Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Brad Clapp eagled the 72^nd hole to shoot a final round 5-under 67 Loyalist Golf and Country Club on Sunday and cap off a win at The Great Waterway Classic, earning his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory.

The 28-year old, who was born in nearby Trenton, Ontario and raised for the first 10 years of his life in southeastern Ontario won by four shots over Toronto’s Albin Choi, Indiana’s Seath Lauer, Michigan’s Ryan Brehm, England’s Charlie Bull, California’s Ben Geyer and Florida’s Chase Marinell.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s a little surreal, knowing how good this tour is and knowing how good you have to play four days in a row. It’s a huge accomplishment,” said Clapp, who moves to seventh on the Order of Merit with three events to go.

Clapp began the day with a two stroke lead over Texas’ Tom Moore, and started out with eight straight pars to fall behind Lauer, who posted the clubhouse lead with an eagle at the last for a 19-under total. Clapp admitted that the pressure of the lead got to him starting out, but that a patient approach helped him through the toughest spots of the day.

“I think there was a little bit of nerves on the first few holes for sure. I just couldn’t make the putts that I was the first couple of days. I just tried to stay calm. I knew I had more holes to play than anyone else out there, even if they were ahead of me,” said the second year Mackenzie Tour member.

Clapp was spurred on by a large following of spectators including family and childhood friends, giving the British Columbian a surrogate home-field advantage at Loyalist.

“I didn’t realize I had that many people that knew me out here still. There was always someone saying ‘come on Brad, let’s do this!’ It was nice to have as much of a home crowd as you could. It was a little surreal,” said Clapp, who birdied the ninth and 10^th holes to get his round going. “I was hitting good shots. It just got to the point where I just had to focus on putting and get out of my own way and make my read and trust it. Those birdies were huge just to get myself in contention.”

Choi, who began the week at No. 5 on the Order of Merit, made the day’s biggest charge with six birdies in eight holes in the middle of his round to reach 20-under. Clapp, however, took the lead for good with a birdie at the 15^th to reach 21-under. Although Choi’s three-putt bogey at the last afforded Clapp a two-stroke advantage, the eventual champion said he didn’t know where he stood until he approached the green, making his 7-iron approach at the last to inside five feet for eagle all the more clutch.

“I knew I needed birdie. I saw Albin was charging and saw him at 20-under with the 18th to go. He made eagle there yesterday, so I knew that was possible. I just wanted to keep my foot on the gas pedal,” said Clapp.

Entering the week at 67^th on the Order of Merit, Clapp turned his season around and now puts himself in contention to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour for next year.

“I’m not sure where this will put me with the top 20 or the top five by the end of the year, but that’s been my main goal since I got on this tour last year, to move on to the Web.com Tour and keep testing myself again better players. That puts me right in those spots, and we still have three events to go and hopefully I’ll move on up into that top five,” said Clapp.

Choi, who recorded his third top-10 of the season, moves to third on the Order of Merit with three events to go.

“Starting from the first round, I didn’t think I’d have a chance, so it was nice to be in the mix today. It didn’t really hit me until later on the back nine – I was in the zone pretty good and just trying to keep making birdies,” said Choi.

SPAUN CONTINUES TO LEAD THE FIVE

With a T19 finish, J.J. Spaun maintained his spot atop the Order of Merit on Sunday. Below are The Five through The Great Waterway Classic (bold denotes Canadian):

1. J.J. Spaun – $78,384
2. Sam Ryder – $56,538
3. Albin Choi – $49,806
4. Drew Weaver – $45,487
5. Kevin Spooner – $41,689

CLAPP WINS FREEDOM 55 FINANCIAL TOP CANADIAN AWARD

With a total score of 23-under, Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Brad Clapp claimed Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours on Sunday along with a $2,500 prize. Each week, the top Canadian on the leaderboard will earn the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year and a $25,000 prize.

Notes:

• Weather: 24 degrees Celsius (30 degrees with Humidity). Cloudy. Winds 8 km/h.
• Brad Clapp is the third Canadian to win this season, joining Albin Choi (Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist) and Kevin Spooner (Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON).
• Clapp’s 4 stroke margin of victory is the largest on the Mackenzie Tour this season.
• Clapp’s previous professional victories include the 2012 PGA of B.C. Championship and the Vancouver Open on the Vancouver Golf Tour earlier this month.
• 18-year old Austin Connelly finished T30 in his professional debut.
• J.J. Spaun’s T19 finish was his worst of the season and broke a streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes.

Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Brad Clapp birdied the final two holes at Loyalist Golf and Country Club on Saturday to shoot a 4-under 68 and maintain his lead at The Great Waterway Classic, the ninth event of the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Clapp, who was born in nearby Trenton, Ontario and raised for the first 10 years of his life in southeastern Ontario, maintained the two-shot lead he began the day with, capping his round with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18^th to sit at 18-under through 54 holes.

“It always feels good finishing birdie-birdie, especially to keep the lead. I didn’t really feel like I had my best today, so watching that leaderboard I knew I had some to work to do,” said Clapp, whose closing birdie came after another at the 17^th where he stuck a wedge inside 10 feet and rolled in the putt for birdie.

The 28-year old was two strokes ahead of San Antonio, Texas resident Tom Moore through three rounds and said he was surprised when he saw his name atop the leaderboard on the back nine with so many low scores posted earlier in the morning.

“I’m actually surprised that 18-under is still in the lead, knowing how good these guys are. I expected to start the day without the lead. This Tour’s so good, and watching the scores this week has been crazy. I kind of thought I’d be chasing guys when I get on the first tee,” said Clapp.

The 54-hole lead is Clapp’s first on the Mackenzie Tour, putting the second year Tour player in unfamiliar territory. Still, Clapp said he would draw on other successful competitive experiences, including wins at the 2012 PGA of BC Championship and the Vancouver Open on the Vancouver Golf Tour earlier this month.

“That [Vancouver Open win] was a come-from-behind victory, so this would be a little bit different, but having the taste of success is huge no matter what level you’re on,” said Clapp. “I’ve been struggling to keep my mental game in shape all year, so it’s nice that I can draw from this round not having my best but still staying calm and patient and just plugging along. It’s a huge confidence boost.”

One shot behind Moore at 14-under were Maryland’s Kyle Stough and Florida’s Chase Seiffert, each of whom secured two-putt birdies of their own at the 18^th. A group of seven players, including Order of Merit no. 5 Albin Choi and Oklahoma’s Talor Gooch, who shot matching 8-under 64s in the same pairing, were one shot further behind.

“I was a little disappointed I didn’t get in last week, but I came out here and wanted to prove something, so here I am,” said Moore, who did not get into last week’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops as an alternate and spent the week caddying for Ohio’s Ross Beal, who finished fourth.

Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Brad Clapp took advantage of another perfect day for scoring at Loyalist Golf and Country Club on Friday, shooting a 9-under 63 to take the 36-hole lead at The Great Waterway Classic, the ninth event of the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Clapp, who was born in nearby Trenton, Ontario and spent the first 10 years of his life in southeastern Ontario, carded seven birdies and an eagle to reach 14-under par through two rounds, two shots clear of Taiwan’s C.T. Pan, Florida’s Chase Seiffert, Minnesota’s Clayton Rask and California’s Trevor Simsby.

“I just stayed out of trouble. I’ve been hitting my driver really well this week, so I hit it almost every hole on the back nine,” said Clapp. “I gave myself a lot of chances and only missed one green, so I’ve just been keeping it in play, plugging along and staying patient.”

The 28-year old, who tied the round of the week despite missing a one-footer for birdie on the 13th, is staying with his Aunt and Uncle nearby and said he enjoyed the hometown feel of the event with familiar faces following him in the crowd.

“I only get a chance to come out here and see my family on this side of the country once a year if I’m lucky, so it’s nice that we can have dinners together,” said Clapp. “I’m seeing some friends I haven’t seen in a long time, so it’s awesome. It keeps me nice and relaxed off the golf course.”

Clapp said the good vibes for the week started when he set the new course record during a casual round on the course he grew up playing as kid on Tuesday.

“My aunt and uncle operate the Trenton Golf Club where I first grew up playing, so I went back and played there on Tuesday. There’s a membership that usually comes out and follows me. Unfortunately I didn’t play very well last year, but I’ll hopefully have some more people out this week,” said Clapp.

Two shots behind Clapp was a group of four players that included Pan, the champion earlier this year at The Players Cup and current No. 9 on the Order of Merit, along with Rask, who finished third at last week’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops, Web.com Tour member Trevor Simsby and Mackenzie Tour rookie Chase Seiffert.

NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 14: Brad Clapp’s 36-hole score to par, tied for the lowest on Tour this season.
• 5: The 36-hole cut, the second lowest on Tour this season.
• 30: Players to shoot in the 60s both days at Loyalist.

QUOTABLES:

“There’s only so much I can control. People might shoot 25-under and I might not win, but there’s nothing I can do about that. It’s hard, with people talking about it. When they announce you on the tee with your position on the Order of Merit, it’s hard not to think about it. When that happens, I go back to my basic stuff and just try to make sure my mindset is right and not setting my expectations too high.” – C.T. Pan on trying to block out thoughts of his position on the Order of Merit with four events left in the 2015 season.

“I’m hitting the ball great and just got some putts to fall. That’s the difference between this week and last week, just getting some putts to fall. I’ve been hitting well most of the year, and just getting the ball to fall is kind of the key for everybody out here.” – Chase Seiffert, who shot his second straight 6-under 66.

“Last week was good. I was hitting it really well, but putting better than everything else helped me out a couple of holes early today. It’s good momentum to have going into the last stretch here.” – Clayton Rask, who finished third at last week’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops.

“It’s funny; that year felt a lot different. This year I feel like even though I didn’t do anything at the beginning of the season, I was still playing pretty well. I was making some cuts and had some top 30s, and felt like I was closer than what the scores were indicating. I’ve certainly played better the last month or so. I think I’m playing so much better than I did in 2013, it’s just really hard to win out here and shoot four 65s, which is pretty much what you have to do.” – Mackenzie Hughes, who ranks 11th on the current Order of Merit, on comparing his game to the 2013 season, when he won the Order of Merit. Hughes shot 29 on the front nine Friday for a 6-under 66 and 11-under total.

Notes:

• Weather: 20 degrees Celsius (24 degrees with Humidity). Partly cloudy. Winds 23 km/h.
• Clapp currently sits 67th on the Order of Merit. His best career finish on the Mackenzie Tour is a T2 at the 2014 PC Financial Open.
• This is Clapp’s first time with the lead after any round on the Mackenzie Tour.
• Clapp’s 14-under total ties the best 36-hole score on the Mackenzie Tour this season, matching Eric Onesi (64-66) at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open pres. by SaskTel.
• Order of Merit leader J.J. Spaun finished birdie-birdie-par-eagle to make the cut at 6-under. Spaun has yet to miss a cut on the Mackenzie Tour this season.
• 63 players made the 36-hole cut at 5-under (T53) or better. The lowest cut in Mackenzie Tour history is 6-under at the 2013 & 2015 SIGA Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel and the 2008 ATB Financial Classic.
• Sam Ryder and Mackenzie Hughes remain the only players to make the cut in every Mackenzie Tour event this season.
• 18-year old Austin Connelly, who is making his pro debut this week, shot a 5-under 67 to sit tied for sixth at 11-under through two rounds.
• All five players in The Five made the 36-hole cut: 1. J.J. Spaun (-6/T42); 2. Sam Ryder (-9/T16); Drew Weaver (-5/T53); Kevin Spooner (-8/T21); Albin Choi (-6/T42).

KINGSTON, Ont. – Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Stephen Carney shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday at Loyalist Golf and Country Club to take the first round lead at The Great Waterway Classic, the ninth event of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 25-year old carded nine birdies and an eagle to lead by one over Taiwan’s C.T. Pan, Thornhill, Ontario’s Ben Silverman, Petoski, Michigan’s Joey Garber and West Des Moines, Iowa’s Nate McCoy through one round at Loyalist.

“I putted great, and I probably hit every green,” said Carney, who wasn’t satisfied despite his successful opening round. “I’m going to keep working; 9-under’s not going to win the tournament. You have to shoot pretty low, obviously, because there are so many great players and they’re going to go low.”

A second year Mackenzie Tour member, Carney said he’s grown accustomed to the low scoring required to compete on the Mackenzie Tour, and expects to have a strong field of chasers after his lead heading into the weekend.

“I wanted to get off to a good start just so I wouldn’t have to worry about the cutline being so low. The course is in great condition and the greens are rolling great, so I look forward to competing the whole week. I just keep telling myself I need to keep getting the ball in the hole,” said Carney.

Earlier, Pan, Silverman and McCoy posted the best rounds of the morning at 64, with Garber matching the score in the evening. Pan, the winner of The Players Cup earlier this year and currently no. 9 on the Order of Merit, is returning from an extended trip back to his native Taiwan, where he served a 12-day service period in the Taiwanese Military.

“I putted well. I hit the ball well today, and when I was back home I didn’t play golf for two-and-a-half or three weeks, so I felt a little bit rusty. I practiced in Seattle, so everything’s back and I’m really happy with my first round,” said Pan of his opening round.

Silverman, who ranked fifth on the Order of Merit through three events this season but has since fallen to 15^th, said he’s found a way back to the approach that saw him finish in the top five twice in his first four starts of the season.

“I wanted to get back to sticking to my own style of play and game plan, and not being so concerned with hitting it as far as some of the long hitters out here. I focused on that today, and it worked out nicely for me,” said Silverman.

Nine players were a shot further behind at 7-under 65, with 28 players within three shots of the lead at 6-under or better.

OTTAWA – Longwood, Florida’s Sam Ryder prevailed in a sudden-victory playoff over Richmond Hill, Ontario’s Taylor Pendrith on Sunday at Hylands Golf Club to win the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops, his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory.

The win moves Ryder to second position on the Order of Merit with four events to go in the 2015 season, in position to earn status on the Web.com Tour for next season.

“I’m at a little bit of a loss for words right now, but it feels really good,” said Ryder.” I was already in great shape and had some really solid finishes this year. This feels really good and I think it solidifies myself as one of the contenders out here for sure.”

Ryder and Pendrith began the day tied for the lead, and went back-and-forth for much of the day, trading birdies, with both players shooting bogey-free rounds of 5-under 66. After returning to the 18th hole for a sudden-victory playoff, Pendrith had a 10-foot birdie putt to win, but hit it through the break and missed a short comebacker to make bogey.

A four-foot par putt was all that separated Ryder from his first Mackenzie Tour win, and the Stetson University grad poured it in to secure the title.

“It was hard to watch the [Pendrith’s] birdie putt. Honestly, I just wasn’t expecting him to miss that second one. I didn’t really want it to end like that, but I’ll take it,” said the 25-year old Ryder, a second-year member on the Mackenzie Tour. “You couldn’t really draw it up better than the way we went back-and-forth all day with no bogeys through 18 regulation holes. It was just a lot of good golf from both of us, and a lot of pressure and a lot of fun.”

“It’s unfortunate that the first bogey of the day had to come in a playoff, but that’s the way it goes,” said Pendrith, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad. The 24-year old moved to seventh on the Order of Merit with his second playoff loss of the season. “I take a lot of positives away. Played really good and made a lot of putts. I’m feeling really confident with my game. It’ll be good moving forward. Anytime you’re in a playoff or in contention on Sunday you’re always happy, it’s just unfortunate.”

For Ryder, who entered the week 11th on the Order of Merit, the win affirms what has been a breakthrough season, with three prior top-10 finishes.

“Until you win, you don’t know for sure. You assume your game’s good enough and you get yourself in contention, but until you actually finish it off and close the deal, you don’t really know. It’s nice to get a little monkey off my back,” said Ryder.

Otsego, Minnesota’s Clayton Rask briefly tied the lead at 19-under with a birdie on the 14th hole before finishing solo third at 18-under.

Ottawa, Ont. – Uniontown, Ohio’s Ross Beal carded a 5-under 66 on Friday at Hylands Golf Club to take the 36-hole lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops.

The 30-year old Mackenzie Tour rookie reached 11-under through 36 holes to build a two shot lead over Richmond Hill, Ontario’s Taylor Pendrith and London, England’s Charlie Bull heading into the weekend in Ottawa.

“I was able to limit my mistakes. I got loose a couple of times but was able to make some easy pars and when I got some chances I finally made a couple of putts and got warm,” said Beal, who held a share of the 18-hole lead and made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to pull away from the pack.

Beal will play with Pendrith in Saturday’s final twosome in a duel of long bombers, with the pair currently sitting 11^th and 1^st in 2015 Mackenzie Tour driving distance, respectively. Beal is averaging 310.9 yards per drive, with Pendrith’s pokes reaching 339.1 yards per drive.

“I know Taylor real well and I think that will make it easier for both of us,” said Beal, who was a runner-up in a playoff with Pendrith to Drew Weaver at this year’s season-opening PC Financial Open. “I think there’s an advantage on some of the holes where some of the shorter guys might not be able to hit some of the same clubs into greens that we are, and I think that’s a big advantage.”

The Youngstown State University grad admitted he expects to feel pressure on the weekend, but that he’s well-equipped to handle what the course and field will throw his way with two rounds to go.

“I’d be surprised if I didn’t feel the nerves a little bit, but I’m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow,” said Beal.

Earlier, Pendrith and Bull posted the clubhouse lead at 9-under, with a trio of players, including Order of Merit leader J.J. Spaun along with Longwood, Florida’s Sam Ryder and Zimbabwe’s Nyasha Mauchaza one shot further behind at 8-under.

“I’m pleased with the score today. I had three bogeys and they were pretty sloppy, but if you shoot 7-under with three bogeys you’re doing something right,” said Pendrith, who made just six pars but eight birdies and an eagle in a round of 64.

“It’s been a good two days. Today I just played solid and made a nice group of four birdies in a row on the back-nine and then made some good up-and-downs coming in on 16, 17 and 18, which helps to save a good score,” said Bull.

Ottawa, Ont. – Ohio’s Ross Beal, Michigan’s Matt Harmon, and North Carolina’s Zack Byrd shared the clubhouse lead at 6-under when play was suspended due to inclement weather at 6:51 p.m. on Thursday, with co-leader and Mackenzie Tour rookie Mookie DeMoss still to finish the 18^th hole.

Byrd, the only of the three clubhouse leaders to have played in the rain, was teeing off on his final hole when heavy rain began.

“We stood on the ninth tee and saw it coming and all just quick-hit it off the tee box,” Byrd said. “My bag was just behind the eighth green with my rain gear, my umbrella, and everything so I hit and took off running and it started dumping after that.”

After struggling with the ninth hole in both of his practice rounds, Byrd went on to birdie it in the rain with a 25-foot putt to tie the leaders with a round of 65. He attributes the last-second birdie to a caddy’s familiar eye.

“Luckily, I’ve got a caddie who really knows the golf course,” Byrd said. “It was so dark that it was almost impossible to read putts and he said ‘trust me’ and he was spot on with the read.”

Harmon is making his first start on the Mackenzie Tour since finishing second on the 2014 Order of Merit and starting the season on the Web.com Tour. Harmon carded four birdies and an eagle for a bogey-free round. Despite the strong first round, the 30-year-old felt he didn’t play his best golf on Thursday

“I was pretty fourtunate to be bogey-free,” Harmon said of his return, adding that he was forced to make a bunker shot for par on the par-3 14^th hole.

As with Byrd, Harmon credited the familiarity with the course, having played at Hylands Golf Club and finished T25 last season, as the biggest factor towards a successful round.

“Just playing on courses I know is the biggest thing. I’ve spent three half-seasons up on the Web.com Tour and really haven’t played the same course more than one time. Getting out here, it’s familiar and that helps a lot,” said Harmon, last year’s Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial Champion.

Beal, fresh off victory in Tuesday’s official pro-am with an 8-under 63, was confident he could control the course despite the wind.

“It got pretty blustery but luckily I’m long enough that the down wind holes played short, and into the wind I hit almost every fairway so I was able to control it into the greens,” Beal said following his round of 65.

The Youngstown State University grad wasn’t convinced the Pro-Am success helped give him an extra boost though, noting that previous success in Tuesday outings hasn’t always translated to official tournament rounds.

“Including this one, I’ve won the past four Pro-Ams I’ve played in and I’ve made one cut out of those four,” Beal said, shaking his head.

For the rest of the field, Hylands Golf Club presented some challenges to open this year’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops, with rain threatening and gusty winds throughout the day.

“It was very tough, very windy. You can’t miss fairways or greens out here, the wind definitely made it harder,” said Order of Merit leader J.J. Spaun of the conditions. “If you’re expecting it to play like how it did yesterday, you’re in for a rude awakening.”

Still, Spaun was pleased with how he managed it.

“You’ve just got to kind of accept it and fight through it,” Spaun said following a round of 67. “I’m very happy with where I’m sitting right now. Anything under par I feel like is really good out there.”

After leaving a 15-foot eagle putt on his final hole of the day short for the solo lead, Beal hopes the weather will calm down so that he can attack the course over the weekend.

“If it’s less windy I don’t see any reason why I can’t just fire at everything even more tomorrow.”

First, DeMoss – among 18 players yet to finish – will have to resume his opening round from the 18^th fairway.

The first round will resume at 7:30 a.m., pushing tee times for the second round back 15 minutes.

The 2015 Freedom 55 Financial Championship is set to be hosted at Highland Country Club in London, Ont., from September 14-20. The London community is invited to join the existing team of volunteers for the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s season-ending tournament.

“It’s already been an eventful season on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada this year and we’re looking forward to their flagship event,” said Tournament Director Adam Helmer of Golf Canada. “We would like to extend an invitation to all the golf enthusiasts in the London area to be a part of this championship.”

Golf competitions could not be held without the support and assistance of dedicated volunteers. This unique experience will also allow golf fans the opportunity to see future Web.com and PGA TOUR stars up close.

The season-ending championship presented in partnership with Golf Canada will feature the top 60 ranked players in the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit.

Currently, J. J. Spaun leads the Order of Merit rankings. This season, the Los Angeles, Calif., native claimed victory at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel and claimed five top-10 finishes on tour.

Spaun is being chased by Drew Weaver of Newport News, Va., the current No. 2 ranked player on the TOUR’s Order of Merit and current No. 3, Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi of Toronto, Ont.

At the end of the 2015 season, the top five players in the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit standings will receive playing privileges on the Web.com Tour in 2016.

Volunteer and ticket information for the 2015 Freedom 55 Financial Championship is available at the tournament website here. In addition, juniors aged 17 and under gain free admission all week long at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, click here to download your free junior ticket.

For Toronto’s Albin Choi, the transition from amateur to the professional ranks has been a bit of a bumpy ride.

But now in his third full season as a pro, the former Northview Heights Secondary student is starting to find his comfort zone; and the results are starting to show on the golf course.

As an amateur, the Toronto golfer was nothing short of spectacular. Besides winning the Canadian Amateur title in 2010, the Ontario Amateur title in 2012, and nine collegiate titles during his three years at North Carolina State University, Choi was also awarded the Gary Cowan trophy as the low amateur at the 2012 RBC Canadian Open.

Having turned professional after his junior year at NC State University, the former Canadian national team member admits that he’s gone through a bit of a learning curve.

“I haven’t been playing that well the past couple of years but the game’s been coming around,” said Choi recently at the RBC Canadian Open.

“It was just a bit of a learning curve when I came out of college and now I’ve been playing professional golf for a couple of years, so I’m getting use to how things work and I think I’m just getting a bit more comfortable out there,” added the 5 foot 11 inch amateur standout.

Someone who shares Choi’s assessment about the challenges involved in transitioning from amateur to pro is Canadian golfing legend, Gary Cowan.

“Once you’re a pro you have to learn how to play again,” said Cowan, who captured the United States amateur title in 1966 and then again in 1971.

“When you’re an amateur, you’re with your collegiate team or you’re with the Golf Canada amateur team and you go where everyone else goes. But when you turn pro you’re on your own and you have to learn to be on your own; and you have to take the time to learn and get familiar with the golf courses that you are playing on,” explained the 76-year-old Canadian golfing icon.

Having first met Choi in 2012, Cowan is confident, that with time, the amateur standout will be able to find similar success on the professional circuit.

“I first met him at the RBC Canadian Open in Hamilton and he’s very nice and quiet. I think he’s very talented; give him a couple more years and he’s going to be a really good player,” Cowan added about Choi.

Someone else who is eager to speak about Choi’s talents and dedication on the golf course is former high school classmate and current teammate on the Golf Canada’s Young Pro Program, Rebecca Lee-Bentham.

“Albin’s consistency really impressed me. He was the best putter I knew as a junior,” recalled the fourth year LPGA pro, who transferred from Bayview Secondary in Richmond Hill to Northview Heights Secondary after completing grade 10.

“He’s dedicated and always very focused when he practiced,” she added about Choi’s commitment.

For his part, Choi says it’s his commitment to improving and learning that has played a key part in his success so far this year.

“It’s always a work in progress but I’m just trying to learn from each tournament and take what I’ve learn into the week after,” he said.

Having learned his fair share of difficult lessons during his first two seasons as a pro as a member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad, the Toronto golfer is successfully applying those lessons this year.

Choi started his 2015 season by claiming medalist honours at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying School, and followed that up with a victory at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open in early June.

“Winning always boosts your confidence. It was a big accomplishment for me early on in the year so I’m just trying to keep it going,” he pointed out.

Despite failing to make the cut recently at Glen Abbey, Choi is confident that he has the all-around game to compete against the PGA TOUR’s best.

“My game is definitely good enough to compete out here; just a couple of small errors here or there that I need to touch up on.  But I feel my game is just as good as these guys,” he said.

“I just have to play more on the big stage and get used to being out there with the best players. I’ve played in four of these RBC Canadian Opens and I learn from each of them; and I just need to get myself into more tournaments like this,” Choi added.

With valuable experience now under his belt and a success first half of 2015 in the books, the 23-year-old golfer takes comfort in the fact that he’s heading in the right direction; and firmly believes in his abilities to meet his long term goals.

“I’ve just got to keep working at it and just keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he said. “And I definitely see myself on the PGA TOUR five years from now – hopefully with a win or two.”