
Former Canadian Junior champ Chris Vandette fires bogey-free 65 to lead PGA Championship of Canada
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Photos can be found here
(Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC) - Without a blemish on his card, Chris Vandette fired an opening-round 65, which included five birdies in his final eight holes, at Pinegrove Country Club to take a two-stroke lead of the 103rd PGA Championship of Canada.
“I just had a good positive vibe going out there today,” said Vandette, who is an Apprentice Professional at Beaconsfield Golf Club, just 45 minutes away from Pinegrove. “I had a good friend on the bag, so we had a great attitude today. I got some good bounces but mostly hit it well off the tee and was fortunate with my kicks to stay out of trouble.”
No stranger to national competition, Vandette won the 2018 Canadian Junior Championship at Medicine Hat CC thanks to a final round eerily similar to his round today, shooting a bogey-free 65 to win by two strokes.
Following his junior career, Vandette attended Kent State University, the same alma mater as Canadians Taylor Pendrith, Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes.
“I've gotten the chance to play with them all and they're a great bunch of guys,” said Vandette, who is now in his second year as a professional. “I've never really had hopes of doing the touring professional thing. I’ve just been playing events here and there, having fun with it mostly.”
Vandette echoed the sentiments of the field this week when asked about Pinegrove Country Club, which is just minutes outside of Montreal, where he looked right at home on Tuesday.
“It's a beautiful course, so this is going to be a great week,” said Vandette. “Yesterday was my first time looking at the course, and one thing that really surprised me was just the conditions… the greens are immaculate, fairways awesome, tee boxes even. Just the overall condition is superb.”
Earlier in the day, Philippe Gariepy made an ace on the 200-yard second hole, propelling him to an opening round of 71.
A pair of players trail Vandette by two strokes: Khan Lee, who made seven birdies on Tuesday, and Craig Stefureak, who made five birdies and an eagle. Meanwhile, past champion Kevin Stinson and William Blanchard are T4, three-strokes back.
The 13th hole was selected as the E-Z-GO ‘It’s Good to Go’ hole of the week. All players who make eagle on the hole this week will be put into a draw for a $250 cash prize. So far, Sylvie Schetagne is the lone player to make eagle on the hole.
Second round tee times begin at 7 AM on Wednesday. Following the round, the field will be cut to the top-60 players and ties.
Photos can be found here
(Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC) - Without a blemish on his card, Chris Vandette fired an opening-round 65, which included five birdies in his final eight holes, at Pinegrove Country Club to take a two-stroke lead of the 103rd PGA Championship of Canada.
“I just had a good positive vibe going out there today,” said Vandette, who is an Apprentice Professional at Beaconsfield Golf Club, just 45 minutes away from Pinegrove. “I had a good friend on the bag, so we had a great attitude today. I got some good bounces but mostly hit it well off the tee and was fortunate with my kicks to stay out of trouble.”
No stranger to national competition, Vandette won the 2018 Canadian Junior Championship at Medicine Hat CC thanks to a final round eerily similar to his round today, shooting a bogey-free 65 to win by two strokes.
Following his junior career, Vandette attended Kent State University, the same alma mater as Canadians Taylor Pendrith, Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes.
“I've gotten the chance to play with them all and they're a great bunch of guys,” said Vandette, who is now in his second year as a professional. “I've never really had hopes of doing the touring professional thing. I’ve just been playing events here and there, having fun with it mostly.”
Vandette echoed the sentiments of the field this week when asked about Pinegrove Country Club, which is just minutes outside of Montreal, where he looked right at home on Tuesday.
“It's a beautiful course, so this is going to be a great week,” said Vandette. “Yesterday was my first time looking at the course, and one thing that really surprised me was just the conditions… the greens are immaculate, fairways awesome, tee boxes even. Just the overall condition is superb.”
Earlier in the day, Philippe Gariepy made an ace on the 200-yard second hole, propelling him to an opening round of 71.
A pair of players trail Vandette by two strokes: Khan Lee, who made seven birdies on Tuesday, and Craig Stefureak, who made five birdies and an eagle. Meanwhile, past champion Kevin Stinson and William Blanchard are T4, three-strokes back.
The 13th hole was selected as the E-Z-GO ‘It’s Good to Go’ hole of the week. All players who make eagle on the hole this week will be put into a draw for a $250 cash prize. So far, Sylvie Schetagne is the lone player to make eagle on the hole.
Second round tee times begin at 7 AM on Wednesday. Following the round, the field will be cut to the top-60 players and ties.