 67th); Scott Merriam of Cranbrook (+5/ tied 81st); Ryan MacLean of Radium Hot Springs (+7/ tied 112th); Dale Stypula of Cranbrook (+10/tied 133rd); Aaron Jenkins of Invermere (+10/tied 133rd); Russell DuToit of Kimberley (+10/tied 133rd).
The championship continues tomorrow with action at both courses. Players will each get a chance to play both the Springs and Copper Point during the first two rounds with a cut to the low 70 and ties occurring following tomorrow’s round.
The top three competitors from the 111th BC Amateur Championship will represent British Columbia on Team BC at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be held August 6-9, at the Royal Colwood Golf Club and Gorge Vale Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia.
Spectators are welcomed and encouraged to attend the event. Entrance is free of charge.
Click here for information on start times and scoring (including score specifics/course specifics) .
BCGA/e-KNOW
