AUGUST 19, 2019
WHISTLER, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – Considering how difficult it was for Bryn Parry to even make it to Whistler Golf Club for Monday’s opening round, the Seymour Creek Golf Centre Professional is more than happy to be leading the TaylorMade & adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Group.
Parry was the lone player to break par during a windy Round 1, carding a 2-under-par 69 to grab a two-stroke lead over the field. Five players, including defending champion Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course), are tied for second place at even-par heading into Tuesday’s final round.
Parry was among a group of competitors travelling Sunday evening from another tournament in Kamloops to Whistler, only for the highway to close due to a traffic collision about an hour away from the resort. That meant a five-hour drive in the other direction to his home in North Vancouver, and a Monday morning arrival in Whistler on very little sleep.
“The thing that I kind of decided about 8 o’clock last night was: ‘There’s going to be adversity; let’s start dealing with it,’” said Parry. “I think I had enough time to make an adjustment for what I knew I was going to go through for warm-up and sleep and by the time we started I wasn’t really thinking about it anymore.”
A three-time PGA of BC Championship winner, Parry made eagle at the par-5 ninth to make the turn at 1-under, then made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to close things out.
“The greens were perfect, so when you do hit a good shot, you got a great reward with a real good look at birdie,” he said. “I think Whistler Golf Club did a perfect job. The greens were perfect, the course was set up, I think, ideally for our tournament.”
A Staff Professional for TaylorMade and adidas Golf, Parry said the title sponsors’ presence on site allowed him to make a last-minute shaft change in his 3-wood, while fellow PGA of BC Professional and TaylorMade representative Lance Antonenko gave him a putting tip Monday morning that came in handy.
“That was pretty cool, and to have it pay off at the end with those late birdies was awesome,” said Parry.
The 47-year-old’s previous PGA of BC Championship wins came in 2000, 2008 and 2015, and Parry said he’d be “over the moon” to add a fourth on Tuesday.
In addition to Stinson, Padraic O’Rourke (The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club), Drew Scollon (Point Grey Golf & Country Club), Luke Bogdan (Ledgeview Golf & Country Club) and 2012 winner Brad Clapp (Cultus Lake Golf Club) are tied for second spot at even-par. Twenty players sit within five strokes of Parry's lead.
CLICK HERE to view full Round 1 scoring.
O’Rourke went out in the first group of the day and said he benefitted from the early tee time, as the wind didn’t seem to pick up until later in the morning on Monday. On Tuesday, however, he’ll be in the final grouping at 12:20 p.m. alongside Parry and Scollon.
As the Head Professional at the golf course located just on the other side of Whistler Village, said having the tournament in his own backyard may have been an advantage as well.
“It’s gotta be worth something,” he said. “I get to stay in my own bed, don’t have to travel anywhere.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing in the final group on a golf course that I’m quite familiar with.”
Stinson, who birdied his final hole to finish at even-par, predicted prior to the tournament that swirling winds would play a factor in Whistler, which proved true Monday.
“You couldn’t tell which way it was going half the time,” said the 33-year-old. “It’s a good track, a good challenge and a good test for us PGA guys to come and play, so hats off to Whistler.”
Stinson said he considers the PGA of BC Championship one of his “majors” for the season and he’s glad to have a good chance at defending his title. Should he reclaim the William Thompson Trophy on Tuesday, he’d become the first repeat winner of the event since 2010.
CLICK HERE to view the Round 2 draw.
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About TaylorMade Golf
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade Golf is a leading manufacturer of high performance golf equipment with industry-leading innovative products like M5/M6 metalwoods, M5/M6 irons and TP5/TP5X golf balls, along with the newly launched P790 irons and Milled Grind 2 wedges. TaylorMade is the #1 Driver in Golf and also a major force on the PGA TOUR with one of the strongest athlete portfolios in golf, that includes Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler and Tiger Woods. Learn more at www.taylormadegolf.ca
About adidas Golf
For over 80 years, adidas has been part of the world of sports on every level, delivering state of-the-art sports footwear, apparel and accessories. Today, adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry and offers a broad portfolio of products. Our strategy is simple: continuously strengthen our brands and products to improve our competitive position and financial performance. adidas golf partners with the top tour athletes who continue to win, including World No. 2 player Dustin Johnson, No. 5 Jon Rahm and No. 11 Xander Schauffele along with a young guns squad lead by recent winner of the Barracuda Championship Collin Morikawa . The company's products resonate with consumers thanks to industry-leading performance from TOUR360 footwear, the Ultimate bottoms franchise, and our Women's rangewear category. adidas Golf has a fully dedicated team that supports the Canadian marketplace with industry-leading products and service. Visit www.adidas.ca/golf.
About Axis Insurance Group
The Axis Insurance Group was formed in 2017 through a brand amalgamation of several BC-based insurance brokerages with roots tracing to 1928. The experience of its combined 150 team members is uniquely positioned to serve Canada with risk-management and insurance services. Contact Axis to find out what coverage is available to be customized for your facility, whether its protecting your commercial property, insuring a tournament's hole-in-one contest and everything in between. By partnering with the largest insurance companies in Canada, Axis Insurance Group has access to the best coverage solutions on the market. Consider them for your personal needs as well, including for auto, travel, homeowner or tenant insurance and more. Visit axisgroup.insure to learn more.
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For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Eric MacKenzie
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
eric@pgabc.org