McKenzie and Sutterfield Share Lead after Opening Round of MTS Classic
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:41:00
Both players opened with a 6-under 65 at Pine Ridge GC, one shot better than Bobby Kalinowski of Scottsdale, AZ. Six others, including Kent Fukushima (Grande Prairie, AB), Chad Belbin (Kamloops, BC), Todd Doohan (Sarnia, ON) and Winnipeg's Dean North, are at 4-under 67 after one day.
Sitting at 5-under playing his 16th hole Thursday, McKenzie made a clutch up-and-down for par before draining a birdie putt on his final hole to wind up tied atop the leaderboard.
"I didn't really hit it into trouble all day, and that gave me a chance for birdie on a lot of holes," said McKenzie. "The conditions were ideal out there- if you didn't get to 4 or 5-under, you knew you left some shots on the course. So I'm happy with the start. Why go chasing someone when you can be standing with them?"
McKenzie is hoping to follow in the recent footsteps of fellow Australian Ben Ferguson. In 2000, after spending the year before on the Buy.com Tour, Ferguson not only won the MTS Classic, but also went on to get his PGA Tour a few months later. McKenzie played the Buy.com Tour a year ago, and is poised to be around come Sunday afternoon.
"If you look at what Ben did, hopefully it will all be a good omen," added McKenzie, who is looking to for his first Tour win after five top-ten showings this year. "It seems like every time I am in the hunt, guys keep beating me or I beat myself. But if I can keep getting into the top five often enough, eventually I'll get there."
Sutterfield, who played on the PGA Tour back in 1997, ran into a little good fortune on the par-4 11th. After hitting left into the trees, the 33-year-old hit a provisional ball before beginning the search for his original tee shot. Just as the five-minute search time limit was about to wind up, Sutterfield was getting set to hit his provisional when a spotter found his ball in the rough. He then chipped out and saved par.
"I got a big break there, I went from possibly making triple-bogey to par," he added. "I seemed to get more relaxed after that. I was actually wondering if it was possible to get a flight out of Winnipeg Friday night. It was frustrating when I hit that shot, and the way it has gone for me the last few weeks, those things can snowball."
Playing in the lead group of the day, Kalinowski got off to a quick start with 4-under 32 on the front nine, including a birdie on the par-3 ninth. Playing 232 yards onto a dome-shaped green, most golfers are more than satisfied with par on Pine Ridge's signature hole- in fact, in the 90-year history of the course, there have been just ten holes-in-one on number nine. A plaque hanging in a hallway at Pine Ridge reads the hole is "nationally recognized as one Canada's 18 most difficult holes.
"On any Tour I've played, that is without question the toughest par-3 I have ever seen," said Kalinowski, whose other stints have included time on the Asian PGA and Buy.com Tours. "So a birdie there gave me a big lift heading to the back nine. A quick start is key with these guys. If you have a rough start, you'll be out of the golf tournament in a hurry. "
Scores Thursday after the opening round of the Canadian Tour's $150,000 MTS Classic played at the 6522-yard, par-71 Pine Ridge GC (A-denotes amateur):
1 McKenzie, David Australia 33-32_65 -6
1 Sutterfield, Brad St. George, UT 35-30_65 -6
3 Kalinowski, Bobby Scottsdale, AZ 32-34_66 -5
4 Belbin, Chad Kamloops, BC 35-32_67 -4
4 Doohan, Todd Sarnia, ON 36-31_67 -4
4 Ford, Scott Lake Worth, FL 34-33_67 -4
4 Fukushima, Kent Grande Prairie, AB 34-33_67 -4
4 Johnson, Andy Orlando, FL 35-32_67 -4
4 North, Dean Winnipeg, MB 33-34_67 -4
10 Christensen, Dave Elk River, MN 36-32_68 -3
10 Fanning, Todd Winnipeg, MB 35-33_68 -3
10 Goti, Ramiro Argentina 35-33_68 -3
10 Martin, Wes Calgary, AB 33-35_68 -3
10 Parry, Bryn North Vancouver, BC 33-35_68 -3
10 Pettitt, Ben Coral Springs, FL 34-34_68 -3
10 Pleis, Steve Parrish, FL 35-33_68 -3
10 Quiroz, Alex Mexico 34-34_68 -3
10 Scott, Steve Wellington, FL 35-33_68 -3
19 Ayers, Dirk Sarasota, FL 36-33_69 -2
19 Corral, Jorge Mexico 36-33_69 -2
19 Enloe, Jason Dallas, TX 35-34_69 -2
19 Gemoets, Rafael El Paso, TX 34-35_69 -2
19 Johnson, Rob Terre Haute, IN 35-34_69 -2
19 Locker, Chris Columbia, SC 37-32_69 -2
19 Mathis, David Raleigh, NC 34-35_69 -2
19 Odom, Bryant Cartersville, GA 35-34_69 -2
19 Payne, Brian Chicago, IL 35-34_69 -2
19 Tiziani, Mario Chanhassen, MN 34-35_69 -2
29 Barber, Aaron Minneapolis, MN 38-32_70 -1
29 Chartrand, Dan Victoria, BC 34-36_70 -1
29 Chilton, Gord Markham, ON 35-35_70 -1
29 Griff, Darren Salt Spring Island, BC 36-34_70 -1
29 Heuchan, Bruce Kelowna, BC 35-35_70 -1
29 Lippert, Eric Monterey, CA 34-36_70 -1
29 Matyczuk, Davidson Thunder Bay, ON 34-36_70 -1
29 Reese, Mikkel Chandler, AZ 36-34_70 -1
29 Wright, Bryan Stanberry, MO 36-34_70 -1
38 Anderson, Stuart Ft. McMurray, AB 38-33_71 Even
38 Barnes, Andrew Phoenix, AZ 37-34_71 Even
38 Bingham, Brett Red Deer, AB 34-37_71 Even
38 Capone, Mike Cranston, RI 34-37_71 Even
38 Curtain, Michael Australia 37-34_71 Even
38 Fritsch, Brad Manotick, ON 36-35_71 Even
38 Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 36-35_71 Even
38 Grob, Mike Billings, MT 36-35_71 Even
38 Gutschewski, Scott Omaha, NE 35-36_71 Even
38 Harrison, Roger Calgary, AB 36-35_71 Even
38 Hearn, David Brantford, ON 38-33_71 Even
38 Johnson, Mark Helendale, CA 35-36_71 Even
38 Ladd, William Sanibel Island, FL 37-34_71 Even
38 Massey, Rich Harrington Park, NJ 36-35_71 Even
38 McCann, Brian Mississauga, ON 36-35_71 Even
38 McLeod, Mac Winnipeg, MB 35-36_71 Even
38 Nelson, Birk Portland, OR 38-33_71 Even
38 Scott, Drew Pinehurst, NC 34-37_71 Even
38 Speirs, Adam Winnipeg, MB 36-35_71 Even
57 Crouse, Eric Windham, ME 35-37_72 1
57 Davey, Steve Pacific Grove, CA 33-39_72 1
57 Drewery, Jonn Cambridge, ON 36-36_72 1
57 Marseilles, Craig Maple, ON 35-37_72 1
57 Mogg, Brian Florida 38-34_72 1
57 Rocha, Alex Brazil 34-38_72 1
57 Smith, Neale Australia 37-35_72 1
57 Spallone, Sal Vero Beach, FL 37-35_72 1
57 Wall, Chris Dallas, TX 35-37_72 1
57 Webb, Brennan Bracebridge, ON 36-36_72 1
57 Welder, Jamie Calgary, AB 35-37_72 1
57 Wilson, Bobby Waco, TX 38-34_72 1
57 Woodard, Stephen Charlotte, NC 35-37_72 1
70 Brown, Mark New Zealand 35-38_73 2
70 Burns, Gordon Scarborough, ON 38-35_73 2
70 Carr, David Sacramento, CA 38-35_73 2
70 Daniel, Matt Richmond, BC 37-36_73 2
70 Duncan, Jason Portage la Prairie, MB 37-36_73 2
70 Finlayson, John West Palm Beach, FL 36-37_73 2
70 Flugstad, Brian Seattle, WA 36-37_73 2
70 Goetze, Nick Tampa, FL 37-36_73 2
70 Greenwood, Chris Valdese, NC 39-34_73 2
70 Ilic, Eric Chicago, IL 37-36_73 2
70 Karr, Jim Jupiter, FL 39-34_73 2
70 LaBelle, Doug Mt. Pleasant, MI 36-37_73 2
70 McMillan, Rob Winnipeg, MB 34-39_73 2
70 Miskolczi, Terry Toronto, ON 36-37_73 2
70 Norton, Danny Richmond, BC 36-37_73 2
70 Parker, Perry Dana Point, CA 38-35_73 2
70 Saltus, Bryan Costa Mesa, CA 35-38_73 2
70 Symons, Drew Woodstock, ON 37-36_73 2
70 Wood, Jeff Fortuna, CA 37-36_73 2
70 Workum, Gord Winnipeg, MB 36-37_73 2
90 Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 36-38_74 3
90 DeCorso, Bryan Guelph, ON 38-36_74 3
90 Fisher, Jason Bakersfield, CA 38-36_74 3
90 Gibbs, Jonathan Boise, ID 35-39_74 3
90 Gray, Dave Hecla, MB 39-35_74 3
90 Hamilton, Robert Carmichael, CA 34-40_74 3
90 Haraguchi, Mike Richmond, BC 36-38_74 3
90 Jonas, Philip Vancouver, BC 38-36_74 3
90 Kovacs, Kyle Sherman Oaks, CA 39-35_74 3
90 Lane, Matthew New Zealand 36-38_74 3
90 LeBlanc, Dale Scottsdale, AZ 37-37_74 3
90 Matthew, Craig Ile Bizard, QC 39-35_74 3
90 Mijovic, Danny Toronto, ON 41-33_74 3
90 Mitchell, Michael Chevy Chase, MD 35-39_74 3
90 Moore, Michael Mississauga, ON 36-38_74 3
90 Smeeth, Andrew Abbotsford, BC 40-34_74 3
90 Smith, Tony Clovis, CA 34-40_74 3
90 Springer, Jerry West Palm Beach, FL 39-35_74 3
90 Stinson, Kyle Edmonton, AB 37-37_74 3
90 Veress, Zoltan Kitchener, ON 36-38_74 3
110 Belbin, Mike Sherwood Park, AB 41-34_75 4
110 Buttar, Blair Leduc, AB 38-37_75 4
110 Devenport, Paul New Zealand 39-36_75 4
110 Kehler, Geoff St. Andrews, MB 37-38_75 4
110 Kral, Scotty Victoria, BC 40-35_75 4
110 McMillan, Dave Winnipeg, MB 35-40_75 4
110 Sahl, Danny Sherwood Park, AB 36-39_75 4
110 Short, Adam Vineland, ON 39-36_75 4
110 Short, Kerry Vineland, ON 40-35_75 4
110 Woodcock, Mike Chatam, ON 37-38_75 4
120 Bulina, Bruce Winnipeg, MB 37-39_76 5
120 Faught, David South Africa 34-42_76 5
120 Forsman, Johan Sweden 41-35_76 5
120 Gentry, Brian Tahoe City, CA 38-38_76 5
120 Hrynikw, Jason Winnipeg, MB 41-35_76 5
120 Kelly, Patrick Winnipeg, MB 39-37_76 5
120 Ray, Conrad Hilton Head, SC 38-38_76 5
120 Warner, Jarrod Phoenix, AZ 40-36_76 5
120 Wright, Steve Toronto, ON 36-40_76 5
129 Brunson, Daniel Greenville, SC 40-37_77 6
129 Doucette, Rob Winnipeg, MB 39-38_77 6
129 Petty, Mayson Charlotte, NC 38-39_77 6
129 Smirnov, Ben Winnipeg, MB 41-36_77 6
133 Correa, Larry San Diego, CA 40-38_78 7
133 Klindtworth, Dan Winnipeg, MB 37-41_78 7
133 Muir, James Calgary, AB 44-34_78 7
133 North, Bruce (A) Carmen, MB 38-40_78 7
133 Snelling, Justin Boise, ID 41-37_78 7
133 Valentin, Jerome France 37-41_78 7
133 Yamanaka, Moto Norwalk, CA 41-37_78 7
133 Yonemoto, Kendal Richmond, BC 40-38_78 7
133 Zwemke, Zane Aurora, CO 38-40_78 7
142 Kennedy, Dean Vancouver, BC 40-39_79 8
142 Maunder, Eddie Whitby, ON 44-35_79 8
142 Tibbs, Mike (A) Winnipeg, MB 38-41_79 8
145 Hebinck, Paul Denver, CO 38-42_80 9
146 Clement, Brad (A) Russell, MB 41-40_81 10
146 Ingram, Derek Winnipeg, MB 41-40_81 10
146 Kartusch, Cory Winnipeg, MB 42-39_81 10
149 Kureluk, Jamie Calgary, AB 42-40_82 11
149 McMillan, Darren Winnipeg, MB 41-41_82 11
151 Rhodes, Joel Winnipeg, MB 40-43_83 12
152 DePape, Brad (A) Winnipeg, MB 43-43_86 15
152 O'Donnell, Pat Winnipeg, MB 43-43_86 15"
