MackenzieTourplayerspastandpresent
holdfondmemoriesoftimeinVictoria
Asoneofthelongest-runningprofessionalgolftournamentsinCanada,theBayviewPlace
CardtronicsOpenpresentedbyTimesColonisthasseenplentyofhistorytakeplaceonits
fairwaysovertheyears.
Enteringits35thyear,thetournamenthashostedfuturePGATOURwinners,Presidentsand
RyderCupcompetitorsandsomeofCanada’sbestup-and-comingtalentsgettingtheirstartat
thetournament,whichreturnstoUplandsGolfClubJune5-11forthesecondeventofthe2017
MackenzieTour–PGATOURCanadaseason.
Thetournamentcontinuestoholdaspecialplaceintheheartsofpastcompetitorsandremains
afavouriteweekonthescheduleamongcurrentMackenzieTourplayers,withVictoria’s
beautifulsetting,typicallypleasantspringweatherandthetournament’sreadilyapparent
traditionappealingtocompetitorswhocomefromallovertheworldtoplayeachyear.
Perhapsaboveallelse,it’sthefriendlyspiritembodiedbythetournament’svolunteers,
spectatorsandorganizersthatendearsthetournamenttoplayers.
“I’vealwaysfeltlikeifandwhenIwasgoingtowin,itwouldbeatthistournament.Thesupport
thiscity,thiscrowdandthevolunteershaveshowedmeovertheyears,itwaschilling,”says
2016championAdamCornelson,whomadethetournamenthisfirstMackenzieTourwinon
thewaytoabreakthroughseasonthatsawhimearnaspotinTheFiveandWeb.comTour
statusforthisseason.“Ilovethiscitysomuch,andI’veneverfeltsupportlikethatinmylife.”
Withthewin,headdedhisnametoavenerablelistofpastchampionsattheMackenzieTour’s
longest-runningevent,withPGATOURregularsSteveStricker,DavidHearn,KenDuke,Jason
BohnandDaveBarramongthem.
Stricker,whoowns12PGATOURwinsandwillserveastheUnitedStates’Captainforthe
upcomingPresidentsCup,holdsfondmemoriesfromhistimeinVictorianearly30yearsago.
The50-yearoldfromWisconsinbeganhisnow-storiedcareerinCanadaandcapturedthe1990
VictoriaOpenforhisfirstofaneventual22professionalwins,onethatstayswiththeWisconsin
nativetothisday.
“Itwasmyfirstprofessionalwin,andIthinkaboutthattournamentquiteabit.Itwasaspecial
time,”saidStricker,whoedgedouteventualPGATOURwinnersToddHamiltonandStephen
AmesatGorgeValeGolfClubforthewin.“Itwasmyfirstprowininaprettyareaofthe
country,andIstillholdtheTourandtheVictoriaareaasaspecialplacefor(Stricker’swife)
NickiandI.Itstillbringsbackgreatmemories.”
Thisyear’seventispartofagrowingcommitmenttosupportinggolfonVancouverIslandby
theevent’sco-titlesponsor,BayviewPlace,acondominiumdevelopmentalongVictoria’s
beautifulInnerHarbour.KenandPatriciaMariash,thedevelopersbehindBayviewPlace,have
throwntheirsupportbehindthetournamentsince2007andsteppedupasco-titlesponsorsin
2013.
Thisyear,they’veincreasedtheirsupportofthegamebyassistingthevariousprogramsofthe
localVikesJuniorGolfTour,whichwascreatedin2008inordertoaddressagapinthe
opportunitiesforlocaljuniorgolfers,andalsothenewlyformedBayviewPlaceVikes
PerformanceTour,whichprovidesacompetitiveenvironmentforamateur,professionaland
juniorgolfersonVancouverIslandandhelpspromotethedevelopmentofthegame.
ForKeithDagg,directoroftheBayviewPlaceCardtronicsOpenSocietyandoneofthe
tournament’soriginalfoundersin1981,theMariashfamily’ssupporthasbeeninstrumentalin
notonlysponsorship,butfosteringthesenseofcommunityinvolvementthathasmadethe
eventsospecial.
“IhopetheVictoriacommunityknows,”saysDagg,“howluckywearetohaveKen&Patty
livinghereandalwaysgivingback.Afterdoingthisfor36years,Isuredo.”
Thetournamentalsogivesbacktothecommunitythroughcharitabledonationstothe
Children’sHealthFoundationofVancouverIsland,includingadonationofmorethan$40,000
lastyear.
ForreturningMackenzieTourplayers,thetournamenthasbeeneagerlyanticipatedforweeks
leadinguptotheseason.OnesuchplayerisPuertoRico’sEdwardFigueroa,whowentasfarto
saycomingbacktoVictoriawasoneofhismotivationsforattemptingtoregainhisMackenzie
Tourstatus.
“Ilovebeingthere–it’smyfavouriteplaceintheworld,”saidFigueroaduringthisyear’s
QualifyingTournamentinFlorida.The23-yearoldshotacareer-bestscoreof62atUplands
duringthesecondroundlastyear,thanksinparttothewarmvibeshefeltasoneofthe
tournament’scompetitors.“EventhoughIwas4-overtheremyfirstround,Ijustlikedbeing
there,andIthinkthatwasthemindsetmorethananything.I’mreallylookingforwardtobeing
back.”
There’snoshortageofsimilarsentimentsharedamongalumniofthetournament.Andafter
thisyear,awholenewgroupofplayerswillleaveVancouverIslandwithacommonaffectionfor
oneofthemostspecialgolftournamentsinCanada.