A Lower Mainland pro tour that has served as a launching pad for current young Canadian stars and PGA Tour members Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin kicked off its 2015 season Monday at the Beach Grove Golf Club.
Making its first-ever stop at the Tsawwassen course, Kings Links professional Jeremy Paradis fired a bogey free 7-under 64 to capture the Brad Garside Open. The win was worth $1,200.
Beach Grove was familiar territory for VGT commissioner Fraser Mulholland who not only grew up in South Delta but launched his career as an assistant pro at the club.
"Beach Grove Golf Club is to be commended for laying out the red carpet for (our tour)," stated Mulholland. "When I first met with Head Professional Brent Derrheim and GM Richard Creally with the notion of hosting a VGT event, they made it very clear that they had two goals in mind: To support local golf, and at the same time showcase their club to some of BC's top professionals and amateurs and give them a really great tournament experience.
"The fact that our event was sold out over three weeks ago (with 112 players), and nothing but positive feedback we have received, Beach Grove Golf Club really needs to be commended for stepping up and providing our players with a premier golf course in PGA-like tournament conditions."
Derrheim said thanks to a mild winter, the course is in excellent shape and "about a month ahead" of where it normally would be at this time of year. Mulholland agreed. "VGT players were given the opportunity to play on one of B.C.'s premier private golf courses in their first championship event this year," he added. The course was in terrific condition for our players and this is exactly what our top caliber players on the VGT are looking for - to train and develop their skills on wellmanicured and championship like conditions. "Greens were rolling around 11 on the stimp and firm enough where players had to think their way around the golf course. This is great preparation for any major golf tour our players are aspiring to play on."
Paradis has enjoyed previous success at Beach Grove as a past winner of the club's Amatuer and Pro Am events. After taking an 18-month break and recently becoming a father, the 29-year-old has re-dedicated himself to the game. He is feeling better - on and off the course.
"With the birth of our daughter in January, it has given me such a different perspective on life than when I was competing before. Golf was life for me back a few years ago. That is never good," stated Paradis. "Now, when I come home and see my daughter's smiling face, there's never a bad day on the golf course, no matter the number.
"(Beach Grove) is always in fantastic shape, and I really have fun playing here. The conditions today were really impressive given the amount of rain the last four or five days. It wasn't too hard to be confident over putts when they are rolling so purely."
Paradis overcame a strong field that included seventime VGT Order of Merit champion Bryn Parry, Phil Jonas, Oliver Tubb, Kevin Stinson and Brad Clapp.
Local Amateur Brad LePage, who did a stint for a few years as an assistant pro at Beach Grove, took low amateur honors with a very tidy round of 2-under par 69.
