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害羞草研究所檚 tournament at Gallagher害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚f you tilted the leader board upside down, you害羞草研究所檇 see my name,害羞草研究所� the Vernon-born Kozak said with a laugh, making light of his performance two years ago. 害羞草研究所淚t wasn害羞草研究所檛 that great of a week, I didn害羞草研究所檛 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.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檚 two-round total of 2-under par (73-67) 150, was good for a tie for third place.
害羞草研究所淭his year, the game looks really good, really sharp, so I害羞草研究所檓 hoping to finish a little bit better than I did that first year,害羞草研究所� said Kozak, a former member of the UBC Thunderbirds害羞草研究所� program. 害羞草研究所淭he goal is to play all four rounds, see how it goes.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really cool,害羞草研究所� Kozak said. 害羞草研究所淚 mean, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 get any better than that. It害羞草研究所檚 the ultimate measuring stick, it害羞草研究所檚 probably the biggest event I害羞草研究所檒l play all year, no doubt about that.
害羞草研究所淭o be out here on a tour where those guys have come up and to see what they害羞草研究所檝e done from that and the success they害羞草研究所檝e had on this tour, is pretty cool.害羞草研究所�
For Kozak, playing at home in a familiar environment comes with both benefits and expectations.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be nice to sleep in my own bed, hopefully get a couple of buddies to come out and watch,害羞草研究所� said Kozak. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 definitely going to be a little bit of pressure along with that..it害羞草研究所檚 just about kind of enjoying the week, having fun, that害羞草研究所檚 probably the biggest thing.
害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�
Among other players to earn exemptions for the Golf BC Championship is Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Garrett Kucher, last year害羞草研究所檚 winner of the Ogopogo Invitational at the Kelowna Golf and Country.
The winner of the Zone 2 Junior Tour害羞草研究所檚 Order of Merit害羞草研究所攖o be determined this weekend at Gallagher害羞草研究所檚害羞草研究所攚ill also receive an exemption. Last year, that honour went to Matt Hopley, the son of Gallagher害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所�
The GolfBC Championship害羞草研究所檚 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 .
