The event moved from Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver to the next stop in the tour and wound up at the Uplands Golf Club.
With a final round 4-under 66, Toronto’s Albin Choi captured his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory.
The 23-year old came out swinging making birdie on four of his first five holes to separate himself from the field, then held on down the stretch to win by three over Eugene Wong (North Van), Adam Svensson (Surrey) and Jason Millard from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The win moves Choi to the top of the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit, in position to earn full status on the Web.com Tour for 2016.
“I feel like I just won a battle,” said Choi, who became the first Canadian to win in Victoria since Craig Taylor in 2005. “It feels awesome and it feels even better to do it early on in the year. There are so many events coming up and it gives me so much confidence and momentum going forward.”
After an even par 70 saw his five shot lead disappear on Saturday, Choi entered the day tied for the lead with Svensson and Edmond, Oklahoma’s William Kropp at 11-under.
He quickly established himself as the man to beat, however, with four birdies in his first five holes and five over his first seven.
After taking a three shot advantage into the back nine, Choi made bogeys at 12 and 15, but bounced back with birdies on the following hole each time to keep the field and bay.
His birdie at 16 was enough to let him cruise with two-putt pars on the last two holes, and after Svensson was unable to hole his second shot from the 72nd fairway to force a playoff, the title belonged to Choi, along with the $31,500 first place prize.
As the top Canadian on the leaderboard, Choi also earned a $2,500 prize as Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week.
“Just looking at the leaderboard, there were so many guys that could win this tournament today, so my job was to try and forget everything that happened yesterday and try and come in here with a clear mind. There are so many good players. Adam was breathing down my neck pretty much the entire day,” said Choi.
A member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, Choi made his professional debut at Uplands in 2013 and went on to earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2014.
After finishing outside the top-100 on the Money List, Choi failed to retain status and returned to Mackenzie Tour Q-School this spring, where he was the medalist at the Florida Qualifying Tournament.
“Having full status last year and losing my card and coming back out this year, I looked at it as a positive, another year to work on my game and build myself not only as a player but as a person,” said Choi, who credited an adjustment in his mental approach to his stout play this spring. “I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself the last little while, and I’ve noticed that’s just not the way to play. I’ve been playing a lot more free and enjoyable, and it’s a funny thing, good things are happening.”
Svensson finished in a tie for second for the second consecutive week after losing in a playoff at last week’s PC Financial Open, while Millard posted a career-best finish on the Mackenzie Tour.
Wong, who owns two Mackenzie Tour wins, posted his best finish since a tie for second at last year’s PC Financial Open.
NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW
8: The number of consecutive rounds Adam Svensson has shot under par to begin his professional career.
$350: Albin Choi’s narrow lead over Drew Weaver atop the Order of Merit. Both players have a win and a T10 finish to start the season, with Choi’s three-way tie for 10th at the PC Financial Open earning him $350 more than Weaver’s five-way tie for 10th this week.
4: Canadians in the top five: Choi (1), Svensson (T2), Wong (T2) and Cory Renfrew (T5).
CHOI WINS FREEDOM 55 FINANCIAL TOP CANADIAN AWARD
In addition to his victory on Sunday, Albin Choi claimed Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours on Sunday along with a $2,500 prize.
Each week, the top Canadian on the leaderboard will earn the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year and a $25,000 prize.
Choi, who along with Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes, Matt Hill and Adam Svensson is sponsored as a member of Freedom 55 Financial’s Team Freedom, becomes the second straight member of the squad to win after Pendrith claimed the top spot at last week’s PC Financial Open.
THE FIVE UPDATE
The top five players on the Order of Merit at season’s end will earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2015.
Below are the top five through two of 12 events:
1. Albin Choi $35,875
2. Drew Weaver $35,525
3. Adam Svensson $24,617
4. Eugene Wong $13,067
5. Jason Millard $13,067
2. Drew Weaver $35,525
3. Adam Svensson $24,617
4. Eugene Wong $13,067
5. Jason Millard $13,067
The Bayview Place Island Savings Open was presented by the Times Colonist.
Thanks to PGA Tour Communications for the info.
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