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Québec’s Joey Savoie sits 2-shots back of leader in Québec Open
Québec born Joey Savoie carded a 67 to take his two day score to –9 under at the Québec Open. Starting in the afternoon wave, Savoie managed to birdie the par-5, 2nd hole to get his round off to a good start. Unfortunately, two holes later, a bogey on the par-3, 4th hole negated his good start, dropping him back to even par. He managed to bounce back from the bogey, stringing together 3-consecutive pars before an Eagle – 3 on the par-5, 8th hole jump started the rest of his round. He would go out in 34 strokes (–2 under) for the front nine.
Savoie continued his good form into the second nine at the Blainville Golf Club, highlighted by 3-straight birdies. He started his birdie train on the par-5, 11th, carried it over to the par-3, 12th hole and then the par-4, 13th hole. He would finish his round with pars to finish at 33 strokes for a combined score of 67 and –5 under for the day.
“It was fun to have more friends and family around and more fans out there coming to watch,” Savoie said. “It was good. It was really nice, and it will only continue to grow over the weekend.”
Savoie, who shot a 67 Friday, acknowledged the support helped get him going. A “good stretch of golf,” Savoie said of his back-nine birdies on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.
Meanwhile first round leader Ryan Gerard managed a score of 68 today to preserve a slim lead going into the weekend. Also playing in the afternoon wave, Gerard’s play was steady and solid, opening with 3 straight pars before managing birdies on 3 of the next 6 holes to finish his front nine at 33 (–3 under).
He carried over that solid play into the second nine, with back to back birdies on the par-4, 10th hole and the par-5, 11th hole. Gerard would settle for 6 consecutive pars before a bogey -5 on the 18th hole left him with a round of 68 (–4 under) for the day and a two-day score of 133 (–11 under).
At –11 under, Gerard holds a slim lead on Thomas Walsh, who caught fire with nine birdies Friday, including six straight at one point.
There’s a logjam at third, with Bryce Hendrix, Jeffrey Kang, Joey Savoie and Travis Trace all checking in at 9-under. Monday qualifier Chris Crawford is all alone in seventh, at 8-under. Five others are just one more shot back, setting the scene for what should be a tight finish.
“Anytime you are in the weekend—in contention—it’s fun,” Hendrix said. “So, you’ve got to go earn it and keep your head in it.”
It’s been a slow start to Hendrix’s season. After finishing second at the Dothan, Alabama, Qualifying Tournament, to earn his playing privileges, he’s only made one cut in his four starts—a tie for 45th at the ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton. He’s currently 116th on the Fortinet Cup standings.
Earlier in the week, Gerard noted the importance of PGA TOUR Canada, giving him a place to play this summer and providing experience. Participating in well-run events against solid competition, he said, comes before the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament and what he hopes is an eventual spot on that Tour in 2023.
Did you know. . .
The last two PGA TOUR Canada tournaments were ultimately won by the 36-hole leaders? Danny Walker prevailed at the Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos - CBM Aggregates, and Noah Goodwin went wire to wire at the Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Ontario Open.
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