Jesse Crowe held the lead going into Tuesday’s final round of the $15,000 Cleveland Golf/Srixon Canada PGA of BC Club Professional Championship presented by Oakcreek Golf & Turf after an even-par first round of 70 at Victoria Golf Club.
The Salmon Arm Golf Club head pro will have to fend off several challengers for the Dick Munn Memorial Trophy, as Crowe holds a one-stroke lead over four players – Phil Jonas (Philip Jonas Golf Academy), Matt Palsenbarg (Northview Golf Academy), Jim Goddard (Cordova Bay Golf Course) and Padraic O’Rourke (Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club).
In total, there are 18 players within four shots of the lead. The winner earns $2,700.
Having spent his share of time around Victoria Golf Club during his days with the Camosun College Chargers golf team, grabbing the overnight lead Monday was the latest of many good memories that Crowe has made at the historic oceanside course in Oak Bay.
“I was just happy to get to make a trip to the Island to play my favourite golf course, so to shoot even par today is fantastic,” said the 37-year-old, who’s sitting on his first-ever lead in a PGA of BC event. “It’s pretty cool.”
Crowe hadn’t played a full round of golf in several weeks before Monday due to injuries, last teeing it up at the PGA of BC Championship at Capilano Golf & Country Club in late August. The layoff didn’t seem to hurt him at all, as Crowe made five birdies on the day while playing both nines at even par.
“I’ll just go out and have fun,” Crowe said of his approach for Tuesday. “We had a blast out there today … and whatever happens, happens.”
Though the weather shifted between sun and rain throughout the day, conditions at the club were relatively calm for Round 1, helping several players put themselves in position to make a final-day charge.
Jonas overcame a trio of three-putts in his first five holes by playing the back side at 1-under, despite a bogey at the par-4 18th.
“Overall, I’m pretty happy with 71, but I certainly wish I putted better and had hit some better shots,” said Jonas, who’s won several PGA of BC events but is playing his first Club Professional Championship. “But it’s such a great course to play that it was a lot of fun.”
Although Palsenbarg was left feeling a bit frustrated about his 71, which included a triple-bogey at the par-4 11th hole, he also rolled in six birdies on the day, three of which came over his final five holes.
“I was making birdies on holes you’re not supposed to,” said the 36-year-old, whose round featured birdies at the difficult seventh and ninth holes on the way out.
Four more players finished at 72 on Monday, while six others carded a 73 to sit three behind, including defending champion Dave Zibrik (Point Grey Golf & Country Club).