In 2016, Conner Kozak missed the cut in his debut at the GolfBC Championship.
Two years later, with some confidence and experience under his belt, the 25-year-old Kelowna golfer will have considerably higher expectations for next week香蕉视频直播檚 tournament at Gallagher香蕉视频直播檚 Canyon.
An assistant pro at the Okanagan Golf Club, Kozak is one of three local golfers to earn an exemption for the third stop of the season on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada.
香蕉视频直播淚f you tilted the leader board upside down, you香蕉视频直播檇 see my name,香蕉视频直播� the Vernon-born Kozak said with a laugh, making light of his performance two years ago. 香蕉视频直播淚t wasn香蕉视频直播檛 that great of a week, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 quite have as good of an opportunity to prepare myself for the event that year, being that it was my first year working at the Okanagan Club, it was a very busy time for me.香蕉视频直播�
In addition to having had more and better quality preparation time this spring, Kozak is fresh off a solid effort at the BCPGA Assistants Championship last weekend at Bear Mountain. Kozak香蕉视频直播檚 two-round total of 2-under par (73-67) 150, was good for a tie for third place.
香蕉视频直播淭his year, the game looks really good, really sharp, so I香蕉视频直播檓 hoping to finish a little bit better than I did that first year,香蕉视频直播� said Kozak, a former member of the UBC Thunderbirds香蕉视频直播� program. 香蕉视频直播淭he goal is to play all four rounds, see how it goes.香蕉视频直播�
Kozak is grateful to be getting a second chance to play on the Mackenzie Tour, a launching pad for players looking to make their way on to the Web.com Tour and, eventually, the PGA Tour.
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The Mackenzie Tour has helped produce PGA champs such as Canadians Adam Hadwin and Mackenzie Hughes, Tony Finau and Aaron Wise.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really cool,香蕉视频直播� Kozak said. 香蕉视频直播淚 mean, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 get any better than that. It香蕉视频直播檚 the ultimate measuring stick, it香蕉视频直播檚 probably the biggest event I香蕉视频直播檒l play all year, no doubt about that.
香蕉视频直播淭o be out here on a tour where those guys have come up and to see what they香蕉视频直播檝e done from that and the success they香蕉视频直播檝e had on this tour, is pretty cool.香蕉视频直播�
For Kozak, playing at home in a familiar environment comes with both benefits and expectations.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be nice to sleep in my own bed, hopefully get a couple of buddies to come out and watch,香蕉视频直播� said Kozak. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 definitely going to be a little bit of pressure along with that..it香蕉视频直播檚 just about kind of enjoying the week, having fun, that香蕉视频直播檚 probably the biggest thing.
香蕉视频直播淭he fact I get to have a home tournament is going to be a good opportunity for me to showcase my game, and hopefully play well.香蕉视频直播�
Among other players to earn exemptions for the Golf BC Championship is Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Garrett Kucher, last year香蕉视频直播檚 winner of the Ogopogo Invitational at the Kelowna Golf and Country.
The winner of the Zone 2 Junior Tour香蕉视频直播檚 Order of Merit香蕉视频直播攖o be determined this weekend at Gallagher香蕉视频直播檚香蕉视频直播攚ill also receive an exemption. Last year, that honour went to Matt Hopley, the son of Gallagher香蕉视频直播檚 Canyon general manager Peter Hopley.
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The GolfBC Championship, from June 14 to 17, will feature a 156-player field and a $200,000 purse, with $36,000 going to the winner.
For tournament or ticket information, go to .
Long drive competition香蕉视频直播�
The GolfBC Championship香蕉视频直播檚 Long Drive Challenge is set for next Wednesday, June 13 at 3:30 p.m.
The annual charity event, which benefits the BC Cancer Foundation, is open to anyone who can hit the ball a long distance off the tee.
The cost is $25 for three shots and includes Adidas Golf Prizes.
To register, go to .
