July 3, 2023
CRANBROOK, BC (PGA of BC) - The 2023 G&G Brands & Callaway Golf Pro-Assistant Championship had its first day of competition today at the gorgeous St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino in Cranbrook. 70 professionals making up 35 teams competed in a Best-Ball format today, with NK’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course’s Todd Tweedy and Victor Baptiste emerging as the day one leaders. Tweedy and Baptiste rode their white-hot putters to an incredible 10-under score of 62.
The NK’Mip duo played a flawless round, avoiding a single bogey on their scorecard. They added eight birdies, including five on the first five holes, and saw Baptiste sink a 30-foot breaking putt for eagle on the 16th.
“It was the highlight for me today. About a 30-foot putt, just breaking in perfectly,” said Baptiste.
The pair said they will try to keep the momentum tomorrow and won’t make any changes to their strategy.
“Victor rolled in a birdie on one, on two, and then kind of back and forth from there. Five-under through five, and we were feeling good from there. We just tried to make our pars, roll in the birdies if we can, and don’t take any bogeys,” said Tweedy.
Two-time tournament champions, Fairview Mountain Golf Club’s Rob Tadey and Brian McDonald posted a competitive 8-under-par 64 to keep the pressure on Tweedy and Baptiste heading into the final day tomorrow. The team piled up six birdies, and added an eagle on the tenth. Tower Ranch Golf Club’s Miles Palahniuk and Keith Martin also scored a 64 today to enter the final round tied in second, making a whopping eight birdies today.
The first day of the event saw several professionals win the closest-to-the-pin competitions. Bighorn Golf & Country Club’s Ian Henson and Kate Weir, and Highland Pacific Golf’s Jeff Palmer and Callum Ashby were the Maui Jim KP winners.
The Association would like to thank our incredible sponsors, G&G Brands and Callaway Golf, for their support and presence at the event. We also extend our appreciation to the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino team, who have served as gracious and thoughtful hosts and have the course in phenomenal shape.
Tournament play resumes tomorrow morning with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. MST. Tomorrow's competition will be a Scramble format. Tune in tomorrow evening for a full tournament recap.
For the full leaderboard, please click here. For tomorrow’s draw, please click here.
