Chris Moore of Vancouver was leading by two strokes after Monday’s opening round of the 27th British Columbia Golf Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the Summerland Golf and Country Club.
Moore, a member at McCleery Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, fired a three-under par 69 that included five birdies on his outward half and only two bogeys overall, coming at the 8th and 11th.
Moore was able to navigate the pristine fairways and small, tricky greens at the Summerland club on the way to his excellent score. Helping his cause was a three-hole stretch that saw birdies on five, six and seven.
Following close on the heels of Moore were Norm Bradley of Kelowna, Travis Eggers of Fort St. John, Victoria’s Terry Ishizaki and Vancouver’s Cameron Laker.
All four players shot identical one-under par 71s on a day that featured calm weather in the morning followed by gusting winds and warmer temperatures in the afternoon.
Still within grasp for the lead were 2011 BC Amateur runner-up Kevin Carrigan of Victoria and local player Cory Hilditch of Penticton who sat in a tie for sixth after respectable even-par 72s. Bradley, a member at Kelowna Golf and Country Club, led the Master-40 division of the championship by two strokes over Greg Koster of Courtenay who pieced together a one-over par 73. Three strokes back of Bradley was Greg Bismeyer of Pitt Meadows, thanks to a two-over par 74. Bradley had previous success in this championship, finishing runner-up in the Master-40 division in 2011.
The Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship is a 54-hole stroke play competition that features an overall competition, a Mid-Amateur division for players aged 25-39 and a Master-40 division for players aged 40 years and older. All players compete for the overall championship and are 25 years or older as of June 11, 2012.
Also being played concurrently with the individual Championship was the White/Haddrell Club Team Championship which features two-man club teams from clubs with two or more playing representatives. The teams for this championship are decided following round two.