PGA Tour Canada – April 10, 2014

Université Laval grad shoots 66 to lead by one over Greg Eason

(April 10, 2014 – Beaumont, Calif.) – Deauville, France’s Aléxis Anghert shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday at Oak Valley Golf Club to take a one shot lead into the final round of PGA TOUR Canada’s California Qualifying Tournament.

The 26-year old Quebec City, Quebec resident will take a one shot advantage over Leicester City, England’s Greg Eason into the final round of the 72-hole competition that will see 18 players earn exempt status on PGA TOUR Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status. The cut-off through 54 holes for exempt status stands at 4-under par, while the number for conditional status stands at even par.

“I played really well the first nine holes,” said Anghert, who hit approaches to tap-in range on the first two holes of an opening-nine 32. “The putts didn’t go in on the back nine, but I was playing so good.” Anghert caught Eason, the 36-hole leader, after the first two holes and would card birdies on his 16th and 17th holes to take a one shot lead into Friday’s final round.

“It’s a long day and I was getting pretty tired, but I’m excited tomorrow. I’m in a good position to try and go for the win, which would be nice.”

Anghert, who moved to Quebec to play at Laval, is looking to join former Rouge et Or teammate Max Gilbert, who won the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial last season, on PGA TOUR Canada. Sonny Michaud, another Laval grad who helped the team win the Golf Canada University/College Championship in 2012, shot a 2-under 70 to move into a tie for 40th spot, in position to earn conditional status for 2014.

Anghert and Eason will play in the final threesome tomorrow along with Brownsburg, Indiana native Seth Fair, who shot a 3-under 69 to sit 10-under overall. Anghert’s 66 was tied for the lowest round of the day with Little Rock, Arkansas’ Joe Doramus, who moved up 31 spots into a tie for 10th.

Michaud and Hamilton, Ontario’s Justin Kim, who shot a 2-over 74 to sit tied for 32nd at 1-under total, led the Canadian contingent of players in position to earn PGA TOUR Canada status for this year.

Eason takes good mojo from college win into Q-School

Should Greg Eason earn medalist honours this week at Q-School, it would be his second win in just six days. The 21-year old captured the 3M Augusta Invitational, an NCAA tournament with the University of Central Florida Knights, on Sunday for his seventh career collegiate win and hopes to keep the good play going through tomorrow.

“It was a nice confidence booster. A bit of a rush, but it’s seemed to work out alright so far,” said Eason, who only had time for nine holes of a practice round at Oak Valley on Monday after flying to California. “It’s worked out alright so far. There’s still one more round to go but things have been good so far.”

The Englishman said he hasn’t had time to reflect on his solid play over the past week, and has no plans to do so before Friday’s final round.

“I’m trying to save as much energy as possible before it catches up to me. I’d rather look forwards than backwards, that’s for sure,” said Eason.

Anghert was complimentary of his playing companion and was looking forward to another duel in the final round.

“It was great to play with Greg. He’s a wonderful player and he’s going to have a great career ahead of him,” said Anghert.

Q-School Card Watch

Fourth round tee times have been moved up 30 minutes to account for a potential playoff for exempt status. With the top 18 players this week earning exempt status on PGA TOUR Canada, the current cut-off for exempt status would see a five player-for-two spots playoff at four under par. Last year, Stephen Gangluff, Jeff Hamm and Alan Wagner survived a three-for-six playoff to earn exempt status for the 2013 season.

Any players tied for 40th or better will earn conditional status for the 2014 season. For scores from round three, go to http://www.pgatourcanada.com/leagues/cantour_leaderboard4.cfm?clientid=3776&leagueid=11711&seasonnum=2014

PGA Tour Canada – April 9, 2014

University of Central Florida player looking to secure status for pro debut

(April 9, 2014 – Beaumont, Calif.) – Leicester City, England’s Greg Eason carded a bogey-free round of 6-under 66 at Oak Valley Golf Club on Wednesday to take the lead by one at PGA TOUR Canada’s California Qualifying Tournament.

The 21-year old University of Central Florida student, playing as an amateur this week, made six birdies to take a one stroke advantage over Deauville, France’s Alexis Anghert and Cardiff, California’s Peter Campbell with two rounds to go. 33 players are under par through two rounds of the 72-hole competition that will see 18 players earn exempt status on PGA TOUR Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status.

Eason, who has seven individual collegiate wins at the University of Central Florida – including one this past weekend at the 3M Augusta Invitational – is looking to wrap up his NCAA career later this year, but not before attempting to secure status on PGA TOUR Canada. Players can compete in Qualifying School as amateurs and defer joining as members until they turn professional.

“I didn’t know what to expect. I haven’t been to Tour School or anything like that before, so I’ve just tried to take it as it comes,” said Eason. “I’ve played some smart golf and luckily holed a few putts, so it’s mostly gone all right so far.”
Eason is looking to follow the footsteps of Josh Anderson in 2013 and Nate McCoy in 2012 as amateurs to earn status on PGA TOUR Canada through Q-School, and said he’s looking forward to completing his last few weeks in college before taking on the professional ranks.

“I’ve still got finals in three weeks’ time,” said Eason. “And then, conference championships and [NCAA] Regionals and Nationals, so there are a still a few weeks left. This Tour is a stepping stone Tour for the Web.com Tour, so hopefully this will be a nice step to go do something for the summer and see where this leads to. This is a lovely position to be in.”

One shot behind Eason are Anghert, the first round leader, and Campbell at 8-under. A group of three players – Charlie Winegardner, Clayton Rask and Seth Fair – are a shot further behind at 7-under. Hamilton, Ontario’s Justin Kim remained the low Canadian at 3-under after carding a 72, tied for 18th place.

Campbell takes relaxed outlook for final two rounds

After cruising along for 27 holes with few mistakes, Peter Campbell suddenly found himself reeling with two bogeys in three holes to start his back nine Wednesday. But the 29-year old took it in stride and recovered beautifully with birdies on his final three holes to post a 3-under 69 and an 8-under total.

“I just told myself ‘we’re not even halfway done,’ and just to relax, take it easy and remind myself how many par-5s and birdie holes there are out there,” said Campbell. As for the final two rounds, Campbell said he hoped to maintain the same mentality in his quest to earn PGA TOUR Canada status.

“It’s still a long way to go. You just try to be patient and relax and make it stress-free.”

Anghert looks to rebound from stumble

With a 4-under 32 on his first nine Wednesday, first round leader Alexis Anghert was cruising along at 11-under par for the tournament and looking like he might run away from the field. Three incoming bogeys knocked him off course, however, leaving him back in a tie for second.

“My goal was to be double digits under par for the final round, and I was 4-under on my first nine so i was playing pretty good,” said Anghert, a graduate of Université Laval looking to join former teammate Max Gilbert on PGA TOUR Canada. “I’m pretty confident. I’m going to come back fresh tomorrow because my first 27 holes were pretty good so hopefully I’ll be right back there tomorrow.”

Q-School Card Watch

23 players were tied for 18th position after two rounds at 3-under par, while 40 players were tied for 33rd at even. The top 18 players this week earn exempt status on PGA TOUR Canada, while the rest of the top-40 and ties earn non-exempt status. For scores from round two, go to http://www.pgatourcanada.com/leagues/cantour_leaderboard4.cfm?clientid=3776&leagueid=11711&seasonnum=2014

PGA Tour Canada – April 8, 2014

Quebec City resident looking to follow footsteps of university teammate on PGA TOUR Canada

(April 8, 2014 – Beaumont, Calif.) – Quebec City, Quebec resident Alexis Anghert fired a 7-under 65 at Oak Valley Golf Club Tuesday to take a one-stroke lead in the first round of PGA TOUR Canada’s California Q-School. Anghert, a native of Deauville, France, carded seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to lead by two over four players through one round. – to read more>