Abbotsford, B.C. – Taylor Durham of North Vancouver, B.C. shot a 5-under 65 Friday at the B.C. Regional Qualifier hosted at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C. to earn a direct exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Competing in the RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier as an amateur, Durham caught fire at the turn, reeling off five straight birdies on holes 9 through 13 and seven birdies on the day to earn medalist honours, two shots clear of Zahidali Nathu of Richmond, B.C. (-3). Team Canada NextGen amateur Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. was solo third at 2-under with six others finishing with a share of fourth at 1-under.
Durham, 29, outlasted a field of 124 professional and amateur golfers at Ledgeview Golf Club (exceeding the 120-golfer requirement for a direct exemption) to earn his first-ever start in the Canada’s National Open Championship.
“I’m pretty speechless to be honest, it’s definitely a lifelong dream to play in a PGA TOUR event but you never really believe its going to happen, said Dunham, a 2-time Men’s Club Champion from Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. “After hole 11, just off birdies on 9 and 10, I felt I was hitting if really nice, and tried to get home without any big numbers. I’ve been texting friends and family, it still feels hard to believe, just an awesome day and I’m super excited to be in this position right now.”
The remaining top 15% of the field from the B.C. Regional Qualifier will advance to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier scheduled for Sunday, June 4 at Coppinwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont.
Playing to Par 70 over 6,159 yards, Ledgeview proved to be a solid test for Qualifier field, with only nine players shooting below par. In addition to Durham’s exemption, 18 golfers will advance to the Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 4.
RBC Canadian Open B.C. Regional Qualifier Results:
| Pos. | Player | Residence | To Par | Total | ||
| 1 | Taylor Durham (a) | North Vancouver, BC | -5 | 65 | ||
| 2 | Zahidali Nathu | Richmond, BC | -3 | 67 | ||
| 3 | Alex Zhang (a) | Richmond, BC | -2 | 68 | ||
| T4 | Cory Renfrew | Delta, BC | -1 | 69 | ||
| T4 | Cory Hilditch (a) | Penticton, BC | -1 | 69 | ||
| T4 | Ethan Wilson (a) | St. Albert, AB | -1 | 69 | ||
| T4 | Ryan Hall | Knoxville, TN | -1 | 69 | ||
| T4 | John Paul Kahlert (a) | Maple Ridge, BC | -1 | 69 | ||
| T4 | Khan Lee | Chilliwack, BC | -1 | 69 | ||
| T10 | Tanvir Kahlon | Langley, BC | E | 70 | ||
| T10 | Kaleb Gorbahn | Smithers, BC | E | 70 | ||
| T10 | Brett Webster | Abbotsford, BC | E | 70 | ||
| T10 | Jake Lane | Vancouver, BC | E | 70 | ||
| T14 | Oliver Rizun (a) | Kelowna, BC | +1 | 71 | ||
| T14 | Kamyar Yamini (a) | Vancouver, BC | +1 | 71 | ||
| T14 | Denby Carswell (a) | Burnaby, BC | +1 | 71 | ||
| T14 | Bryce Barker | Vernon, BC | +1 | 71 | ||
| T14 | Daniel Campbell | Bellingham, WA | +1 | 71 | ||
| T14 | Sher Sidhu (a) | Abbotsford, BC | +1 | 71 | ||
For the full leaderboard click here.
The B.C. Qualifier at Ledgeview was the first of five 2023 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers. The next is scheduled for Monday, May 15 at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club in Oshawa Ont. and then Wednesday, May 17 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. Additional Regional Qualifiers will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at Golf-Château Bromont in Bromont, Que. and on Monday, May 29 at Pinebrook Golf and Country Club in Calgary.