Paine Edmonds Vancouver Open

Those attending had nothing negative to say about either course or the weather conditions they managed to have for the Vancouver Golf Tour, especially on the final day.

Several top players from various areas in the Province came to show-case their talents in front of a good size crowd on each day of the event.

Commissioner Fraser Mulhulland put’s together a solid group of players who have managed to take the game to a higher level of play.
It doesn’t hurt to have the likes of Adam Hadwin, Adam Svensson, Bryn Parry or James Allenby in the field to attract other pro’s in addition to many spectators.

The final day was perfect for weather conditions and as usual the Amateurs teed off first starting at 7:30 am. The Pro’s took to the links at 12:30ish.

This was mostly due to the Amateurs slowing down the field holding up the field.

The 2011 Paine Edmonds Vancouver open teed off seeing over 200 Pros and Championship Amateurs play in hopes of grabbing a part of the $65,000 Cash and Prizes, which included a $10,000 first place Pro Cheque.

Adam Svensson managed to find a sand trap at McCleery and took his best shot to set up for a final shot at the cup, which he landed on the green.

James Allenby of Langley took the lead with an opening round of 64 (-7) to take a one shot lead over Canada’s #1 currently Ranked Golfer Adam Hadwin who managed to open with a round of 65.

The field saw several Amateurs which included Delta’s Raj Singh and Mark Kitt’s both of whom played exceptional over the tourney.

It goes without saying that this event is more laid-back than the PGA and getting interviews with the golfers when they finish on the 18th is far easier.
It’s alway’s great to talk with individuals from Delta and one such person was Raj Singh, who plays out of Kingslinks, but takes his Son to pitch and put at Sunshine Woods on 64th Ave.
He learned to play golf from his Father in Fiji then moved to New Zealand and eventually found his way to Delta playing out of Sunshine Woods. Being a smaller course he stated “you have to get your game together as I stopped playing for about 12 years, so it was a great place to start”.
He play’s with an organization called South Pacific Golf which has about forty members that uses various courses in Delta and they try to play once-a-month.

Kingslinks is the home club and they have the play-offs around the corner. He continues “recently we have had three of our members play in the VGT and one of his goals is to get others involved”. They like to measure up against other pro’s.

Raj had the privilege to play in the same group as Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor last year and he told me “that was the greatest moment in my golf career and given where Adam is today, that was a thrill”.

Raj followed Adam at the recent RBC in Vancouver and for any young player wanting to advance a career, they should follow someone like Adam Hadwin, Adam Svensson or Nick Taylor.

Raj has two young children, one boy and one girl who are following Dad in his many rounds he plays. His Wife is a care-aid in Surrey and his Son is getting involved in the golf game, naturally at Sunshine Woods in Delta and like most young players, it went over 100 yards, while this just might be an exaggeration of some sort.

Raj mentioned about how the first off the tee program helps many young golfers out at a younger years.

The final day of golf saw Adam Hadwin in the last three-some and at tee time he was a clear twelve under par over the rest of the group.

He shot a 65 on both first two days of the PGT at McCleery and Langara and at press time, I am waiting for a final score.
Brad Clapp of Kamloops was second with a -7, while Devin Carrey of Langley was a -6.