THUNDER BAY – The third edition of the Staal Foundation Open kicks off on Thursday morning at Whitewater Golf Club. American Dan McCarthy is the odds-on favourite to win the event, but here’s a list of 10 players to watch (including one local) as the tournament gets under way.
1. Dan McCarthy
The American has bounced around the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit since 2009, but has finally put it all together in 2016. The 30-year-old McCarthy tops the Tour in earnings, with $105,438, winning a record three titles in five starts and placing in the top 10 each week. His lead atop the money list is virtually insurmountable, according to Tour officials. He’s your best bet to win the Staal Foundation Open title, hands down.
2. Adam Cornelson
The British Columbia native has struggled for results throughout most of his six seasons on Tour, but broke through earlier this season with a record-setting, wire-to-wire win last month at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open in Victoria. He attributes his success this season to confidence and sits No. 2 on the Order of Merit with $36,352.
3. Ryan Williams
The Canadian Williams has been a model of consistency over the past eight seasons on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, just missing a top-five berth in 2014 and automatic promotion to the Web.com Tour. He’s made the cut in all five events he’s played this season and is poised to make the jump to the next level with a few more good showings this summer. He’s twice been named Canadian of the Week this summer.
4. Corey Conners
Anyone who can shoot a 69 at Augusta National has to be considered someone to watch this week. Conners earned a spot at The Masters after a 2014 runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur. The Listowel, Ont. native was third on the Order of Merit on this year’s PGA Tour Latin America, finished third at last year’s Staal Foundation Open and knows how to navigate a tricky Whitewater track.
5. Michael Gligic
The 36-hole leader in Thunder Bay last year, he’s just outside the top 10 on the money list and seeking his first win on Tour since 2012. He also finished second last week to McCarthy in Winnipeg.
6. Jarryd Felton
The 21-year-old Australian received a sponsor’s exemption to play this week and makes his overseas debut after being told by world No. 1 Jason Day and No. 8 Adam Scott his game was ready. The 2015 New South PGA Championship winner has been described as a majestic ball striker and touted by some as the next big thing in golf from Down Under.
7. Brock Mackenzie
The Coos Bay, Ore. native has spent four full seasons on the Web.com Tour since 2007 and has made the cut in all five events he’s played on the Mackenzie Tour this season. The 12th-year professional has one top 10 finish and three top 25s this season.
8. Max Rottluff
A 2016 graduate of Arizona State University, the German-born Rottluf kicked his professional career off in fine form at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open, topping the field three weeks ago. He sits in third place in the Order of Merit, largely because of the victory, but also had an 11th-place finish last week in Winnipeg.
9. Carter Jenkins
Rookie pro from the University of North Carolina is a perfect 5-for-5 making cuts this season on the PGA Tour Canada, including back-to-back top 5s heading into this week. Jenkins was runner-up in Saskatoon and fourth in Winnipeg. The Raleigh, N.C. native was an all-ACC selection and decided to forego his final season at college to turn professional in May.
10. Evan DeGrazia
One of Thunder Bay’s top young golfers, DeGrazia missed the cut by just four strokes last year and is back for a third kick at the Staal Foundation Open can in 2016. A product of South Carolina’s Newberry College, DeGrazia earned his way back with a decisive win earlier this month at the Keg District Open and also set a new course record at Thunder Bay Country Club with a spectacular 59 in June.
