Smith Holds Steady on Day 2 of the 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship
September 16, 2017Jerry Smith stays on top, shares lead with David McKenzie
Victoria, BC, has been good to David McKenzie. Not only did he meet his wife here (on the airport bus going from YYJ to a downtown Victoria hotel), but he has also gone from having to qualify to get into the #2017PLC on Tuesday, to top of the leaderboard (-12) at the end of Round 2 play here at Bear Mountain – Mountain Course, Victoria.
Day 2 of the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship brought with it lots of movement on the leaderboard, the biggest story being David McKenzie taking over from Steve Flesch as co-leader. While Jerry Smith managed to maintain his top spot, shooting a 5-under 66 (for a total of 12-under), including three birdies in a row on 12, 13 and 14, Flesch moved five places down the leaderboard to T6, shooting a 1-under 70 (for a total of 8-under). McKenzie, meanwhile, moved up six places to tie the lead, shooting a 7-under 64 for the day.
Also holding steady today at #3 on the leaderboard was Jerry Kelly, who shot a 5-under 66 (for a total of 11-under), and Doug Garwood, with a 4-under 67 round actually moving him up to #5 on the leaderboard. Between Kelly and Garwood, now sitting at #4 on the leaderboard, is today’s other big mover: Lee Janzen shot a smoking 7-under 64 to move up 10 places, just two shots off the lead (a total of 10-under).
But for the rest of yesterday’s big names (and hitters), Day 2 showed a bit of a downward trend: fan favourite John Daly shot an 8-over 79, shooting him down to T60 (not that the crowds cared – his following was as large as ever); Bernhard Langer shot a 2-under 69 for a total of 8-under and T6 position by end of play; with him at T6, David Toms shot a 2-under 60; Canadian favourite Stephen Ames shot a par 71 for a total of 5-under leaving him at T20 by end of play; and Esteban Toledo shot a 2-under 69 for a total of 7-under moving him down five places to T12.
As for those who made a move up the leaderboard on Day 2?
#2017PLC Ones to Watch on Day 3:
- Lee Janzen moved 10 spots up the leaderboard to #4, shooting a 7-under 64 in Round 2 (for a total of 10-under, just two shots off the lead).
- Tommy Armour III moved 15 spots up the leaderboard to T6, shooting a 6-under 65 in Round 2 (for a total of 8-under).
- Rod Spittle took over from Stephen Ames as Canada’s best shot at the Championship title, moving nine places up the leaderboard to T12, shooting a 5-under 66 for a total of 7-under, five shots off the lead.
- Scott McCarron – #2016PLC runner up – moved 21 spots up the leaderboard today to T16, shooting a tidy little 31 on the front nine, and a great 6-under 65 by end of play, putting him six off the lead for a total of 6-under. Can he make a run for it on Day 3?
Lots of movement on the leaderboard on Day 2 at the 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship, good for some, less so for others, either way a thrilling ride for the crowd. As current co-leader David McKenzie said about his own day, and the rest of the field can certainly attest to: “Things turned out roses today. Some days it doesn’t…” All any golfer can do, again in McKenzie’s words, is continue “Trying to stand upright and play golf.”
As for tomorrow, with no current runaway leader, only one thing is certain right now: it’s going to be a day of legendary golf. The first players tee off at 7:45 am on Sunday September 17th, with the last round, including current leaders David McKenzie, Jerry Smith and Jerry Kelly, teeing off at 12:20 pm.
Join us for Day 3, Sunday September 17th. Tickets will remain on sale at the Spectators Plaza. Or follow all the action as we continue to post live from the event all weekend long:
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#2017PLC Quote of the Day:
Jerry Smith, co-leader, on the Bear Mountain – Mountain Course: “The setting on #10 tee box is probably the best setting all year (on the PGA TOUR Champions). It’s just so picturesque. It would be great if we could keep coming back here. Everybody loves it. We’d love to come back. It’s just a fantastic setting.”
#2017PLC Player Did You Knows
- Did you know that Australian David McKenzie, co-leader at the end of play on Day 2, met his wife on the airport bus on the way from the airport in Victoria (YYJ) to a downtown hotel in Victoria?
- Did you know that David Toms (currently sitting at T6 after Round 2, shooting a 2-under 69 for a total of 8-under) grew up playing baseball with future major leaguers Ben McDonald and Albert Belle?
- Did you know that Scott McCarron’s mother is from Kaslo, British Columbia?