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VIGN Editors Pick The Ones To Watch At Uplands

Here are our top choices to follow at the Reliance Properties DCBank Open...

While not necessarily the most likely to win, there are players from locals to possible future PGA TOUR players who would be worth watching for at least a few holes...

#5 Jamie Sadlowski

While Bryson DeChambeau may be headed to compete in the World Long Drive Championships, Jamie Sadlowski made a move in the opposite direction from long drive to professional tournament golf back in 2016. Meanwhile, the two-time World Long Drive champ from Alberta can still wallop the ball. The opportunity to see 190+ mph ball speed and 300+ yard carries from a man who is of average height and slight of build at 5’10" and around 170 pounds this up close and personal is something not to be missed.

#4 The Local Club Pros

A few of the local professionals have qualified and showing your support for them could spark them to compete with the young guns who play the PGA TOUR Canada week in and week out

  • Nate Ollis from Cordova Bay has played consistently well on the Vancouver Island Club Professionals’ Tour and will likely play consistently at Uplands too.
  • Robbie Greenwell spent four years on the PGA TOUR Canada and played in the Canadian Open in 2014. His current work as a high-performance coach can only help him in managing his way around the course.
  • Ben Griffin works as an Assistant Professional at Uplands GC so he has the ultimate home course advantage. With the home club crowds pulling for him, he could make a run.
  • Eric Wang from the Victoria Golf Academy arguably has the best pedigree of any of the local young(er) professionals, having played worldwide on tours ranging from the Asian and the Web.com to the PGA TOUR Canada.

#3 The Local Amateurs

There are two amateurs from Victoria playing in the DC Bank on wildly different career paths...

  • Royal Colwood’s Kevin Carrigan is the consummate pure amateur who everyone should remember was ranked among the top 100 amateurs in the world at one point. He will come in and be able to free-wheel and, with his length and touch, could find himself — at very the least — playing on the weekend.
  • The other may be the one you want to be able to say, “I saw him when...” 17-year-old Jeevan Sihota got into this tournament the hard way: winning the qualifier earlier in the month at Gorge Vale shooting a 68, four strokes ahead of runner-up Cody White (who winters in Victoria and works at Big Sky during the season). Golf Canada extended Sihota two exemptions prior to this week into PGA TOUR Canada events (the ATB Financial Classic in Calgary and the GolfBC Championship in Kelowna) and he took full advantage, placing T6 at the ATB and top-30 in Kelowna. Jeevan has been part of the Golf Canada Under-18 national team program based on Bear Mountain and has the reputation as a big, big hitter

#2 The Canadians Gunning For Their PGA TOUR Canada Cards

There is a race within the race at Uplands and that is to finish inside the top five on the season-long order of merit. First place will receive fully exempt status for the 2022 season, while second-through-fifth will earn exempt status up until the first reshuffle, based on player performance

  • Noah Steele is in second place in the standings with 926.25 points where a win would almost guarantee him top honours on the Points Order of Merit. The Golf Canada National Team member from Kingston, ON, won the PGA Tour Canada Osprey Valley Open in August 2021 with a (-23) score over four rounds, so he has no problem taking it low.
  • It’s a similar scenario for professional Brendan Leonard who is third with 910.89 points. The Ontario native won at the Mackenzie Investments Open in Quebec in late July 2021 and is also in control of his own destiny.
  • Michael Blair has 732.58 points, so to win the points title he will have to win at Uplands and get a little help. He too has won this season, taking the Prince Edward Island Open in late August 2021.

#1 Duncan’s Callum Davison

Callum Davison comes into this tournament as the Mackenzie Tour points leader with 1,167 courtesy of two wins... one under dry conditions (in Kelowna) and one under wet (in PEI). A top-five finish at the DC Bank would likely ensure the top spot in the points standings and the season-long tour card for 2022. The cross-handed gripping Davison has found length and accuracy off the tee this year and, coupled with his strong short game and putting, he has to come in as the clear favourite. See an up-to-date, in-depth profile on Callum here.

Honourable Mention

Jim Rutledge needs no introduction and his relationship with his home course, Uplands, makes him a sentimental favourite. Now 62, Rutledge will be looking to turn back the clock and — as he has posted scores in the 60s at recent PGA of Canada Seniors’ Championship (of which he has won six in total) — maybe he can sprinkle just a little pixie dust...