Jordan Krulicki hasn’t played as much golf this summer as he would have liked.
He’s working full time in the pro shop at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club as he prepares to earn his Canadian Professional Golf Association teaching card.
But that didn’t stop the 22-year-old from Red Deer from posting by far the best round in the 89th annual Sun Life Insurance Central Alberta Amateur at the RDGCC Saturday.
Krulicki had the lone round under par, finishing with a three-under 69 and taking a four stroke lead on 2008 champion Kyle Morrison.
“I tried to be disciplined and didn’t try to be a hero with my shots,” said Krulicki. “I’ve tried to be mentally stronger lately and it’s been good. I haven’t played all that well this summer, but when I missed today they weren’t that bad and when I made a good shot it was good.”
Krulicki grew up learning the game in Central Alberta and played two years for RDC under head coach Scott Bergdahl before moving to Camosun University in Victoria where he’s taking golf management. He has one year remaining before he gets his pro card.
“One more year of amateur before I go pro and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s been good for me at Camosun as I got a lot more playing time and our team coach, John Randle, is one of the top pros in B.C.”
Krulicki went into the opening round Saturday looking to get off to a good start.
“I didn’t plan on being three under, but I wanted a solid round and not put myself out of it.”
Krulicki had four birdies and only one bogey while the rest of the field struggled despite almost perfect conditions. The greens were lightning fast forcing everyone to be under the hole if they expected to score well.
Morrison, who was second to two-time champion Mitch Evanecz last year, felt he could have been better, but is alone in second with Geordi Lobe of Three Hills third at 74. J.D. Morrical, who also played with the RDC golf team, and Dr. Eric Brodie came in at 75 with Tim Boston of Wolf Creek, Kirby Krupka, Garrett Scott, Arthur Pendle and Darren McArthur at 76.
Doug Quinn sits first in the first flight with a 78, one stroke ahead of Matt Codd, who is the defending RDGCC junior champion. John Hedlund had an 80.
Al Mah and Randy McConnell had 76 and Chad Miciak 78 in the second flight with Kevin Drummond shooting a 76, Chad Carritt 78 and Graeme Clark 81 in the third flight.
John Young had an 80, Gord Kingcott an 81 and Dennis Zukiwsky an 82 in the fourth flight while in the fifth flight Kevin Leonard of Calgary had a 75 and Jason Langlaar and Sonny Sedun 77.
Rob Wallator and Shaun Simpson shot 83 and Kent Devlin 87 in the sixth flight with Dave Brunton at 83 and Phil Brown 84 in the seventh.
Dean Finnestad had 87 and Joe Hopfner 88 to lead in the eighth flight with Jeff Kachor and Joe Podihushchy at 90 in the ninth flight and Bruce Brinton at 93 and Darrell Peter at 94 in the 10th flight.
Action continues today and Monday. The championship flight goes out at 7:30 a.m. today with the leaders teeing off in the final group at 2 p.m. Monday.
l In other golf news Mitch Evanecz shot a final round three-under par 69 to finish in a tie for fourth at eight-under 280 in the Pacific Coast Amateur in Truckee, Calif.
Chris Williams of Moscow, Id., took first with an 11-under 277.
Evanecz will compete in the U.S. Amateur qualifier beginning in Los Angeles Tuesday.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com