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 week91裸聊视频檚 tournament at Gallagher91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚f you tilted the leader board upside down, you91裸聊视频檇 see my name,91裸聊视频� the Vernon-born Kozak said with a laugh, making light of his performance two years ago. 91裸聊视频淚t wasn91裸聊视频檛 that great of a week, I didn91裸聊视频檛 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.91裸聊视频�
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. Kozak91裸聊视频檚 two-round total of 2-under par (73-67) 150, was good for a tie for third place.
91裸聊视频淭his year, the game looks really good, really sharp, so I91裸聊视频檓 hoping to finish a little bit better than I did that first year,91裸聊视频� said Kozak, a former member of the UBC Thunderbirds91裸聊视频� program. 91裸聊视频淭he goal is to play all four rounds, see how it goes.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really cool,91裸聊视频� Kozak said. 91裸聊视频淚 mean, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 get any better than that. It91裸聊视频檚 the ultimate measuring stick, it91裸聊视频檚 probably the biggest event I91裸聊视频檒l play all year, no doubt about that.
91裸聊视频淭o be out here on a tour where those guys have come up and to see what they91裸聊视频檝e done from that and the success they91裸聊视频檝e had on this tour, is pretty cool.91裸聊视频�
For Kozak, playing at home in a familiar environment comes with both benefits and expectations.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檒l be nice to sleep in my own bed, hopefully get a couple of buddies to come out and watch,91裸聊视频� said Kozak. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 definitely going to be a little bit of pressure along with that..it91裸聊视频檚 just about kind of enjoying the week, having fun, that91裸聊视频檚 probably the biggest thing.
91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�
Among other players to earn exemptions for the Golf BC Championship is Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Garrett Kucher, last year91裸聊视频檚 winner of the Ogopogo Invitational at the Kelowna Golf and Country.
The winner of the Zone 2 Junior Tour91裸聊视频檚 Order of Merit91裸聊视频攖o be determined this weekend at Gallagher91裸聊视频檚91裸聊视频攚ill also receive an exemption. Last year, that honour went to Matt Hopley, the son of Gallagher91裸聊视频檚 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 competition91裸聊视频�
The GolfBC Championship91裸聊视频檚 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 .
