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Canada's PGA TOUR Rookies Looking Good
(January 14, 2010)
Chris Baryla of Vernon, the first regular member of the PGA TOUR from British Columbia since the 'disco' days of Dick Zokol back in the 1980s and ageless Jim Rutledge in 2006, completed his first round as a TOUR rookie in the season-opening Sony Open at even par 70, five strokes behind the quintet that share the lead at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii.
One shot ahead of Baryla, a 29-year-old native of Calgary, is Canada's second Tour rookie, Graham Delaet of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, who will turn 28 next week.
Top Canadian playing in this $5.5 million event is 46-year-old Stephen Ames of Calgary, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, who carded a 2-under par 68 and is tied in 20th place. Last week in the champions-only SBS Championship Ames finished T20th in the field of 28 at Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii and earned $85,000.
Leading the way in Hololulu at 5-under 65 are Americans Ryan Palmer, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III and Troy Merritt together with Australian Robert Allenby.
Baryla, a winner on the Nationwide Tour last season, which helped him earn an exemption directly onto the big tour and bypass the dreaded Tour Q-School, bogeyed his opening hole at Waialae. However, three birdies and another bogey put him at 1-under by the time he reasched the turn. A bogey at the 12th hole and another at 16 forced the two-time BC Junior Men's champion (2000-01) to birdie the 18th hole in order to finish at level par and tied for 46th in the field of 144 players.
Delaet, the Canadian Tour's leading money winner and Order of Merit Champion in 2009, wears his nationality where few golf fans are likely to see it . . . in the form of a tattoo of the Canadian flag on the back of his calf muscle.
"He's a very, very proud Canadian and I think he'll represent our country well over the next 10-15 years," says Graham's dad, Norm DeLaet, who resides in Saskatoon.
"It's awesome. It's great, not only for him and our family, it's great for, first of all Weyburn (where Graham grew up), secondly Saskatchewan, and also all of Canada."
Canada's other PGA TOUR regular, eight-time winner, 2003 Masters Champion, Canadian Sports Hall of Fame member and 2009 Order of Canada recipient, Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ontario, will start his season next week in the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, Ca.
CANADIANS in the Sony Classic
T20 Stephen Ames, Calgary, AB 68
T32 Graham Delaet, Weyburn, SA 69
T46 Chris Baryla, Vernon, BC 70
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