SURREY, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- Three PGA of Canada applicants and one Candidate for Membership took steps forward in their careers as Golf Professionals by meeting 36-hole target scores in the PGA of BC’s Summer Playing Ability Test held Wednesday and Thursday at Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club.
The 14 applicants who teed off in Thursday’s second round were greeted by hazy, muggy conditions as they attempted to meet their playing ability requirements.
The scoring standard for Candidates for Membership over 36 holes is twice the course rating plus 20; the Class ‘A’ requirement is double the course rating plus 15. At Hazelmere, male applicants needed to post a score of 155 for Class ‘A’ and 160 to meet the CFM standard; the targets for female applicants were 158 and 163, respectively.
The applicants who met target scores at the event were:
Chase Forgeron, Summerland Golf & Country Club (77-76—153)
Deron Hong, OK Golf (80-75—155)
Jie Zhang, OK Golf (79-80—159)
Shu Wang, Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy* (78-82—160)
(*-- Denotes female applicant)
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By scoring 155 or lower, Forgeron and Hong both completed their Class ‘A’ playing ability requirements. Hong had previously met the CFM target during the PGA of BC’s Spring Playing Ability Test held at Kings Links by the Sea in April.
Zhang and Wang qualified as Candidates for Membership with their results and now have five years to submit a Class ‘A’ standard score from an eligible event.
Forgeron battled through illness on Thursday to achieve the Class ‘A’ standard, struggling a bit over his first few holes before righting the ship and finishing a stroke better than he did during Wednesday’s opening round.
“I was 3-over for the first five, so I thought it was over after that,” said the 28-year-old, who was putting “quite a bit” of pressure on himself to pass the test this week.
“Having to drive down from the Okanagan, you better make it worth the trip.”
Wang, who went out with Forgeron in the lead group, said she also dealt with some nerves in her early holes Thursday knowing what was at stake.
“Today, I kind of felt more pressure because I was right on the borderline,” she said. “So today, especially when I did not play well on the front nine, I pushed myself more on the back nine.”
Wang, 20, met the CFM requirement on her first attempt.
“It feels great,” she said.
Though the heat and smoke that have descended upon the Lower Mainland this week added an extra challenge, the participating applicants found Hazelmere to be in excellent condition.
“I loved it,” said Forgeron. “The greens were in perfect shape, they had true roll all the way around.”
Applicants who did not meet their target score Thursday can make another attempt through one of the few remaining eligible events in 2017. The next Playing Ability Test administered by the PGA of BC will take place in Spring 2018.
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For more information, please contact:
Eric MacKenzie
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
eric@pgabc.org