Canadian Corey Conners wins first PGA Tour event at Valero Texas Open

Canadian golf fans had plenty to be excited for this week: A victory on the PGA Tour, a Drive Chip & Putt Champion, an amateur making history at Augusta, and two Canadians inside the top 20 at the first LPGA major of the season.

Corey Conners earned his ticket to Augusta

He’s Monday Man no more.

Listowel, Ont.’s Corey Conners, who had to Monday qualify for most of his PGA Tour starts this year, including this week’s Valero Texas Open, held on during a wild ride this week to win his first PGA Tour event.

“It is crazy,” said Conners, who has a second and third-place finish this year as well, but still lacked full status on the PGA Tour. “Definitely a life-changing moment. I can’t really put it into words.”

Playing in the final threesome, Conners started out by making birdies in four of his first five holes, before making four straight bogeys to end up tied for the lead. He then posted six birdies on the back nine—10 birdies overall—to finish at 20-under
for the tournament, two shots ahead of runner-up Charley Hoffman.

“That was probably the wildest round of my career,” Conners said on a call with Canadian media after the win. “The birdies were flying, which is awesome.”

He came off the final green to find fellow Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Nick Taylor waiting for him with some adult beverages.

“It was really nice of them to be around,” he said. “Mac is giving me a hug right now. He’s the man.”

With the win, Conners now has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, rose to No. 13 on the FedExCup standings and gets a start at the Masters this coming week. Conners’ only Masters appearance came in 2015 after finishing runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur.

“I know the golf course really well,” he says. “It’ll be a lot of fun and hopefully try to take it easy the next few days … I’ll try to be smart about my preparation.”

As for what his sudden success means, Conners simply didn’t have the time to consider it and put it into perspective.

“I’m excited for the rest of the summer, and obviously playing well and hope I can keep it going,” he said.

What’s in the bag

Driver: Ping G400 LST Driver 8.5 degree
Fairway: Ping G400 Fairway 14 degree
Utility: Ping G400 hybrid 18 degree
Irons: Ping iBlade
Wedges: Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth 50 and 56, Ping Glide 60 degree
Putter: Ping prototype PLD Anser 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Oaville’s Nicole Gal wins Girls 14-15 at Drive, Chip & Putt

Another champion on Sunday was Nicole Gal, who won the Girls 14 to 15 age category in Drive, Chip and Putt finals held at Augusta National. She’s the third Canadian to win a title at the annual event.

Gal finished second in putting, third in chipping and fifth in driving to win the title.

There were five Canadians in the field of the prestigious youth event, including Anna Huang of Vancouver, Andy Mac of Candiac, Que. who competed in the Boys 10-11 category, and Carter Lavigne, who was in the Boys 7 to 9 group.

Girls 14-15 first overall Nicole Gal poses with her trophy and Mike Weir of Canada during the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Toronto’s Vanessa Borovilos, who won the event last year and was making her fourth appearance, finished sixth in the 12 to 13 category.

The Drive, Chip and Putt National event pits the best young golfers against each other in three key areas—driving, chipping and putting.

Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Also at Augusta this week was the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, won by American Jennifer Kapucho. Twenty-year-old Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que. was the lone Canadian in the field, and while she missed the cut, she has plenty to be proud of with a bright future ahead of her.

Photo: Golf Canada

ANA Inspiration

The LPGA Tour’s first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration in California, was won by rising Korean star Jin Young Ko. Ko won the major championship by three over Mi Hyang Lee. Golf Town Athlete Brooke Henderson finished level with fellow Canadian Alena Sharp in a four-way tie for 17th. Brooke currently sits at 22 on the Race to CME Globe standing.

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